Alee”V”8 Aroma’ssage ClusterBurst Gyro’ssageMini ClusterBurstMulti directional jets spin water

to reach the entire back

A dozen adjustable jets deliver a deep-

tissue massage to your entire back

A soft, yet powerful massage that is incredibly soothing for the

entire back

Delivers a soft-to mid-tissue

massage, alleviatingback pain

Releases aromatherapyfragrances into the air while pulsating water caresses the

upper back

BodyWandRetractable.

hand-held jet is great for hard-to-reach places

Create your own masseurWith our exclusive Patented Jetpak System available in all series III Signature Spas, under exclusive licence from America's leading manufacturer, patented JetPaks® are extremely energy efficient and allow you the flexibility of being able to create you own masseur just as you have your own Signature.

Master Control Centre

Balboa Ozone Purification Unit

Interchangeable and upgradeable patented Jetpak® System.

24-hour Circulation Pump

Hydro Massage Pump

Moving water is cleaner water. The powerful circulation pump operates 24 hours a day and moves 100 litres per minute to filter all the water in your spa at least four times every hour.

Available in Australia only in Signature Spas, this special feature helps keep your spa water clean, pure and hygienic. Ozone treatment is a requirement for most of the bottled drinking water sold around the world and provides the ideal means to ensure that your spa water is free from micro-organisms and other impurities.

Controls all the critical functions of your Signature Spa. For your convenience, these are set at the factory to give you years of hassle-free operation.

JetPaks® offers a comprehensive range of massage options, the modules can easily and quickly be moved from one seating position to another - and you can upgrade your JetPaks® whenever you want.

Also known as the boost pump, it moves large volumes of water through the jets to create the pressure necessary for providing a stimulating and thoroughly satisfying massage.

What makes

For further information contact SCS Industries Pty Ltd on Tel: +61 3 9702 3144 ▪ Fax: +61

'Everyone should have their own Signature'®

A massage option that no other

ShiatsuPulsatorMini NeckBlasterNeckBlaster Oscillator Spinal’ssageTen small jets target neck muscles while four pulsating jets soothe the upper and lower back

Delivers deep-tissueneck massage

and a soothing, massage to the back

Mimics the sensation

of four handsdelivering a deep-

tissue massage

Can be fine tuned to target specific muscle groups at your desired

massage intensity

Loosen tight muscles in the upper back neck

while an oversized jet disburses wide

sweeps of water to the lumbar region

Configured to target the muscles around

your spine and thoroughly relax

your back

External Fill/Drain Valve

Top loading Filtration System

Signature Scents Aromatherapy

Thermoformed TuffBase®

Western Red Cedar Cabinet

Air Massage Pump

Standard equipment on all Signature Spa models in the Platinum range, this special

feature provides enhanced heat-retention and noise reduction characteristics.

For routine maintenance, you'll really appreciate the easy access afforded by Signature Spas top-loading

filter design.

You can enjoy the extra pleasures of aromatherapy and choose scents to match

your mood with the unique Signature Scents Aromatherapy system.

Used for its lasting good looks and high heat-retention properties, the 19mm-

thick cabinet surrounding Signature Spas is specially treated to resist the damaging

effects of sunlight. (Also available in Eternawood).

Provides easy connection to a standard hose fitting to facilitate draining of your Signature Spa at required

intervals with a minimum of effort and mess.

Creates a soft, pulsating massage to caress your body by injecting air

bubbles into your spa water.

a Signature Spa superior?

3 9702 3540 ▪ Website: www.scsindustries.com.au ▪ Email: info@scsindustries.com.au

Spa Manufacturer can offer!

34 | SPLASH!

residential feature

Portable spas are becoming increasingly popular in Australia,

and they are fi nding a niche market being built into new,

prestigious homes and apartments.

The portable spa market has grown over recent years due partly

to increased marketing. Another key factor, however, is the water

shortage, and the fact that spas hold a much lower volume of water

than swimming pools.

There are a number of brands imported from the United States

and some from China, but there is a large, strong group of local

manufacturers centred in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland, with

some smaller manufacturers located in other cities.

One large Melbourne manufacturer is SCS – formerly known

as Signature Spas. They produce 5000 spas each year in their

state-of-the-art Hallam factory. There they manufacture

Signature, Cyclone, Bullfrog and Designer spas and Infi nity

swim spas.

Each SCS brand is marketed independently: Cyclone may sell to

one shop, Designer to the another, for example. This helps grow

the overall market, says SCS managing director Graham Ritchie.

“The market always comes back to your dealers,” says Ritchie.

“We try to help them as much as we can.”

He says he built the new factory – which was resurrected on the

same site as the old factory after a fi re – to compete long-term

with the Chinese. Currently, SCS produces 20 spas per day out of

Falling in love with spasMore Australians are enjoying the

health and relaxation benefi ts of spas

the production line, but have the capacity to triple that output, to a

total of 15,000 per year.

SCS recently included a Bunnings branded spa for sale through

the Bunnings network in Victoria. This proved successful and it

rolled out nationally, though it will not be going to New Zealand.

However, they will be getting into the New Zealand market though

other avenues, and are also expanding internationally to the UK

and Europe

In particular, the Infi nity swim spas have attracted attention

overseas as a good value product. They are also about to introduce

a new model swim spa in Australia called the Super Swim Spa,

which incorporates the Super Swim harness and pole.

While SCS’s best selling colour has been Sierra – a sandstone

tone –they are about to launch a new range of shell colours includ-

ing White Pearl and Silver Marble, and are also introducing cabi-

nets made from the Eternawood composite material.

While feeling some impact from the water crisis, they say it has

improved since dealers have been able to source their own water.

However, the water has to be brought up to A-grade quality, be-

cause if it has too much salt it is too hard to treat with bromine.

Family connectionsAnother Australian spa manufacturer who sees potential in the

swim spa market is Maax Spa.

Spas are a healthy, relaxing way to spend time together. Photo courtesy of Beachcomber Hot Tubs

SPLASH! | 35

industry feature

Maax Spa was started by Russel Devenish in 1999 when he bought

and rebranded Hibiscus Spas. Prior to that he had been in the spa

business for many years, owning Monarch and Spa World. Family

members now run the business, drawing on 27 years experience.

National marketing manager, Lisa Pritchard, says that their star

performer is the XS840 – a giant 5800L swim spa – and adds that

swim spas are a particular trend at the moment.

“The spa business itself is quite a good business as long as you

don’t go overboard,” she says. “That is, don’t go too cheap and

nasty, or go too high end and expensive. It’s when you try to get too

big numbers and go too cheap that the problems arise.

“It’s been a consistent business for us – otherwise we wouldn’t

be in it.”

Maax continually invests in R&D to keep on top of the technology.

“We spend a lot of time with research and development so we don’t

have to go and service them so often,” says Pritchard. “We’ve put a

visual diagnostic system (VDS) into the spas, so you can just check

the spa on a console. It’s good for us but also good for isolated

communities. If you live in a mining town, for example, and some-

thing’s wrong with the spa, we may be able to troubleshoot it over

the phone. And if we have to go out, at least we know what it is we

have to fi x and won’t have to come back for a different part.”

And while Pritchard says the water shortage is obviously having

a negative effect on the industry, the fact that spas hold less water

than pools has helped their section of the market.

“In comparison with a swimming pool, it’s not as much of an issue

for a consumer,” she says. Also, Maax has made some improvements

to the spas, such as introducing shut-off valves, which means main-

tenance can be carried out on the spa without having to empty it.

Maax recently ran a successful marketing campaign which

included a competition to win two trips for two to Hawaii – one for

the consumer and one for the dealer. It was advertised on Foxtel

and dealers did their own local marketing and advertising. The

result was that sales spiked and they received hundreds of entries.

Another marketing campaign is planned for the August release of

the new Maax range.

Maax is also the largest Australian distributor of portable saunas

– the imported infra-red variety – a sideline which gives their 100-

plus dealer network an extra way to make some additional profi t.

Across the Tasman With 50 per cent of the New Zealand market, Leisurerite Products

is the largest manufacturer and supplier of spas in the land of the

A Specialised Pools and Spas swim spa fi tted into a tight, but spectacular, location

36 | SPLASH!

residential feature

where people are not looking after their regular dealers. We have

one agent per area and look after them 100 per cent. It’s all about

dealer loyalty, but of course you’ve got to be competitive too, you

have to price it right and have good products.”

Leisurerite has also found a market in Japan.

“It’s a hard market to crack,” says Carruthers. “But it’s got the

potential to be 500 per year for us. It was hard getting through

government qualifi cations, but we’ve sorted that out now, all the i’s

have been dotted and the t’s have been crossed and we’re starting

to move product in there.”

The company also sent 500 spas to the UK last year, a market

which is increasing at 10 per cent each year and where they have two

distribution points, in Manchester/Preston and south near Brighton.

But without a doubt their biggest country is New Zealand, where

Carruthers says they own half of a market which boasts 40 brands. Of

the 8000 units sold each year in New Zealand, Leisurerite currently

produces 4000 to 5000.

Carruthers says the future for spas in Australia and New Zealand

looks promising, but there are also some things to be more alert

about – in particular, the growing awareness of spa consumers.

“The general consumer is getting wise on spas,” he says. “They

know what they’re looking for, they’re interested in warranties, in

service and in how long the company’s been around. Retail is getting

very competitive and very tight. They’re looking for good quality, eco-

nomical products with all the necessary features – and more.”

Carruthers says that while there is some drop-off on the lower

priced end, the market is healthy towards the top and in fact the

whole market seems to be shifting upwards. The way to take ad-

vantage of this is to sell the lifestyle.

“We’re selling a concept rather than just selling a spa pool,” he

says. “You need to aim at that market, the new clientele – they’re

long white cloud. Over recent times the company has made a con-

certed effort to move beyond those shores, and now exports to the

UK, Europe, Asia, the Pacifi c and of course, Australia.

Leisurerite was started in 1983 by Andy Carruthers together with

a number of partners. For the past dozen years it has been wholly

owned by the Carruthers family. Since then, the company has

changed direction to become very much focussed on wholesaling

and also on exporting.

While Leisurerite had been exporting to Australia for the past

20 years, it had only been on a small scale and without a national

distribution presence. Now, they distribute through Spa Products

Australia and a network of more than 30 dealers across all states.

“We’re increasing market share every year in Australia by 25 per

cent,” says Andy Carruthers. “We moved 1000 last year, which was

our fi fth year with national distribution.” Carruthers expects this 25

per cent growth to continue for the next three years.

“We’re gaining market share as well as the

market itself is growing. We’re picking up

Photo courtesy of Beachcomber Hot Tubs

SCS’s new Super Swim Spa

SPLASH! | 37

industry feature

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after a good deal, but they’re not just set on price only. A spa is no

longer on a wish list, it’s on a must get list for more profession-

als, who are getting them built into houses. People are looking for

effi ciency, economy, a good total package of good backup service.

Something the industry’s been lacking for a long long time. Spas

are getting designed as part of the whole house concept – it’s only

the bottom end that seems to be disappearing.”

Carruthers has seen a trend for more architects coming to

him for the specifi cations so they can specify spas into homes, and

says the website is helping draw them to Leisurerite. This trend is

just starting to take off in Australia, but they have been doing a great

deal of it on the other side of the Tasman. Another side of the busi-

ness growing is custom-made jobs for commercial projects.

On the question of environmental and water concerns, he says

that you can make it work as a positive, by taking away the obsta-

cles and accentuating the environmental credentials.

“For example, we supply the water, all done legally as part of

the package.”

The lesser requirement for water also gives spas a selling advan-

tage over pools in this climate, and Carruthers says a number of

consumers have said to him at recent shows that they had recently

switched their preference from a pool to a spa.

“We try to promote environmentally and water friendly features

on the spas. We’re offering as standard, a chlorine-free system

– better for the consumer and better for the environment – both in

New Zealand and Australia.”

This system uses ozone purifi cation, coupled with Spa Poppits,

which are peroxide based.

Smaller manufacturersAs well as the big players and the offshore fabricators, there are a

number of smaller manufacturers, such as Specialised Pools and Spas,

which were one of the original Australian swim spa manufacturers.

That market has since become relatively crowded, and includes

swim spas by spa companies, rather than the traditional variety

which were small pools with the increased functionality of swim

jets plus spa jets and spa features.

Another small operator is Spa Pools Australia, who manufactures

between 200 and 300 spas per year, focusing mainly on the Queens-

land, Northern Territory and South Australian markets – largely leaving

the Melbourne and Sydney markets to the bigger manufacturers.

Spa Pools Australia has been in business for 11 years, but had

operated for a further seven years before that as Queensland

Wholesale Spa Pools.

Maax spas lined up at the Melbourne factory

residential featureCPSC Series Salt Water Chlorinator

Compu-Pool Products“Leading the way in pool & spa equipment since 1979”

88 Spencer Street, Nerang, QLD Australia 4211Ph: +61 (0)7 5596 3773 Fax: +61 (0)7 5596 1951Email: sales@compupool.com.au

High PerformanceSelf Cleaning Chlorination System.

3500 PPM salt required

LCD digital display

LED indicator lights

High and low salt fault lights

No fl ow sense and fault light

Self regulating function if salt content is to high

Fully weather protected

Winter mode for cold water operation

SuperChlor mode for boosting chlorine levels during peak times

Touch pad controls that provide easy setting

Fully automatic operation – even when the owner is away

Easy installation to new and existing pools

Reliable and durable for long lasting performance

Digital time clock with battery back up timer as standard

Cell has push on water proof connectors for simple exchange of cell

Advanced high grade U.V. stablised plastic control unit

5 YearPro-rata Warranty

on Cell

2 YearFull Warranty on

Power Pack

Model Recommended Output (litres)

CPSC08 10, 000

CPSC16 60, 000

CPSC24 80, 000

CPSC36 150, 000

Powerful Features

Wayne Simmich says sales have been affected by the east coast

drought, but has been buoyed to some degree by Northern Territory

sales and Pacifi c island exports.

His biggest selling spas are the 6-8 person Sarah hydrotherapy

spa pool and the Jessica 3-4 person compact spa, However, the

company has also gained a reputation as a specialist in western

red cedar spa enclosures. Spa Pools Australia has been making

the Colonial Cottage Spa Retreat with WRC walls and roof (with

windows built into the structure) for 11 years. It has proven very

popular, especially in colder climates.

Gazebos, together with saunas, are one of the sidelines most

commonly offered through spa dealers, and help increase the bot-

tom line for the retailers while adding greater value and functional-

ity for the consumer.

Spa chemicalsFocus Products’ Jayne Orth has put together some information

about the chemicals needed to keep a spa in tip top condition, and

explains why bromine is so popular as a spa sanitiser.

In a small body of water such as a spa, changes in chemical

balance can occur rapidly. An increase in temperature, high bather

load and inaccurate chemical dosing can cause dramatic changes.

Water temperature makes perspiration and body oils more readily

soluble, causing a fast build-up in Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).

In addition to this, the warmer water and increase in bather load

places a huge burden on the chosen sanitiser.

There are numerous options available for sanitisers including

bromine in tablet and liquid form, lithium hypochlorite, potassium

monopersulphate, and ozone (O3) which is classed as a non-halo-

gen oxidiser.

The reason that bromine has always been so popular is its abil-

ity to work across a broader pH range than chlorine, in addition

to the fact that even in its used-up form it still makes an effective

sanitiser. When bromine is added to water it forms hypobromous

acid (HOBr). This is what controls bacteria and algae and oxidises

organic waste. Bromine by itself is not capable of oxidising nitrogen

compounds or ammonia in the water. Liquid bromine forms both

hypobromous acid and also hypobromite ions. Heavier than chlo-

rine at a pH of 7.5, bromine has a killing power of 94 per cent. Once

HOBr has been destroyed by either killing algae or bacteria, it will

end up as bromide ions. This can then be “recharged” by adding a

powerful oxidiser such as potassium monopersulphate. Chlorine

does not have this ability. Bromine tablets are actually a compound

of bromine and chlorine called

BCDMH. Bromine tablets

will therefore provide an

available chlorine

level of about 28 per

cent and an available

bromine level of about

63 per cent.

Lithium hypochlo-

rite has an option to

be used either as a

sole sanitiser or as

an oxidising agent.

Lithium hypochlorite

is 35 per cent avail-

able chlorine and is

instantly soluble. To

SPLASH! | 39

residential feature

use as an everyday sanitiser, 15g per 1000 litres of spa water must

be used. To oxidise, this is increased to 50g per 1000 litres of water.

Potassium monopersulphate also known as Oxyshock (chlorine-

free shock) is used to burn out bather waste and other contami-

nants. This is an oxygen-based product so it has the ability to

oxidise and eliminate organic matter without increasing chlorine

residuals in the water. Also, this product will not produce irritating

chloramines. The use of potassium monopersulphate will increase

the effi ciency of the chosen sanitiser by the oxidation of the bro-

mide ions. Its dosage rate is 50g per 1000 litres of spa water.

In order for the sanitiser to work effectively, even though bromine

is more fl exible, it is necessary to ensure water balance is cor-

rect. If pH needs reducing then an addition of sodium bisulphate

(NaHSO4) will be necessary. If pH or total alkalinity need increas-

ing, then an addition of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) will be used.

Additions of these chemicals should be done in minimum quanti-

ties due to the swiftness of change within spa water.

Foaming is a common problem within spas and is often caused

by undesirable compounds which have been introduced into the

water by the bathers. These may be residue of washing powder or

fabric softener on swimming costumes, deodorants, body lotions

or even make up. If the foam has a “detergent” appearance then

the use of an anti-foam will eliminate the problem. If, however, the

foam has an “oily” appearance then it is the result of unfi lterable

wastes and needs oxidising. Anti-foam should not need to be added

each time during general use and if the problem continues a water

change should be considered.

Clarifi ers, which are generally water soluble polymers (water

polish), assist in the clearing of cloudy water. The product gathers

the small particulate that cannot be fi ltered out and binds them

together to a size that the fi lter can hold on to. The regular use of

a fi lter cleaner/degreaser will extend the life of the fi lter cartridge

and ensure the fi lter performance is not impeded.

Total dissolved solid levels must be monitored in a spa consist-

ently and once over 1500ppm the water must be drained. There is

not a chemical available to remove TDS.

For more information relating to the transmission of diseases in

spa water, you can contact the Technical and Training Department

at Focus Products.

A Beachcomber Hot Tub