EZ Panel Makes a Splash
BACKGROUND
The Pool Factory, Inc. is a leading manufacturer in the above-ground swimming pool industry, specializing in extruded aluminum pools , as well as safety decks, fence kits, and other pool accessories. However, the rising popularity of large diameter inflatable pools in recent years poses a serious threat to their product line. Consumers desire the ease of assembly offered by this innovation in pool design, as opposed to the several hundred parts and assembly steps required by typical pools. The Pool Factory’s new “EZ Panel” product, consisting of multi-configurable modular units, poises them to compete in this market by improving the ease of assembly.
SBDC ASSISTANCE
George Tassone, President and CEO of The Pool Factory, first contacted the Bucknell SBDC in August of 2008 while he was in the process of testing prototypes of the EZ Panel. The initial units had developed serious cracks and, without an engineering staff of his own, George sought design and analysis assistance from Engineering Development Services. The staff EDS of analyzed the structural failures and provided a report detailing the failure modes. They helped George understand the fundamentals of structural analysis that would be required to take the design to the next level. Concepts for incorporating thermal insulation were also explored, in order to reduce a customer’s heating costs.
IMPACT
With the information provided George was able to plan the next revision and made contact with larger companies for purchase or licensing of the EZ Panel design. Thanks to the assistance provided by the SBDC, George has sold the design of his EZ Panel Pool to The Wilbar Group, a world leader in above ground swimming pools, with several product lines and complementary technologies. The EZ Panel Pool will appeal to above-ground and in-ground pool markets. The sale will result in approximately doubling last years sales volume, estimated to bring in over $1 million in new sales with an addition of 3 new marketing job s while saving existing manufacturing jobs that might otherwise have been eliminated!
