Episode 275: Aquastar On the Rise! Pipeline Filter, Pump, PureStar Ozone, & Golden Ticket Details with Todd Pieri & Steve Barnes
In this episode, we explore Aquastar's innovative journey and cutting-edge products with insights from President Todd Pieri and Director of Science & Compliance Steve Barnes. Todd shares his career progression and the company's growth, while Steve discusses his extensive industry experience. We cover the reasons behind their new facility, the success of the Pipeline Cartridge Filter and Pipeline Pump, and the revolutionary Purestar Ozone System. The episode also highlights Aquastar's expansion into valves and actuators, the new "Try-Me Box" program, and the exciting Golden Ticket initiative, showcasing Aquastar's commitment to advancing pool technology and customer satisfaction.
Sponsored By: Lyon Financial
Connect with Aquastar, Todd & Steve
Topics Discussed:
02:10: Aquastar President, Todd Pieri Introduction
05:31: Steve Barnes, Director of Science & Compliance Introduction
12:48: When Justin First Heard of Aquastar
13:23: Reason for the New facility
38:49: Pipeline Filter
43:25: Pipeline Pump
49:48: Purestar Ozone
58:30: Why Ozone is Awesome
01:04:25: Mazzei Injector Physics
01:09:27: Valves, Check Valves, & Actuators
01:10:56: Try-Me Program
01:22:08: Tradeshows & Training
01:22:54: Golden Ticket Details
Resources & People Mentioned
Olaf Mjelde
Wade Arens
Poolcorp Temecula Branch
SCP Laguna
Caretaker Systems
Mazzei Injector
Aquastar President, Todd Pieri Introduction
Todd Pieri, president of Aquastar, has been with the company for 14 years, transitioning from Pool Corp where he worked for seven years after moving from the Midwest to the West Coast. Starting in sales, Todd rapidly progressed from Southern California sales manager to West Coast, then national sales manager, eventually becoming COO in 2020. Recently promoted to president, he reflects on his time at Pool Corp, particularly the bustling Temecula branch, and the significant growth of the company, highlighting his gratitude for the mentors and experiences that shaped his career. Todd’s journey illustrates the dynamic and expanding nature of the pool industry and his commitment to Aquastar’s growth.
Steve Barnes, Director of Science & Compliance Introduction
Born in Tucson and raised in South Scottsdale, Todd Pieri grew up around swimming pools, igniting his passion for the industry. As a self-proclaimed geek, he was fascinated by his family's pool built in 1973, which led him to a lifelong career in the pool industry. Starting at Caretaker Systems in 1984, Todd's journey involved testing pumps and designing products, which laid the foundation for his current role at Aquastar. Additionally, he spent 37 years shooting fireworks professionally, a role that honed his skills in dealing with regulations and permits, paralleling his work on pool industry standards. His extensive experience includes working at various companies like Pentair, where he focused on codes and standards. Todd’s dedication to the industry is evident in his leadership at Aquastar, where he contributes to innovative products and standards while maintaining a focus on safety and efficiency
Reason for the New facility
To accommodate growth, Todd Pieri’s company expanded from operating inefficiently across seven buildings within two square miles to acquiring a new 100,000 square foot facility in 2020. This new space, located centrally among their existing buildings, allowed them to streamline production by molding and assembling products under one roof, which significantly improved efficiency. The facility dedicated 50,000 square feet to molding and production, while the other 50,000 square feet housed finished goods for shipping. This consolidation reduced the logistical challenges and inefficiencies of transporting components between buildings. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for these improvements, driving the company to enhance their production and delivery processes. Recently, they began searching for an eighth building to further support their expansion.
Aquastar Pipeline Cartridge Filter
The Aquastar Pipeline Cartridge Filter has been a significant success, yet its potential is still being fully realized. According to Todd Pieri, the pool industry has historically set low standards for cartridge filters, unlike pumps which improved due to DOE regulations. Recognizing an opportunity, Aquastar developed a revolutionary filter that is more efficient, easier to use, and safer. Their filter exceeds DE levels of filtration, is four times more efficient than the largest existing cartridge filters, and has a smaller footprint. While traditional filters barely pass pressure tests at 105 PSI, Aquastar's filter withstands 200 PSI, showcasing its durability. This innovative design simplifies the flow path, reducing resistance and enhancing overall system performance. Despite skepticism from the industry about its compact size, the filter’s performance has been validated by NSF standards, contributing to a significant revenue increase for Aquastar over the past few years.
The Aquastar Pipeline Pump
The Aquastar Pipeline Pump has proven to be an exceptional product after a challenging start. Initially, the team scrapped their first pump, realizing it was too similar to existing products. With significant investment and re-engineering, they focused on creating a more efficient and quieter pump by redesigning the wet end and impeller, and using top-tier motors. This resulted in a pump with a volute-style wet end and larger basket, significantly enhancing performance and reducing noise, which indicates higher efficiency. Despite the delay in its launch, the pump is now rapidly gaining popularity, showing strong customer retention and increasing revenue. Available in three horsepower and one-and-a-half horsepower variable speed models, the Pipeline Pump is designed to integrate with existing automation systems. Alongside the Pipeline Cartridge Filter, which offers unprecedented efficiency and ease of maintenance, the pump is a key innovation in Aquastar's product lineup. These advancements underline Aquastar's commitment to engineering superior products that raise industry standards, providing both reliability and performance.
The Aquastar Purestar Ozone System
The Aquastar Purestar Ozone System revolutionizes pool water sanitation by making ozone, a powerful disinfectant, more accessible and efficient. Historically, effective ozone systems for pools were costly and cumbersome, often priced between $5,000 and $10,000. Aquastar addressed this by designing a retrofit ozone system that integrates easily with existing pools, particularly beneficial for remodels. Their innovative approach includes injecting ozone into the skimmer to break down contaminants before filtration, significantly reducing chemical usage and improving water quality. The Purestar Ozone System features a compact, efficient design with a built-in manifold and a Mazzie injector that operates at a lower pressure differential, making it compatible with variable speed pumps.
This system boasts several user-friendly and maintenance-free features, such as a translucent casing to monitor functionality, built-in error diagnostics, and a self-cleaning mechanism to prevent injector calcification. It can be installed in minutes with a simple 110-volt plug, making it exceptionally easy to use. The Purestar Ozone System's ability to deliver ozone efficiently at lower pressures and its ease of maintenance and installation mark a significant advancement in pool sanitation technology, providing a healthier, more efficient solution for pool owners.
Why Ozone is Awesome
Ozone is a powerful oxidizer critical for water sanitation, splitting oxygen molecules into O3 through corona discharge or UV, creating a highly unstable and reactive molecule that lasts only 20-30 minutes, hence it must be generated locally. This instability allows ozone to effectively oxidize and eliminate contaminants, including chloramines, heavy metals, and organic compounds, thus improving overall water quality. Unlike chlorine, which ozone enhances by preventing combined chlorine formation, ozone works 60-120 times faster, significantly boosting sanitization efficiency.
For pool professionals, promoting ozone systems is advantageous as they reduce chemical usage and improve water quality, extending the lifespan of pool finishes by handling waste and heavy metals. Aquastar's Purestar Ozone System is particularly notable for its innovative design, featuring a Mazzie injector that operates efficiently at lower pressure differentials, compatible with variable speed pumps. This system simplifies maintenance with built-in diagnostics and self-cleaning mechanisms, requiring minimal effort to install and maintain. By keeping water constantly moving, especially at low speeds, it prevents algae growth and maintains clearer, healthier pool water, showcasing the transformative impact of ozone in residential pool maintenance.
Mazzei Injector Physics
Aquastar has tackled the challenges of integrating ozone systems with in-floor pool cleaning systems, where traditional Mazzie injectors require a high pressure differential to operate effectively. By reducing this requirement from 10 PSI to 2 PSI, Aquastar's Purestar Ozone System overcomes the limitations of conventional injectors, making it feasible to use with variable speed pumps and avoiding disruptions caused by back pressure in in-floor systems. However, introducing ozone through in-floor systems can be complex due to the physical behavior of bubbles, which can interfere with the jets.
To address this, Aquastar recommends using a degas vessel to manage ozone integration without altering the system's hydraulics. Although Aquastar currently does not manufacture degas vessels, they plan to develop them for future applications, particularly for commercial pools where higher concentrations of ozone are required by code. These high-risk venues, such as public pools and splash pads, necessitate stringent sterilization, requiring degas and ozone destruct systems to ensure safety and equipment longevity.
The Purestar Ozone System is designed for residential use, offering an accessible solution that significantly enhances water quality and clarity. While not suitable for commercial pools yet, Aquastar is developing more robust systems to meet public pool standards. Their goal is to make ozone sanitation affordable and available for all types of pools, including those with covers, vinyl, and fiberglass constructions. The core technology of the Mazzie injector and bypass system will remain foundational, scaling up to meet the demands of larger and more complex pool systems in the future.
Valves
Aquastar has expanded its product line to include a variety of valves and actuators, responding to industry demand for high-quality, reliable components. They now offer three-way valves, two-way valves, check valves, and actuators, each designed with enhancements to improve upon existing industry standards. Key innovations include proprietary assembly techniques that boost hydraulic efficiency and a distinctive handle design featuring a rubber over-mold for better grip and aesthetics.
Their actuators are engineered for durability, complementing the robust design of the valves. Confident in the longevity and performance of these new products, Aquastar has introduced an unprecedented lifetime warranty for both the valves and actuators, a significant commitment reflecting their confidence in the quality of their products. This recent launch marks another milestone for Aquastar, showcasing their dedication to advancing pool technology and supporting pool professionals with top-tier equipment.
Aquastar Try-Me Program
Aquastar has introduced a new "Try Me" program, a first for the company, designed to allow pool professionals to sample their latest valve and actuator products at a significant discount. This program offers a box containing six three-way valves, four check valves, and two actuators, with a savings of $300 to $400 compared to standard distribution prices. Available through their website, this one-time offer aims to give professionals a chance to experience the quality and benefits of Aquastar's products. The three-way valves come in two sizes: 2x2.5 inches and 2x1.5 inches, catering to different installation needs.
Aquastar Golden Ticket
Aquastar's Golden Ticket program is an initiative to share their company story and showcase their operations by inviting industry professionals to their facility. Initially hesitant to reveal trade secrets, Aquastar has now secured patents for their proprietary processes and is eager to demonstrate their innovations. Inspired by the idea of giving back to the industry, they decided to randomly select six winners throughout the year to receive a Golden Ticket.
The program kicked off at the Western show, where a golden ticket was hidden in a product box, and the lucky winner was invited to visit Aquastar. Each winner can bring a partner and will enjoy a three-night stay in Ventura, California, with a comprehensive tour of Aquastar’s facilities, including demonstrations of their products and processes. The visit includes a mixer event, a full-day facility tour, a group dinner, and a free day to explore Southern California.
The final Golden Ticket will be given out at the international show, and additional tickets will be awarded monthly. Participants can apply through Aquastar’s website by providing their company information and explaining why they want to visit. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many meaningful submissions. Winners will be selected from the finalists based on their stories, and all expenses, including travel and accommodation, will be covered by Aquastar.
