News
Piscina & Wellness Barcelona Closes Its Best Edition Of The Last Decade

Piscina & Wellness Barcelona has more than lived up to expectations in its best edition of the last decade. The Fira de Barcelona trade show closes its doors today, confirming its position as an effective international business center for an innovative industry that is committed to sustainability and digitalization in order to achieve more experiential and efficient aquatic facilities in terms of water and energy consumption. The event, with 367 exhibitors from 30 countries, was visited by more than 14,000 professionals, 56% of them international, from up to 100 countries.
After four days of intense activity, Piscina & Wellness leaves a good feeling among the participating companies, speakers, invited buyers and the professional public. The international connection with Europe, the Mediterranean and Latin America, together with the attractiveness of the Spanish market, one of the most important in the world in terms of the size of the pool stock to be maintained and equipped (more than 1.3 million units), have been even more evident in this edition marked by growth.
Specifically, the event has increased its commercial surface area by 54% compared to 2021, has reached an all-time record of international participation with 68% of foreign companies, and has increased the number of visitors by 40% compared to the last edition held two years ago at the height of the pandemic, also exceeding the attendance figures for the 2019 show by 16%. On this occasion, moreover, the presence of international buyers from Mexico, France, Portugal, Italy, China, Belgium, Germany and the Middle East region has also increased.
The president of Piscina & Wellness Barcelona, Eloi Planes, is satisfied with the development of the fair and the representativeness of the offer achieved this year: “we have attracted a quality visitor and clients with specific projects that need to apply solutions very focused on sustainability to adapt all types of aquatic facilities for both residential and public use to the demands of the context of climate change in which we find ourselves”. Planes also highlights “the contribution of the fair to give visibility to innovation in the sector and to highlight the social impact of swimming pools as infrastructures necessary to improve people’s health and wellbeing, creating spaces for community relations”.
Activities
As a complement to the commercial offer, it is worth highlighting the interest aroused by the show’s activity areas. In this regard, the Innovation Zone, with around twenty new products for a smart, connected, sustainable and healthy pool, was one of the must-see places at the show. On display in this area were, for example, intelligent skimmers to eliminate waste that work with solar energy, salt chlorinators capable of controlling pool disinfection and the operation of peripheral equipment with a mobile phone, water purifiers that reduce the use of chemical products by up to 85% and the quietest and most energy-efficient pool pumps on the market.
Another focus of the show was the Wellness Experience, a large wellness centre with an active pool, saunas, whirlpool baths, showers, fitness area and treatment cabins. Demonstrations of aquatic therapies and various treatments in the cabins took place there. As a novelty, visitors to this space have had the opportunity to live an immersive experience within a virtual environment, through a Roman baths, a spa on ice and a tropical beach. Also noteworthy was the ‘Outdoor Living Experience’ showroom, which showcased new products and services related to swimming pools, outdoor decoration and outdoor wellness experiences.
Piscina & Wellness Barcelona also hosted various conferences that promoted debate and networking, such as the first edition of the Pool Horizons Summit, an event promoted by the world’s leading companies and organisations in the sector, which reflected on the role of swimming pools and their contribution to social and environmental challenges. Also well received was the fourth Europe – Latin America Business Meeting which, for the first time, included buyers and specifiers from the Middle East and associated business meetings. Other widely attended sessions were the INDESCAT (the Catalan sports industry cluster) workshops on the sustainability and digitisation of swimming pools, which brought together professionals from these markets linked to architecture, the hotel and tourism industry; and the conferences organised by the Spanish Association of Landscape Architects (AEP) on a new paradigm in landscaping and the impact of climate change on project design.
Awards
Once again this year, Piscina & Wellness Barcelona awarded prizes to the best products presented at the trade show, the best wellness establishments on the Iberian peninsula and in Europe, and the aquatic projects presented by architecture students from all over the world in three competitions that received around one hundred entries.
The companies Ercros, for its sustainable corrugated cardboard packaging, and Fluidra, for its new range of AstralPool Verdon VS variable speed connected pumps, were recognised with the awards for innovative product in sustainability and connectivity, respectively, at the Piscina & Wellness Barcelona 2023 Awards. The Vidago Palace Hotel Golf & Spa wellness centres in the Portuguese town of Vidago (Vila Real), The Retreat at Blue Lagoon in Grindavik, Iceland, and the Parador Costa da Morte in Muxía, in the province of A Coruña, are some of the winners of the Wellness Experience Awards, which recognised the best spas, spas and thalassotherapy centres of the year. Finally, the student Catalina Petra Lizasoain from the Madrid School of Architecture, ETSAM, won first prize in the International Competition for Architecture Students with her project “Aquatic Stitching”.
Water reuse
Finally, as part of the measures to reduce the event’s environmental footprint, this year all the pools and spas on display at the fair have been filled with vitalised seawater, a sustainable alternative from the company “Másque iniciativas”. This afternoon, after the show closes, the water will be collected again in tanker trucks to be reused in other aquatic facilities or fire-fighting ponds.
Pool Builder
Ownership Group Acquires Shasta Pools, Announces Expansion Plans to Offer Complete Home Services
Dansons Capital Group, Accrual Equity Partners, and Hydro Construction purchased Arizona’s premier pool builder with eye on developing national brand

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (August 31, 2026) – Dansons Capital Group, in partnership with Accrual Equity Partners (AEP) and Hydro Construction (HydroCon), completed the acquisition of Shasta Pools, Phoenix Metro’s most recognized pool builder, and announced an immediate expansion into the broader home services market with plans to grow the brand into a national powerhouse. Founded in 1966 by brothers Bob and Skip Ast, the third-generation, family-owned pool business has built or renovated more than 150,000 pools across Maricopa County and is among the country’s top premier pool builders. The acquisition, finalized August 6, positions the company with a competitive edge as it enters a new phase of accelerated growth
Building on Shasta’s track record of success, the ownership group will grow the company’s core business divisions, including residential and commercial pool construction and renovation, Shasta Signature Series luxury pool designs, backyard hardscaping solutions, extended warranties, and e-commerce supplies. The deal also directs new capital into Shasta’s high-volume, recurring pool maintenance business, establishing a scalable foundation for an expanded home services portfolio.
Expanding the Home Services Model
Shasta Pools will also debut Shasta Home Services, the first step in the company’s expansion into a comprehensive home services platform. Shasta enters the space with more than 200,000 customer relationships, route density in Central Arizona, and a 60-year brand homeowners have entrusted with their homes. The company plans to aggressively expand the platform organically and through partnership across the essential services every home depends on.
In addition, work has begun on a new, state-of-the-art design center and headquarters in Scottsdale that will centralize operations and give customers a welcoming, creative atmosphere to reimagine their yards. The campus will also anchor a technology-driven contact center staffed by a world-class team that creates a single point of contact for every Shasta customer, from pool service to the company’s expanding home services platform.
A Partnership Rooted in Shared Values
Dansons Capital Group, a family business led by CEO Dan Thiessen, President Jeff Thiessen, and COO Jordan Thiessen, built and grew a portfolio of backyard-focused businesses including Pit Boss Grills, which they scaled into a worldwide brand before selling in June 2023.
Jeff Thiessen sparked a relationship with the Ast family during the construction of his own backyard pool, a personal experience that gave him firsthand insight into the industry’s potential. Recognizing the Ast family’s shared values and significant opportunity with strategic investment, he partnered with AEP and HydroCon to pursue that growth together.
“Shasta Pools has national industry brand recognition and has been an Arizona legacy for the last 60 years and we’re excited to reinvest in the company and catapult its growth into the next 60 years,” said Jeff Thiessen, President, Dansons Capital Group. “We’ve already met with more than 200 employees to learn what they love about Shasta Pools and hear their ideas of how we can grow the company and continue providing our customers with amazing customer service.”
Dan Thiessen will serve as Chairman and lead the new ownership team to identify and hire top industry talent and grow Shasta’s home services platform to develop it into a national brand.
Legacy Preserved, Future Secured
“This was the right time to bring in a new ownership team to take Shasta Pools to the next level and the next generation of growth,” said Skip Ast Jr., who served as president at Shasta Pools. “My father and my family built this company on a commitment to quality to every homeowner who trusted us with their backyard, their budget, and their own family. We’re confident that the new leadership team’s commitment to uphold that will never change. Knowing this team shares our values and will invest in our team gives Shasta Pools the foundation to grow stronger than ever.”
Ast helped build Shasta Pools to a dominant force in the industry, with multiple divisions topping $100 million in combined revenue. The company holds membership in the prestigious Master Pools Guild, one of only 110 members globally.
A Different Approach to Private Equity
“Partnering with Shasta Pools represents the future of home services. A trusted, generational brand, Shasta brings 200,000 loyal customer relationships with a genuine commitment to the people who serve them every day,” said Jacob Tilzer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Accrual Equity Partners. “Together with our partners at Dansons Capital Group and Hydro Construction, we all share a belief that enduring businesses are built on trust, earned one customer at a time. We’re proud to build alongside this team as Shasta grows into a nationwide home services brand.”
The new ownership group brings more than 150 years of combined expertise in building, scaling, and optimizing service industry brands. Each company shares a faith-based approach to business grounded in stewardship, integrity, and care for the communities they serve. Shasta Pools’ brand will continue its community programs, including swim lessons, support for foster care, and initiatives serving first responders.
ABOUT DANSONS CAPITAL GROUP:
Dansons Capital Group, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a family-owned and family-managed investment firm built on shared values, integrity and long-term vision. The firm was established by the founders of Dansons, Inc., the company that launched and sold Pit Boss Grills. The company takes a hands-on approach, actively seeking opportunities across global markets and multiple asset classes. Its growing portfolio includes strategic real estate development holdings across multiple countries, oil drilling technologies, and limited partnership investments. Guided by a deep commitment to quality and the communities they serve, the Thiessen family leads with gratefulness for the blessings God has given them and in turn supports those less fortunate. Dansons Capital Group continues to identify and cultivate opportunities that reflect their family’s values and generational vision.
ABOUT ACCRUAL EQUITY PARTNERS:
Accrual Equity Partners (AEP) is a founder-led, privately funded private equity group built on the belief that every person, every percentage, and every product matters. This commitment, known as the “Power of One,” drives AEP’s mission to empower businesses and secure legacies across fragmented, service-based industries. AEP partners with founder-led and family-owned businesses to overcome barriers and unlock their full potential through strategic investment, operational performance enhancement, and advisory services. For more information, visit accrualequitypartners.com/
ABOUT SHASTA POOLS:
Shasta Pools is Arizona’s trusted name in custom pool building, proudly serving the Valley since 1966. For 60 years, Shasta has transformed backyards into beautiful, functional spaces where families relax, entertain and enjoy life. The company specializes in new pool construction, remodeling, pool service and landscape design with plans for expansion into the home services market to provide customers with complete home care solutions. Learn more at ShastaPools.com.
ABOUT HYDRO CONSTRUCTION:
Hydro Construction, LLC (HydroCon) was founded in 1986 to serve Arizona’s commercial pool construction and renovation market. Under the leadership of Curt Lonsdale, the company’s commercial pool construction division now manages some of the largest and most complex projects in the country.
Manufacturer
JED Pool Tools Unveils 2027 Catalog

JED Pool Tools, manufacturer of swimming pool maintenance equipment and accessories, is pleased to announce the availability of its new, comprehensive 2027 catalog of products. This newly printed catalog offers 40 pages of color photography showing all of JED’s maintenance equipment products and accessories—from its award-winning hoses to its innovative, patented products like the FLAS ladder anchor saver! The catalog even highlights its many “Made in the USA” products including those manufactured at the JED facility in Pennsylvania.
“We are pleased to offer the pool industry this printed catalog which can also be accessed online, 24/7 and showcases the many products we make at our facility or are made within the US,” says Rob Heyen, Account Executive at JED Pool Tools.
Those interested in downloading or ordering the catalog, should visit:
www.JEDPoolTools.com
570-344-4137
About JED Pool Tools
JED Pool Tools has been making high-quality pool tools and pool accessories in the USA for over 30 years. JED Pool Tools sells over 400 different products including residential and commercial skimmers, leaf rakes, poles, wall brushes and vacuum heads as well as hoses and through-wall skimmer parts. JED is a family-run company with 3-generations of Heyen family working for the company and is committed to creating and providing jobs for residents of Scranton, PA. JED is proud of and committed to manufacturing in the USA, many it its own facility in Scranton, PA. To learn more about the company and its products visit www.JEDPoolTools.com.
Manufacturer
CCEI Introduces New Color for pH & ORP Controllers

CCEI introduces new color for its pH & ORP monitoring and dosing controllers in a sleek new, modern, white color design that blends into any pump room! CCEI’s pH & ORP controllers automatically manage pool water chemistry using the free Vigipool app. The Phileo pH and Oxeo ORP controllers are simple to set up and easy to use. They monitor and dose pool water and alert pool owners and service professionals when pool water falls out of balance. The dosing pump lights up in various colors to alert you of your pool’s pH and ORP levels. Designed to help pool professionals profits by upgrading clients with the Phileo pH & Oxeo ORP measuring and dosing chemical controllers!
www.ccei-pool.com/en-us
424-800-2191
CCEI USA Inc.
808 Hindry Ave, Suite G
Inglewood, CA 90301
https://www.instagram.com/cceipool_na/
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