Sustainability, at the forefront at Piscina Barcelona 2007

With four months to go, the presence of 413 companies from 25 countries has already been confirmed Sustainability, understood as the efficient use of resources (water, energy and raw materials) and respect for the environment, will be at the forefront of the activities programme of the next Piscina Barcelona, International Swimming Pool Show, which will be held from the 17th to the 20th of October 2007, and which expects the participation of a large number of Spanish and foreign exhibitors

Making their debut are the first Piscina Barcelona Technical Sessions, organised by the Show, with the collaboration of the Asociación de Fabricantes de Equipos, Productos Químicos y Constructores de Piscinas, ASOFAP, and the Asociación Española de Industriales y Técnicos de Piscinas e Instalaciones Deportivas, ATEP. From the 17th to the 19th of October, national and international experts will analyse the sector’s current situation and future trends, focusing on four major issues of great interest: sustainability, regulations, safety and wellness.

Piscina Barcelona Technical Sessions
The Sessions, which will include conferences and round table debates will be divided into the following subject blocks:

   - “The swimming pool and rational use of water: regulations and sustainability” (Wednesday, 17th October)
In the state of wellness, physical activities take up an important part of our free time. Those carried out in swimming pools are very attractive to different population groups and are becoming more and more popular. Furthermore, at a time when awareness of sustainable and efficient use of water has increased, swimming pools usually appear as large consumers of water.

But is this really the case? Do we know the quantity of water a swimming pool can consume? The truth is, today we are in a position to state that a swimming pool can consume very little. Technological advances applied to the swimming pool sector make it possible to considerably reduce the loss of water and energy, and allow us to state that recreational use of water is not at odds with sustainability.

This session will also serve to debate the diverse regulations and standardisation in the various Spanish Autonomous communities and in Europe. Held at an ideal time, it will provide the opportunity to be self-critical with the proliferation of same status regulations, which are not always compatible, and try to find a standard which we are currently lacking. Covering the subject in depth and without complexes, will allow us to be not only consistent, but will favour the strong and competitive development of the sector, both nationally and internationally.

   - “Safety and Environment” (Thursday, 18th October) 
The growing importance of swimming pools in public and private facilities and the incorporation of new accessories for interacting with water, together with new physical-sports practices in this medium, favour new horizons in swimming pool management and maintenance. This new situation also generates new demands for the protection and safety of users and personnel who run and monitor activity in the water (lifeguards, instructors…). This block of conferences focuses mainly on the most delicate aspects of the issue, such as the prevention of legionnaire's disease, safety and hygiene at work and the environmental quality of the facility. 

   - “Hydrothermal centres” (Friday, 19th October)
These days, there is a strong trend for active, healthy and recreational activity. This demand has led to a recovery and modernisation of the certain hygiene and therapeutic habits with the use of spa and sea water in historic spas and has favoured the creation of new ones. This new approximation of society to water has promoted other attractive programmes developed in spa leisure centres, closer to the population. The session will show the different opportunities the sector offers from a professional, commercial and user point of view.

Times, rooms, sessions, speakers and other details of the Technical Sessions can be found in the activities section of the website: ww.salonpiscina.com.

2007 Piscina Barcelona Awards
The “2007 Piscina Barcelona Awards” for exhibitors have two categories this year; technological innovation and sustainability. 
 
The panel of judges will be selected by the Instituto de Tecnología de la Construcción de Cataluña, IteC, and the awards ceremony will take place on the 18th of October.  Registration is now open and the contest rules can be found on the show’s website or at www.itec.cat

Foreign Visitor Centre
A new addition will be the Foreign Visitor Centre “International Meeting Point”, run by the ASOFAP and the Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior, ICEX, which will provide services, advice and information to foreign visitors and buyers.

Demonstrations Area
The show will offer exhibitors a specific area in which to carry out technical demonstrations on how to apply their products and materials. Organised in collaboration with the ASOFAP, this is a very dynamic space where trade visitors can see the practical application of new products presented by exhibitors.

New Products Guide
In coordination with the Institut de Tecnologia de la Construcció de Catalunya (ITeC), the show is publishing a New Products Guide which lists all the new products presented with a description and photograph of the products.

Aquatic Activities and Sports Management Congress
As in previous years, the show will host the 10th International Water Activities Sports Management Congress, on the 18th, 19th and 20th of October. Debates, conferences and workshops will provide different points of view and technical know-how and will show how to increase work tools in all aspects related to each of the subjects: “Ten years of the sector: opportunity or crisis”, “Sports facilities and people” (Friday, 19th October) and “Management skills and leadership”. Organised by the (Servei d’Ensenyament i Assessorament Esportiu), SEAE, the Congress has the collaboration of the Associació Catalana de Gestors Esportius, ACGEP, and Fira de Barcelona.

Excellent participation prospects
With ten months to go before the start of Piscina Barcelona, which will be held in pavilions 1, 2 and 3 of the Gran Via exhibition centre, 431 companies have already confirmed their participation (7.5% more than during the same period of the last show). The booked stands space, 29,856 m2, is also up by 8.5%. 56% of exhibitors are 27% are distributors.

Over half the exhibitors –53% - are foreign representing 24 nationalities. Representation from the Netherlands and the U.S. has grown the most - 18% and 27%, respectively-, followed by Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Companies from Finland and Egypt will be participating for the first time. In addition to the foreign exhibitors with their own stand, Piscina Barcelona will have five international pavilions with companies from Australia, France, United Kingdom and, for the first time, China and the U.S.

With regard to represented sectors and compared to the same period of the 2005 show, there is an increase in monitoring, measurement and handling equipment (33%); physical and chemical water treatment (29%); covers (18%); cleaning (8%); wellness, fitness, spas and Jacuzzis (7%);  swimming pools (5%); and filters and pumps (3%).

Better logistics and new access to the show
One of the main improvements of the next show will be the connection to the Gran Via exhibition centre via the Europa/Fira station on the Llobregat-Anoia line of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya. This line originates in Plaza de España and the journey takes only six minutes, The new station is a few metres from the main entrance to the exhibition centre, situated in Avenida Juan Carlos I (on the corner of Calle Ciencias), which will be the new and only access to the show.

There will also be an increased number of parking spaces for visitors arriving by private vehicle with the new car park situated in Avenida de Juan Carlos I. Communication between halls will also be improved with the use of a walkway which channels the flow of visitors. Shuttle buses running between the Gran Via exhibition centre and the airport will be available to visitors and exhibitors. 

Spain has 800,000 swimming pools
Spain is second in the European swimming pool market ranking, after France. It is estimated that there are 800,000 swimming pools built in Spain, with an annual growth of 30,000, according to figures from ASOFAP