History

The news story of the year: “Fluidra and Zodiac®, a world leader in premium products for pools and spas based in the US, have signed a merger agreement that will result in a cutting-edge organization on a global scale. Today marks a major milestone for our company and the pool sector in general.”

Purchase of the Belgian company Riiot Labs and of the Italian company Piscine Laghetto.

In line with the strategic decision to focus on Pool and Wellness, Fluidra purchases Riiot Labs specialized in connectivity and of the Italian company Piscine Laghetto, which makes above-ground designer pools. The company also sales ATH. 

Joan Planes founded Astral Construcciones Metálicas S.A. together with three other partners and became its senior executive. Until the early 2000s, Planes leads Astral’s expansion and internationalization process. In 2006, his son Eloi Planes, current Executive President, takes over the lead to handle the company’s listing.

Following this appointment as Honorary President of Fluidra, Joan Planes leads Fluidra Accelera’s entrepreneurship projects and manages Fundació Fluidra.

Besides the awards given to him over his career, his work in Fluidra's process of internationalization has been widely recognized. It is particularly worth highlighting the special prize given by the Government of Catalonia for the Internationalization of Catalonia's Economy awarded in 1995 to Astral Grup, S.A. and to him personally in 2006. Also worthy of mention is the prize awarded to him by the newspaper El Periódico in 2003 to the Best Business Initiative and the Government of Catalonia's St George's Cross, which was awarded to him in 2013.

First divestiture

Sale of Irrigaronne in France and incorporation of a subsidiary in Kazakhstan.

Consolidation and restructuring

In 2009, AstralPool España undergoes a major change: it merges with Cepex and MasterRiedgo to become Fluidra España. This will be the model followed in all countries subsequently.

The company is split into divisions by geographic area and the holding companies discontinued to create a leaner, more efficient structure.

Introduction and expansion of cash & carry outlets.

Openings

In 2008, Fluidra opens AstralPool branch offices in Belgium and Cyprus. The next countries to have a subsidiary are Thailand and South Africa in 2009, followed by Egypt, Malaysia and the Middle East in 2010. Fluidra’s growth in the international market continues with the opening of its first branch offices in Serbia and Brazil, in addition to a new one in South Africa. In 2012 it was the turn of Indonesia, Jordan, Romania and Montenegro.

Acquisitions

Spei, which later became Certikin Italia, is acquired in 2008.

Fluidra purchases the know-how in robots and acquires Aquaproducts in the United States and Aquatron in Israel. In 2012, Fluidra decides to embark on a joint venture with Youli, a Chinese plant specialized in fluid handling. Veico in Brazil joins the company in 2013.

Acquisition of Irrigaronne and Pacific in France, as well as Master Riego and ATH in Spain.

"AstralPool" is made the official supplier of the FINA World Swimming Championships held in Melbourne.

Aquaria adds the holding companies SNTE, CEPEX and NEOKEM to its structure in order to prepare for its listing.

As part of its organic growth, four branch offices join the group in Mexico, four more in China, another in India and it opens its own branch offices in Bulgaria and Singapore.

As part of the group´s inorganic growth it incorporates Ceibsa in Spain, Net Products in Mexico, Hurlcon in Australia and MTH in Germany. In addition, Aquaria extends its technological know-how following the addition as shareholder of the Spanish company IDEGIS, which develops innovative solutions for water treatment based on salt chlorination.

Aquaria continues its progress with the acquisition of Certikin in the United Kingdom and Manufacturas Gre in Spain. Further openings also take place in Poland and Mexico.

Aquaria is the Sponsor and official supplier of the 2003 World Swimming Championships in Barcelona. The floating pool set up in the Palau Sant Jordi sports arena makes headlines.

The Aquaria group is created as a corporation comprising the companies dedicated to the pool sector that were set up by the four founding families.

Banco Sabadell acquires 20% of the company's share capital in the same year. 

Launch of Trace Logistics and new subsidiaries

The number of products manufactured quickly grows following the launch of so many companies. As a result, a logistics operator, Trace Logistics, is established to handle the storage and distribution of all of these materials.

The international expansion continues with the opening of subsidiaries in Hungary, Switzerland and Chile.

AstralPool España is formed following the merger of Plasteral, Eumawel, Equipool, Materiales de Riego and Surast, five Spanish companies that distribute AstralPool’s products.            

Talleres del Agua, a company with extensive know-how in heating systems, is also acquired.

The 1990s sees the company’s expansion in Denmark in 1990 and the United States in 1994. Sales branches are opened in Dubai and Germany (1994), the Czech Republic in 1995, Turkey in 1996 and Australia in 1999.

IML joins the company in 1995 as a factory specializing in pool pumps.

Another highlight is AstalPool’s contribution as a supplier for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

The Astral group rearranged into holdings

In order to improve governance, Astral is split into holding companies in 1998: the AstralPool Holding takes in the pool sales companies, AuricPool the pool manufacturers, the Cepex Holding the valves and fittings companies, the Neokem Holding chemical products for the treatment of water, and the SNTE Holding domestic and industrial water treatment.

Creación de las fábricas más conocidas de Fluidra

Poltank, a manufacturer of polyester filters opens its doors in 1980.

In 1984, Cepex, a company manufacturing accessories and valves for fluid handling, is established.

Sacopa, a production plant specializing in injection-molded plastic, opens in 1985.

Astramatic, a wastewater treatement company is launched in 1986, as is CTX, a company which manufactures chemical products for water treatment.

The international expansion continues with the opening of sales branches in the United Kingdom in 1984 and Portugal in 1988.

Astral Export is created as a company dealing with foreign markets. It would later become the cornerstone and springboard for creating the international network of branch offices.

Astral launches its first branch offices in the international market, starting in France in 1976 and then in Italy in 1977.  

The production of injection-molded plastic parts begins in 1978 at Plasteral, which would then become the first company of its kind exclusively distributing products for pools.

Exports to Denmark and Australia begin.