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NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.
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At the end of Euro attractions Show in London, IAAPA Europe stated that one of the trends of this 2011 edition was the supply of water related attractions and equipments. Indeed, we have seen a lot of companies coming from around the world specialized in water-slides or water parks installations exhibiting on the show floor.
Among these companies, Polin Waterparks & Pool Systems is one of the most important manufacturer at that time. Founded in Istanbul, Turkey in 1976, Polin has developed a wide-range of water-slides and water related equipments, and delivered around 1500 rides worldwide. Recently, Polin also developed the new technology of resin transfer moulding (RTM) for the production of their attractions, and is the first European manufacturer to master this technique.
In 2011, they developed, designed and supplied 14 water-slides and water equipments for a new indoor water park in Kiev, Ukraine, as well as all the water-slides of Aqua Toy City in Turkey. They also supplied, among many other projects, water-slides in France (Aqualand Bassin d’Arcachon, Aqualand St Cyr sur Mer, Aquasplash, etc.), Turkey (Aqua Fantasy Waterpark, etc.), Australia (South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Center), etc.
During our coverage of the trade show, we met Sohret Pakis, Marketing Manager at Polin, who answered our questions about the latest news of the company.
NewsParcs : Could you describe us the highlights of Polin this year ?
Sohret Pakis : Mid last year at the Asian IAAPA trade show, we launched a new product called the King Cobra, a water-slide with a unique racing experience for the riders and a stunning design of a giant snake. We have already installed two of them in Russia and in Turkey this year, and we have at the moment 5 new orders for 2012 : one in Asia, two in Europe, one in Middle East and one in United States. This year, we also launched our “Racer Series”, a high-capacity double tubes racing water-slide which diverge in two separate Polin slides at the end. That is actually two water-slides in one which is also very suitable for indoor installations. We have installed the first one in Aqualand Bassin d’Arcachon in France). There is a huge interest for these two products from our current and potentials customers !
NP : Do you have other products under development ?
SP : Yes! We do have two more surprises for IAAPA Orlando in November, we will be launching two new signature rides, and we are looking forward at presenting them to the attractions industry !
NP : You told us that you will deliver a King Cobra in United States next year. Is that a new market for your company ?
SP : Yes ! Polin is a 35 years old company doing waterparks business around the world. In terms of projects, we can say that we are right now the global market leader, but the American market is kind of new market for us. We started to export and install Polin’s water-slides over there for 5 years now and we have completed about 60 projects in the country. Otherwise, considering the global industry strengths, Asia is booming, Middle East is very interesting and we are doing a lot of projects there.
NP : One of your new “Racer Series” product has been delivered in France. The French water parks market has been quiet in the previous years… do you feel that the trend is changing ?
SP : Yes, and we are really happy to work in France ! Last year, we have completed about 5 big projects in the country. We don’t work only for water parks, but also for resorts and camping owners that want to add water-slides to their swimming pool areas. We had a meeting here in London for example with a French owner that bought two water-slides this year, and he is looking for a new one in 2012.
NP : There’s a lot of competition on the water-related attractions/equipments market. Repeat customers are important for a manufacturer, aren’t they ?
SP : It’s very important for us to have repeat customers, definitively ! We don’t consider our company to be only a water-slides seller, we consider that we are designers, we work together with the customers during the whole project, we follow their needs and expectations, and then we have the after sales. More and more waterparks and water attractions owners trust Polin because they say our water-slides are first quality. We are really proud of that !
NP : Could you explain us the RTM technology that Polin uses for the production of water-slides ?
SP : As you know, water-slides are made of composite or fibreglass. Polin is the first and the single company to provide water-slides that are LRTM manufactured, for Light Resin Transfer Moulding. When you look at others water-slides worldwide, the outside sections are no really shiny… in fact there is two technologies in water-slides manufacture : the first one is open moulded method, the oldest, and the other is the closed moulded method or resin transfer method. It requires huge expertise and investments, and Polin offers today 90% of its water-slides with this technology. It’s important because it has a lot of advantages : the water-slides are stronger, lighter, the internal surface is smoother and the external one is shinning. Water-slides are the key points of a water park, so it’s important they look good also from the outside !
NP : On your booth, there’s also a water-slide section with an amazing light effect, could you explain us this option for your customers ?
SP : We call it the natural light effect with stripes that we add during the manufacturing process on the internal surface. From the outside, you can’t see anything, but when your ride the water-slide, you will see the stripes with the natural light of the sun. Everything is done at the factory, so when an operator orders one of our water-slide, he just needs water and sun to have the perfect experience for the visitors !
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