Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. Celebrates 20

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Westfield, Indiana—Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. (APC), a manufacturer of automatic pool covers for new and existing swimming pools and spas, celebrated its 20th year of manufacturing automatic pool covers this summer! The company opened its doors in 1979 as a small pool cover distributor and began manufacturing its first automatic pool covers in 2003. Michael Shebek, Owner and CEO of the company, worked side-by-side with his father, the late Mike Shebek Sr., putting in more than 20,000 hours of time installing and servicing covers himself when he took over as owner of the company in the year 2000.

“We decided to manufacture covers in 2003 because there was a need in the market to create an automatic cover that was designed by installers for installers,” explains Shebek.

The company’s commitment to innovation and fast turnaround times has fueled the company’s growth and drove the need to expand the company’s facility. “We’ve made the commitment to cutting-edge technology and manufacturing processes with a clear focus on excellent customer service,” says Shebek. As a result, the company boasts the industry’s-leading turnaround times on automatic pool covers. “Pool professionals in our industry appreciate our fast turnaround times and dedication to high-quality automatic pool covers. Our manufacturing abilities have led to our exponential growth. We are thankful to our customers and grateful for our manufacturing team,” says Shebek.

The company now has over 130 employees, many of whom have been with the company since it started manufacturing automatic pool covers in 2003. “We are blessed to have a talented, driven and dedicated team of employees who work together to bring product innovations to our automatic pool covers; creating covers with superior design and durability,” says Shebek.

The company’s celebration was held within its newly expanded manufacturing facility, complete with a custom, combination-cake in the shape of an Automatic Pool Covers Inc. cover-motor and PowerTouch Touchpad—the cakes were made by Quiana Owens, a Dealer Support Representative at APC.

Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. | Westfield, Ind. | (800) 878-5789 | AutomaticPoolCovers.com

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Alise Everton has been working in the pool industry for the past decade and is an experienced press correspondent and contributor for numerous trade publications and web portals including PoolMagazine.com and PoolContractor.com among others. Contact her for guest posting opportunities, press releases, and pool equipment related news.

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Rule the Pool

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Minneapolis, Minn. – August 22, 2023 – Pentair, a leading provider of water treatment and sustainable solutions, recently announced that David Kraft has been named group sales leader for its Pool segment, a $1.6B business that provides innovative, energy efficient pool solutions to help people more sustainably enjoy water. Kraft will report to Greg Claffey, Pentair Pool group president.

“At Pentair, our leaders are passionate about assisting our pool professionals to help their customers experience full pool enjoyment. David brings extensive experience leading high-performing, customer-centric teams and building relationships. As we continue to innovate more sustainable and connected solutions, David is committed to supporting our pool customers and helping their businesses grow. We look forward to David’s leadership in elevating our Pool segment,” said Claffey.

In his role, Kraft has responsibility for driving the sales and service strategy for the Pool business unit. Kraft also leads strategy for the Sales Operations and Warranty functions and Pool Europe Sales and Product Management teams.

“It’s wonderful to build relationships with customers who are as passionate about water as I am. I’ve always been dedicated to listening and leading with a customer-first approach. I look forward to supporting pool professionals in helping their businesses thrive and creating an effortless pool experience for their customers. I’ve been particularly impressed with the fervor throughout our partner network, and I’m excited to meet the people who make the pool industry so great,” said Kraft.

Kraft joins Pentair from Emerson Electric Co., where he was most recently vice president of Global Business Development after holding multiple roles of increasing responsibility over almost 25 years. Prior to Emerson, Kraft held positions at Moore Products Company.

ABOUT PENTAIR At Pentair we help the world sustainably move, improve and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource. From our residential and business solutions to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is focused on smart, sustainable water solutions that help our planet and people thrive.

Pentair had revenue in 2022 of approximately $4.1 billion, and trades under the ticker symbol PNR. With approximately 11,250 global employees serving customers in more than 150 countries, we work to help improve lives and the environment around the world. To learn more, visit www.pentair.com. As an industry leader in the pool and spa space, Pentair is dedicated to elevating the pool experience to the next level with connected, efficient, and quality products so people can soak in the magical, wonder filled moments by their pool, giving them time – and peace of mind – to create them. Pentair’s pool solutions are engineered to help filter, clean and sanitize water, while automation equipment makes it easy to control from anywhere. For more information, visit pentair.com/pool.

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(Tucson, AZ) MMG Arizona is pleased to announce the merger of two well-established companies, Modern Method Gunite (MMG) and Meadows Pool Plastering, resulting in the formation of MMG Arizona.

“The merger presents an excellent opportunity for two industry-leading companies to leverage our experience, expertise, and exceptional customer service and continue providing the Tucson area with high-quality pool plastering services.” Explained Jeff Meadows, President of Meadows Pool Plastering, “We are thrilled to announce our merger with Meadows Pool Plastering,” stated Edgar Sanchez, Chief Operating Officer of MMG. “Collaborating with another well-established organization that shares our company values and possesses an outstanding reputation is a win-win. Integrating Jeff and his team with our MMG teams, we enhance the value to our employees by learning from each other and extending those benefits to our customers.”

MMG is a leading PebbleTec-authorized applicator in the country, and its commitment to continuous learning and innovation in the industry is unparalleled. The decision to merge with Meadows Pool Plastering was natural, enabling both entities to remain connected to their respective organizations while expanding their services. With the organizations’ combined resources and skills, MMG Arizona is poised to offer even more exceptional pool plastering services to exceed customer expectations. The company’s highly skilled applicators are committed to delivering quality and customer satisfaction, making MMG Arizona the go-to choice for pool plastering needs in the Tucson area.

MMG Arizona’s primary focus is to provide top-quality pool finishes for new pools and spas, remodels, and refinishing. This partnership will undoubtedly bring valuable expertise and knowledge to both organizations, ensuring continued success in the pool industry.Learn more about MMG Arizona by visiting www.mmgarizona.com or email [email protected]

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With annual events like Pool Opening Day placing sustainability at the forefront of our shared narrative, many strive to inspire change for a better, cleaner future. At Pentair, sustainability isn’t just a seasonal concern; it’s a year-round endeavor tied with the core of our values. We focus on smart, sustainable water solutions, and our pool products in particular support a longer-term vision for sustainability.

The ENERGY STAR logo is iconic in the United States, but the importance of this program is unbeknownst to many Americans. The program is run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and aims to improve energy efficiency, hence why its logo is displayed on the appliance label of qualifying products available for purchase.

Pentair has a steadfast commitment to the ENERGY STAR program, due in part to the many benefits it provides to the public. Specifically, a pool with ENERGY STAR certified products includes features that reduce energy consumption, support water conservation and help save homeowners money. This impact on both the climate and a homeowner’s pocketbook has caused some to intentionally seek out ENERGY STAR products.

In July 2021, the Department of Energy (DOE) Dedicated Purpose Pool Pump (DPPP) regulations began. This new industry-wide regulation aims to make pool pumps more energy-efficient, and Pentair was a proud joint stakeholder in developing the new mandate. According to the DOE, pool owners have the potential of saving $2,140 in 12-months and improving yearly operating costs by about $550* when they update a pool pump that complies with the DPPP rules.

More than a decade ago, Pentair introduced the industry to a new pool of knowledge with variable speed pump technology. Pentair variable speed pumps feature programmable speed or flow settings, allowing them to run at different speeds, unlike single speed pumps. Variable speed pumps operate at a low flow rate (or speed) for extended periods to circulate chemicals. However, to effectively skim debris, they will also run at a higher flow rate for short periods throughout the day. This balance helps reduce energy costs for pool owners.

The flagship pool pump at Pentair is the IntelliFlo3® Variable Speed and Flow Pool Pump. Its patented sensorless speed and flow technology adjust to a pool’s conditions, helping provide even higher energy efficiency and savings than the last model. What makes this ENERGY STAR certified pump so remarkable is that it can help homeowners save up to 90%** on energy consumption! In addition to providing notable energy savings, this pump also brings pool technology into the 21st century with an optional touchscreen for a sleek, modern touch.

Energy-focused innovation doesn’t stop there. Pentair offers several solutions that allow homeowners to save energy while enjoying the fun, relaxation, and socialization that swimming pools provide.

In 2022, Pentair offered 17 ENERGY STAR certified pool pump models. This helped U.S. consumers save approximately 1 billion kWh of energy, resulting in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions of 414,974 tons of CO2 and saving $142 million in operating costs.*** Since 2005, Pentair’s ENERGY STAR pool pumps have been responsible for a cumulative 38.9 billion kWh of energy savings, a reduction of 15.9 million tons of CO2 emissions and $5.3 billion in operative cost savings for U.S. consumers.

Water is life’s most essential resource, and the Pentair team is not content sitting back and just going with the flow… we strive to lead and innovate the way toward a better future. This is demonstrated by:

This is just the tip of the iceberg – philanthropic efforts at Pentair engage communities around the world. The future begins tomorrow, so we’ve started planning for it today.

Perhaps the easiest way to reduce one’s impact is to purchase energy efficient products from companies that focus on sustainability. In a world where so many day-to-day tasks create pollution, making environmentally conscious choices often starts at the source.

For a more hands-on approach, pool owners can also:

With a focus on sustainability, the future is bright. After all, we’ve only got one Earth; we might as well celebrate and protect it! With the Pentair vision in mind, the future isn’t just perfect… it’s poolfect. Let’s dive in together!

*82 Fed. Reg. 5652 (January 18, 2017). Results for standard-size self-priming pool filter pumps.**Savings based on variable speed pump compared to a single-speed pump running 12 hours per day at an average of $0.16 per kWh in a 20,000 gallon pool. Actual savings may vary based on local utility rates, pool size, pump run time, pump horsepower, pump rpm, plumbing size and length, pump model, service factor and other hydraulic factors. Individual Weighted Energy Factor (WEF) scores and savings may vary by model.***Savings are based on a weighted average annual kWh savings from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) at $0.14 / kWh. Individual Weighted Energy Factor (WEF) scores and savings may vary by model. For more information regarding the energy efficiency features of current Pentair pool pump offerings, including WEF scores, please visit pentair.com/energystar.

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