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Confer Plastics Plans 30,000-Square-Foot Warehouse Expansion

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Confer Plastics Plans 30,000-Square-Foot Warehouse Expansion

Confer Plastics, one of the most established manufacturers serving the pool and spa industry, is moving forward with a 30,000-square-foot warehouse expansion at its Wheatfield, N.Y., facility. The project, now under town review, is designed to support the company’s rising production volume across pool, spa, and outdoor living categories — as well as the continued growth of its emerging direct-to-consumer business.

Company president Bob Confer confirmed that the new warehouse space at 2107 Liberty Drive will help accommodate increased demand for core products such as pool ladders, steps, hot tub cabinets, and other blow-molded components widely used across the aquatics market.

“We’re also expanding to accommodate our direct-to-consumer business, which is a relatively new endeavor for us,” he wrote in an email. “In 2023, we developed online channels for snow sleds and patio furniture. Our initial success has been pretty decent, so we expect the future for those products, and more to come, to be bright.”

The project contractor, Tedesco Construction Services, has previously overseen multiple expansion efforts for Confer at its primary manufacturing plant on Witmer Road in North Tonawanda. That facility houses some of the largest blow molding machines in the world, including a 15-foot-tall unit capable of handling 145 pounds of material at a time. The company’s capabilities extend far beyond aquatics: Confer also manufactures items for stadium seating, medical devices, kayaks, mannequins, trash receptacles, and more.

While the Wheatfield expansion will not directly add new jobs at that location, Confer noted that the increased warehouse capacity “could lead to a handful of jobs” at the main North Tonawanda plant. Additional storage effectively boosts manufacturing throughput, allowing the company to run molding machines more efficiently and increase overall production cycles.

Founded in 1973, Confer Plastics has grown to a 195-employee operation and remains one of Western New York’s most enduring manufacturers within the pool and spa sector. The warehouse expansion underscores the company’s commitment to supporting its dealer network, OEM partners, and consumers as demand for outdoor living products remains strong.

Featured Photo Credit: Confer Plastics

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Pool News coverage brought to you by Pool Magazine's own Marcus Packer. Marcus Packer is a 20 year pool industry veteran pool builder and pool service technician. In addition to being a swimming pool professional, Marcus has been a writer and long time contributor for Newsweek Magazine's home improvement section and more recently for Florida Travel + Life. Have a story idea or tip you'd like to share with Pool Magazine? Email [email protected] your story idea.

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Nidec Names New Pool/Spa Motors National Account Manager

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Atticus Edge, Nidec's new National Account Manager for pool and spa motors, pictured alongside the Nidec logo and a Neptune pool pump motor.

ST. LOUIS, MO – October 21, 2026 – Nidec, a manufacturer of electric motors and drives, has announced the promotion of Atticus Edge to National Account Manager for the pool and spa industry.
 
In his new role, Edge is responsible for the Pool/Aftermarket Motor business, managing Nidec’s U.S. MOTORS® network of sales representatives and supporting key national pool supplier accounts. He works closely with customers and sales partners to drive growth and deliver strong support across the pool aftermarket channel. 
 
Edge joined Nidec two years ago, serving in various engineering roles. Most recently, he supported the Variable speed and Neptune® motor platforms as a mechanical engineer, where he developed strong technical expertise and product knowledge. 
 
“As pool pumps and motors become more complex, pool service professionals often need expert guidance in selecting and programming pump motors,” said Steve O’Brien, National Sales Director at Nidec. “Atticus is already proving himself in this role as he applies his education and knowledge to benefit pool service professionals and distributors.”
 
Variable speed motors are now required by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for most pool applications, including replacement motors. Nidec’s Neptune line of pool pump motors offers energy savings plus the ability to replace only the failed motor, rather than the entire pump. 
 
With these technical advantages, Edge said the Neptune line has become a popular replacement motor for the pool industry. “We’re pleased to be able to offer service reps, and in turn their pool customers, these high-efficiency motors that meet or exceed DOE regulations.” 
 
Prior to joining Nidec, Edge worked for Spec-Tech Industrial Electric as an assembly and testing tech. He also completed an internship at Neff Power. Edge holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Saint Louis University. 
 
About Nidec 
 
Nidec Corporation is the world’s No.1 comprehensive motor manufacturer. Based in Kyoto, Japan, Nidec Corporation offers motors ranging from micro-size to super large, as well as application products and services in IT, automation, home appliances, automobiles, commercial and industrial systems, environmental, energy, and many other businesses. Nidec is comprised of approximately 340 companies employing more than 110,000 people all over the world. Nidec.com
 
The U.S. MOTORS® brand of Nidec Motor Corporation encompasses a complete line of general and special purpose commercial and industrial motors from 1/3 horsepower through 4000 horsepower for a wide variety of applications. Since 1908, the U.S. MOTORS brand has stood for exceptional product reliability and performance. It is one of the oldest and most trusted brands in the motor industry and is recognized worldwide as the mark of leadership and technological innovation. USMotors.com

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Soake Pools Bolsters National Growth With Four Key Hires

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Soake Pools team announcement featuring four new hires surrounding the company's logo.

New territory managers, production leadership, and operations support reinforce the plunge pool manufacturer’s white-glove service as demand grows across U.S. markets

Pembroke, N.H. — October 2026 — Soake Pools, the New England manufacturer that pioneered the made-to-order precast concrete plunge pool, has added four team members to support its growth into new regional markets. The hires span sales, production leadership, and operations, positioning the team to scale with rising national demand for its hand-tiled pools, without sacrificing service or quality.

New appointments include:

  • Kerry Covington, Pacific Northwest Territory Manager—Based in Oregon, Covington is Soake Pools’ first territory manager to live and work in the Pacific Northwest, offering on-the-ground support. With more than a decade of experience in high-end remodeling and landscape design for luxury residential construction, he will help Pacific Northwest homeowners translate plunge pool concepts into thoughtfully planned additions tailored to their homes and landscapes.
  • Brooke Fine, MA South Shore, Cape Cod & Islands Territory Manager—Also based in territory and a Soake Pools customer herself, Fine brings both local knowledge and firsthand experience with the brand to the role. With a personal understanding of how a Soake Pool can enhance wellness, relaxation and outdoor living, she will provide dedicated in-territory support to homeowners across the Massachusetts South Shore, Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
  • Eric Bailey, General Manager—At the company’s Pembroke production facility, Bailey will oversee manufacturing with 22 years of precast concrete experience. As a born-and-raised New Hampshire resident with a career built on quality and customer service, Bailey embodies the values Soake Pools has built its reputation on.
  • Katherine Fillon, Accounts Receivable—Lifelong New Englander Fillon rounds out the company’s administrative team, supporting a seamless experience between Soake Pools’ customers, partners and collaborators.

The news follows Soake Pools’ recognition as one of Business NH Magazine’s 2026 Best Companies to Work For in New Hampshire, where the company earned the No. 11 spot after a rigorous evaluation that included employer and team surveys, site visits, and employee focus groups. As it grows its team, the locally owned, family-run company stays anchored to the same standards that earned this honor.

About Soake Pools: Co-founded by Karen and Brian Larson in 2014, Soake® Pools disrupted the industry as the first company to offer hand-tiled precast concrete plunge pools for the home. Today, Soake Pools is the leading prefabricated plunge pool manufacturer in North America, designing luxury, space-saving pools for year-round use and enjoyment. At Soake Pool’s New England facility, its plunge pools are made to order in a controlled environment using proprietary concrete and state-of-the-art tile, continually setting the standard with new dimensions, luxury finishes, and innovations in quality control, safety and usability with impressive turnaround timelines. Fully customizable and delivered ready to install, each Soake Pool is equipped for hot dips in the winter and cooling soaks in the summer, with cold plunge and resistance system offerings that support athletic recovery and enhance at-home wellness routines. The monolithic concrete design offers accessibility in size and pricing, while saltwater filtration, low water usage, and variable speed pumps support sustainability, require less maintenance, and lower costs. Delivering backyard luxury retreats with demonstrated ROI in home value, Soake Pools offer countless physical and mental wellness benefits at a fraction of the footprint and expense of a traditional pool.

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CCEI Taps Benoit Masse for Sales

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Benoit Masse, CCEI Sales Director for Canada

CCEI is pleased to announce Benoit Masse as the company’s new Sales Director for Canada. Masse has over 35 years of experience in the pool industry, including 20 years at Hayward, which has given him the opportunity to develop true expertise in everything from technical service, commercial pool construction, as well as a deep understanding of distribution. 

“Benoit brings CCEI in-depth industry knowledge which will be tremendously important as he supports our customers and partners across Canada,” says Martin Grenier, VP of CCEI’s North American operations. Benoit can be reached at [email protected].

www.ccei-pool.com/us/
424-800-2191

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