Manufacturers
Belgard – Industry Leaders in Pavers
Belgard, the leaders in pavers & pool decking explain what has led them to be a top choice among pros in the pool industry as well as consumers.

When talking about higher quality products and materials used for pool decking, Belgard is a name frequently dropped into the conversation. Belgard is widely recognized as the industry leaders in Pavers.
The manufacturer has been long regarded in the pool industry for their high quality products. You will see Belgard pavers surrounding the finest swimming pools in the country.
Belgard Pavers – A Popular Choice For Pool Decks
Patios and decks are intrinsically tied to inground swimming pools. Consequently, when contractors are planning a project – Belgard products often come into play. Their wide array of paver products are often used in the application of the pool deck area and retaining walls. With one of the largest and well supported product lines, they have become one of the most popular hardscaping choices with both professionals and retail consumers. Belgard’s professional products are available at more than 2,000 dealers throughout North America.

Swimming pool decking can be quite elaborate. Homeowners look for options that will enhance and beautify their backyard as well as provide a cohesive and flowing dynamic to the pool area. Belgard’s wide selection of high quality products, customer & retail focused initiatives and innovative technology have been what has helped differentiate them from competitors.
Their line of Standard, Porcelain, and Permeable pavers provide incredibly flexible installation options for angular, curved, entangled, floating, modular, raised, and sunken paver applications.
We had the opportunity to speak with Joe Raboine – Director of Belgard Residential Hardscapes recently. Prior to joining Belgard, Joe had over 15 years experience as a contractor. Raboine is a highly acclaimed expert in the field of hardscapes and outdoor living design.
Belgard’s line of paver products are widely used in the application of pool decks. Raboine brings a contractors perspective to the conversation when discussing the benefits of pavers over stamped concrete. We asked him to help explain the benefits to home owners who are considering pavers vs concrete as an option.

Benefits of Pavers Over Other Deck Options
Pavers are a tremendously popular decking option for consumers. There are literally thousands of different designs and materials to choose from. However, pricing for pavers vs concrete is often on par or slightly higher. Joe Raboine is responsible for many of Belgard’s initiatives. As a leading innovator in hardscapes, Raboine offers some insight as to why consumers might choose pavers over other decking applications such as stamped concrete. “Often, consumers opt for pavers because of the cost savings in potential maintenance” said Raboine.
“When performing pool repairs, builders often opt for pavers because they are much easier to remove and reinstall. Accessibility is important to contractors. Conversely, pool repairs with a concrete deck will often involve a jackhammer and costly repairs thereafter.”
JOE RABOINE – DIRECtor OF BELgArD RESIDENTIAL HARDSCAPES
“Consumers also appreciate paver sealants which help make surfaces less slippery and tend to provide better contact surface grip.” Raboine explained. “They are also incredibly durable and have a much higher PSI strength in comparison to concrete decks which tend to chip and crack”.

Belgard Sets The Curve
You’ll find Belgard’s wide selection of products in most retail home improvement stores around America. Raboine explained how their continuous approach towards innovation is what has led Belgard towards establishing itself as a leader in hardscapes today. “We have released several exciting new products and design tools that will definitely help the pool industry. These include Belgard Design Studio, Rooms, and Artforms™.”

Design Studio
The recent release of Belgard Design Studio enables Belgard Authorized Contractors to provide customer access to 3D Virtual Walkthroughs of their paver products. With just a few site photos and a conceptual sketch of the outdoor living design, Belgard Design Studio can convert those ideas into a set of beautiful 3D designs. Their Authorized Contractor program allows for unlimited 3D renderings. This may prove especially useful to pool designers who often incorporate 3D designs in their sales presentations. It’s also incredibly beneficial for homeowners who want to visualize paver options and pool deck designs.

Rooms
With the release of Belgard Rooms, consumers now have a linear path to plan their outdoor living project. The new online tool provides an innovative and interactive process that guides homeowners through the initial stages of design. This includes product selection and outdoor room layout. Already the program has been helping retailers leverage automation to cut down on time spent during the design phase. Raboine has been closely involved with these projects, both of which have enormous applications for backyard remodeling and pool deck design.

Artforms™
Belgard’s newest product Artforms™ is the hardscape industry’s first fully finished modular concrete panel system for outdoor living. The new system has applications for benches, barbecues, counters, fireplaces, planters, and privacy walls. This innovative new product allows the pre-formed concrete panels to be easily configured and affixed. Artforms™ provides simple, adjustable stainless steel hardware, allowing for multiple, personalized configurations.
How Belgard is Keeping Up With Demand
Belgard has had a deep association with the swimming pool industry for years. This past year saw unprecedented increase in sales for inground swimming pools. Many attributed the spike in demand to Covid-19, which consequently led to homeowners renewing an interest in improving their backyards.
Analysts predict the 2021 Spring and Summer season will be a repeat of last year. There is still alot of pent up demand from homeowners that were unable to build last year. Already costs have been increasing across the board on labor and materials. Major manufacturers and distributors have announced price increases already, citing supply chain issues as the number one source.
We asked Raboine how Belgard has dealt with keeping up with demand and how they are shifting operations to deal with the pandemic.
“We’ve added new facilities and have been working 24/7/365 trying to stay ahead of demand.”
Joe Raboine – Director of belgard residential hardscapes

“We’re actively working with all of our dealers and distributors trying to forecast and predict order flow. This allows us to better plan. It also allows us to make sure that we have inventory available to better service our customers.” Raboine explained. The Residential Hardscapes division volume expects a spike. Consequently, they advise installers and retailers to get their orders in as quickly as possible. Ordering early will help them accommodate anticipated heavy order volume this season.
Featured Photo Credit: Alan Smith Pools – Gemstone Silver Pearl Radiant Fusion Finish with Belgard Lafit Grana Victorian pavers and Hancrete Cobblestone Light Sandblast – All other photos provided courtesy of Belgard.
Manufacturers
Pentair Names Bob Fishman Interim CFO Following Executive Leadership Change

Pentair has appointed former Chief Financial Officer Bob Fishman as Interim Executive Vice President and CFO following the departure of Nicholas Brazis, who left the company on July 10 to pursue an opportunity with a private company. The company has launched a search for a permanent successor while Fishman assumes the role effective immediately.
Fishman previously served as Pentair’s Executive Vice President and CFO for six years before stepping away from the position earlier this year. His return comes as the company works through a challenging period for its pool segment, which has experienced significantly weaker-than-anticipated demand resulting from continued inventory reductions throughout the distribution channel.
“Our Board and leadership team are pleased to have Bob Fishman rejoin Pentair on an interim basis as we conduct a search for his successor. During Bob’s six year tenure at Pentair, he helped to strengthen our financial foundation and enhance our operating discipline. Given his deep financial expertise, clear understanding of our business and strong relationships across Pentair and the financial community, I am confident he will step back in seamlessly as we execute on our key strategic and financial priorities to build long-term value,” said John L. Stauch, Pentair President and Chief Executive Officer.
Fishman also commented on his return.
“I’m excited to return to Pentair and support the company during this transition. Pentair has a strong portfolio, talented team and clear strategy for long-term success. I’m optimistic about the opportunities ahead and look forward to working alongside John and the team to support disciplined execution and create value for our customers, shareholders and employees.”
Pool Business Drives Revised Outlook
Alongside the executive announcement, Pentair released preliminary second-quarter financial expectations and lowered its full-year outlook, citing more aggressive inventory reductions across the pool distribution channel than previously anticipated. The company now expects full-year sales to decline between 4% and 7%, compared to its earlier forecast calling for 2% to 4% growth.
According to Pentair, channel destocking is expected to reduce pool segment sales by approximately $250 million during 2026, with an estimated $155 million impact on pool segment income. The company also noted that second-quarter pool sales were significantly affected by inventory adjustments made by major channel partners amid softer market conditions.
Despite the near-term slowdown, Pentair said it is taking steps to strengthen the pool business by working more closely with dealers, distributors and service professionals while accelerating new product development and expanding technical support resources. The company maintained that it continues to hold a leading position in energy-efficient and connected pool technologies and expects market conditions to normalize heading into the 2027 pool season.
Stauch emphasized the company’s confidence in the long-term outlook despite current market conditions.
“We believe these headwinds are temporary and we are taking decisive actions to adapt the business to current demand levels while positioning it to return to normalized performance in 2027. We are confident that these actions will bring us closer to our dealers, accelerate innovation and drive long-term growth. Our pool business is an industry leader with a premier brand, strong customer base, and a large install base, with leading positions in energy-efficient and smart connected pool technologies. Importantly, our flow and water solutions segments performed generally in line with expectations as we continue to successfully execute our growth agenda, demonstrating the strength and balance of our portfolio.”
Fishman expressed confidence that the company remains well positioned as it works through current market conditions.
“We have assessed our full year forecast and feel confident that we can execute successfully in 2026 and position ourselves for significant growth in 2027. With a solid balance sheet, strong cash flow, a balanced capital deployment strategy and a resilient business model, we remain well positioned to deliver long-term shareholder value.”
Pentair is scheduled to release its complete second-quarter financial results and provide additional commentary on its outlook during its earnings call on July 28.
Manufacturer
Fluidra Acquires Datapool to Lead Digitalization and Efficiency in the Pool Sector

Fluidra, the global leader in pool and wellness equipment and connected solutions, has announced the acquisition of Datapool, the digital twin platform developed by Ecotropy. With this transaction, the company reinforces its strategic commitment to sustainability, operational efficiency and the digitalization of the sector.
The transaction represents the evolution of a collaboration that began in 2024, when Fluidra invested in Ecotropy through Fluidra Ventures, its Corporate Venture Capital fund focused on startups with the potential to transform the pool and wellness sector through technological innovation.
With this acquisition, Datapool becomes fully integrated into Fluidra’s digital ecosystem for commercial pools, consolidating its role as a key part of the company’s value proposition. The platform incorporates advanced analytics capabilities, IoT solutions and real-time data within an open and scalable architecture, in line with the company’s strategy to offer connected and sustainable solutions that maximize the efficiency of aquatic facilities and accelerate the transition towards smarter management models.
Datapool outfits aquatic facilities with digital twins, enabling pools to be managed using reliable, real-time data and replacing management models based on estimates or manual supervision.
In this way, the platform simulates the optimal operation of each facility and continuously compares it with variables such as energy consumption, occupancy, weather conditions and water quality, providing a comprehensive view that helps anticipate incidents, optimize resources and improve operational performance.
Thanks to this technology, operators can reduce operating costs by 10% to 25% by optimizing water and energy consumption without the need for construction works or invasive interventions; monitor and adjust key parameters such as temperature, water quality and occupancy in real time; automate management through predictive models that adapt climate control and operations to real demand; generate automatic reports with traceable data for audits, tenders or grant applications; and plan investments and improvements based on objective data.
“This acquisition marks a milestone in our digitalization strategy. Datapool allows us to accelerate the transition towards an intelligent pool management model, improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact and offering our customers data-driven tools to make better decisions,” said Thorsten Muck, Commercial Pool Director at Fluidra.
Manufacturer
Pentair Announces Leadership Transition for Pentair Pool

Pentair plc (NYSE: PNR), a leader in helping the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water life’s most essential resource, today announced that Jerome Pedretti, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Pentair Pool, will depart the Company effective July 1, 2026. Pedretti concludes a distinguished career with Pentair spanning more than 20 years.
In connection with Pedretti’s departure, Pentair is eliminating the Chief Executive Officer of Pentair Pool role. De’Mon Wiggins, current EVP and President, Pentair Flow and Pentair Water Solutions, will assume responsibility for the Pool segment as EVP and President, Pentair Flow, Water Solutions and Pool, effective April 28, 2026. Pedretti will remain with Pentair through his departure date to support an orderly transition.
“Over more than two decades with Pentair, Jerome has made a significant and lasting impact on our Pool and Flow businesses through his leadership, deep expertise, and unwavering commitment to our customers and our culture,” said John Stauch, Pentair President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are truly grateful for Jerome’s many contributions and for his thoughtful partnership in supporting a smooth transition. With De’Mon’s strong track record of execution and strategic leadership, I am confident in the continued momentum of our Pool business and excited about the opportunities ahead.”
CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release contains statements that we believe to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words “targets,” “plans,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “likely,” “may,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “positioned,” “strategy,” or “future” or words, phrases, or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the overall global economic and business conditions impacting our business, including the strength of housing and related markets and conditions relating to international hostilities; supply, demand, logistics, competition and pricing pressures related to and in the markets we serve; the ability to achieve the benefits of our restructuring plans, cost reduction initiatives and Transformation Program; the impact of raw material, logistics and labor costs and other inflation; volatility in currency exchange rates and interest rates; failure of markets to accept new product introductions and enhancements; the ability to successfully identify, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions; risks associated with operating foreign businesses; the impact of seasonality of sales and weather conditions; our ability to comply with laws and regulations; the impact of changes in laws, regulations and administrative policy, including those that limit U.S. tax benefits or impact trade agreements and tariffs; the outcome of litigation and governmental proceedings; and the ability to achieve our long-term strategic operating and sustainability goals and targets. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. All forward-looking statements, including all financial forecasts, speak only as of the date of this release. Pentair assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update the information contained in this release.
ABOUT PENTAIR PLC
At Pentair, we help the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource. From our residential and commercial water solutions, to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is a core large cap value S&P 500 equity stock focused on smart, sustainable water solutions that help our planet and people thrive.
Pentair had revenue in 2025 of approximately $4.2 billion, and trades under the ticker symbol PNR. With approximately 9,000 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.
Contacts
Media Contact:
Shelly Hubbard
Vice President, Investor Relations
Direct: 612-812-0148
Email: [email protected]
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