Waterco’s Head Office, Sydney
Sustainability is in our DNA
Scott Sutherland, VIC Manager - Waterco How’s business Scott? Our business, like many, has been COVID19 affected. We’ve seen about a 10 - 15% reduction. As a wholesaler, we’re generally as busy as other members at any given point in time. The second COVID-19 wave coming in Victoria could signal tougher times ahead but we are ready to face it with the members. The last recession we had really benefitted our industry as people stayed home and wanted to spend money on their own backyards.
SPASAVICTORIA
From humble beginnings as a small PVC pipe and fittings importer to the water treatment and swimming pool equipment manufacturing giant of today, Waterco has gone from strength to strength in just under 40 years.
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Could you give me a brief history of Waterco and how it has become the water treatment and swimming pool equipment manufacturing giant of today? Soon Sinn Goh started the business in 1981, almost 40 years ago. Back then it was Dronaco, his first operation importing PVC pipe & fittings to supply to plumbers and builders. He grew this business once he noticed an opening in the market when he opened his first Swimart franchise, which has now grown into 70 stores across Australia and NZ.
In 1986, Zane solar was introduced to the market to service pool heating, then in 1989, Waterco became listed on the ASX, so we’re very proud to be one of the few remaining Australian businesses still around and enjoying such longevity within our industry, particularly as a manufacturer. We’ve got manufacturing warehouses in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, China, the U.K, Canada and U.S.A. and have distribution warehouses in all states of Australia and New Zealand. In 2003, Waterco acquired Lacron, a fibreglass pump and filter manufacturing company in Britain. Then in 2005, from the US we acquired Focus-Temp electro-heat heat pumps and also in the same year, Baker Hydro, a filtration manufacturer.
When did you enter the pool and spa industry and what changes have you seen over the years? I came into the pool and spa industry in late 2009 from the hardware industry selling paint brushes and accessories. I saw an ad on SEEK.com and applied for the job at Waterco. It was a big change but it was what I needed, as I’d been in the hardware game for 20 years.
