www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
ShowsRoundup JUN 2011 SPN
75
showsroundup V
BARCELONA SHOW TO HOST NEW PRODUCT BONANZA After a number of tough recession years, Spain’s Piscina show in October is expected to see more new product launches than at any time for two years exhibition’ was acclaimed as a huge
isitors to Barcelona’s Piscina exhibition in October are likely to see the biggest array of new products in the European market for over 10 years. A new generation of counter- current equipment with more sophisticated controls on water speeds, new low chlorine water treatment products and new pool cover materials and technology are known to head the display of new products for the European show which has always put an emphasis on new products.
Energy conservation is also known to be a theme for new innovation. Piscina Barcelona is Europe’s biggest trade show of the year. In 2009, it set the tone for the next year’s trading with an impressive record number of new product launches and an attendance of 18,000 visitors.
One of the traditional strengths of the event, held from 18 to 21 October, has been to give priority to new launches. A unique separate exhibition area was created in 2009 which highlighted everything new at the show. The special ‘exhibition within an
success by Lluís Cortés, President of the organising committee. The new products area, coordinated by the Instituto de Tecnología de la Construcción de Catalunya, ITeC is expected to double in size this year. Said a spokesman for Piscina: “We are aware that after two tough years, many companies chose to delay some of their new product innovation in 2009 and 2010. It seems that many feel the time is right to launch for 2012 and we are delighted they have chosen our show to exhibit innovation for the first time. The whole area of new products is going to be a very big theme at the show.” One other theme to be highlighted at Barcelona is again likely to be water conservation. Europe as a whole is being taught about a new culture of more ecological and sustainable pools and pool associations. Many countries now almost insist on the use of pool covers to reduce water loss through natural evaporation. The use of floating covers, products which half the number of
washing operations during filter washing and products which detect water ‘leaks’ will be prominent at the show.
The specialist swimming pool sector in Spain is the second largest behind France and despite a building slump throughout Iberia, the industry says 2010 was a year of growth and it claims to be over the worst of the recession. Spain now has now over 1.3 million pools and the sector has an annual turnover of more than €1,450m.
A recent market report also shows that in Spain as in many parts
of Europe health and fitness issues are becoming more important as reasons behind an investment in swimming pools. A pool, the report says, is no longer a luxury for many Spanish families and is being seen as a quality of life purchase. Sales of covers and pool
equipment with low CO2 emissions have been booming with products backed by both the French and Spanish governments which are urging a drastic reduction in carbon emissions and encouraging manufactures to improve products and improve energy efficiency.
BARCELONA HOSTS TOP SPORTS FACILITIES CONFERENCE
The Barcelona event will again be hosting one of the year’s big European sports conferences which puts the emphasis on facilities available throughout Europe – the third Ibero-American Congress on Sports and Recreational Facilities from the 18 October. Congress President Carlos Vera said: “Because of the swimming pool show’s understanding of the importance of developing an Ibero-American sphere of action, we wanted to stage the event in Barcelona.”
The plan is for the Congress to be held every two years in Barcelona and, in the intermediate years, in a country in the Latin America and Caribbean region. One of its objectives is to monitor the growth of sports and pastimes such as swimming and anticipate the need for new facilities.
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