E-252 Pool Nation Podcast - From Skimmers to Smart Tech: Hayward’s Century of Pool Innovation

Celebrating 100 Years of Innovation with Hayward – Lessons from the Past, Present, and Future of the Pool Industry In this special episode of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar, John, and Zac sit down with Justin Butler and Ryan Morson from Hayward Pool Products to celebrate Hayward’s incredible 100-year anniversary. 🎉 From a small metal valve company in 1925 to one of the “Big Three” in the pool industry, Hayward’s journey is one of innovation, grit, and vision. You’ll hear untold stories of Hayward’s origin, product breakthroughs like OmniPro, OmniX, and the S3 salt system, and how the company has remained relevant through changing economies and evolving technologies. They also dive into Hayward’s bold investment in training hubs across the country and why manufacturing in the USA remains a pillar of their success. This episode is a must-listen for pool professionals who want to build lasting businesses, grow through training, and get inspired by a company that went from servicing one pump to leading an entire industry. 👉 Perfect for pool techs, service pros, and anyone who wants to grow in the pool business — this episode brings knowledge, motivation, and a look behind the curtain of one of the most iconic brands in our industry. ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro and Celebrating Hayward’s 100 Years 5:22 – What makes reaching 100 years so rare in business 10:41 – Hayward’s growth: From private to public and why it matters 16:39 – Pool pros can scale just like Hayward — lessons in grit and vision 23:18 – Meet Justin and Ryan: From pool tech to VP of Sales 34:06 – Hayward’s origin: From metal valves to plastic skimmers 44:00 – Game-changing acquisitions: Goldline, Summit, ComfortZone 53:15 – How Hayward stayed ahead during the recession 1:02:30 – The values of Oscar Davis and their lasting cultural legacy 1:09:45 – Hayward’s Flow Control Division: A little-known fact 1:18:10 – Product innovation spotlight: OmniPro, S3 salt system 1:29:02 – The power of salt cells that work at 800 ppm 1:37:49 – Behind the scenes: Hayward’s U.S.-based manufacturing 1:47:20 – Next-gen tech: The future of automation with OmniX 1:56:13 – Why Hayward’s Training Hubs are transforming the industry 2:03:00 – Final thoughts, shout-outs, and what’s next for Hayward