AstralPool UK and Certikin will merge on January 1, 2027 to form Fluidra UK, bringing together two of the UK swimming pool sector’s most established and respected businesses under one unified organisation.
The merger will enable customers to access the combined strengths of both businesses through a single organisation, while continuing to benefit from the trusted products, technical expertise and customer service associated with the AstralPool and Certikin brands. Under the new structure, customers will benefit from a streamlined approach to account management, including a single account, invoice and statement.
They will also have access to the combined AstralPool and Certikin product portfolios through a unified ordering process, whether online, by email or by telephone. Customers will also be able to receive everything through a single, coordinated delivery. Importantly, the merger will retain the strength and heritage of both brands.
Customers will continue to receive separate AstralPool and Certikin price lists and will continue to have access to the existing technical support teams for all products across both portfolios.
The announcement follows a period of integration between the two businesses, during which key functions including Operations, Distribution and Logistics have already been combined.
The formation of Fluidra UK represents the next phase of that process and is intended to deliver greater efficiency, responsiveness and value for customers across the swimming pool industry. Neil Stephenson, Managing Director, said: “The formation of Fluidra UK marks an exciting milestone for both AstralPool UK and Certikin. By bringing our organisations together, we are creating a simpler, more efficient experience for customers while preserving the expertise, service and trusted brands that have helped build our reputation in the industry.”
Certikin Ltd was founded in 1963 by Bob Kent and has grown into one of the UK’s leading suppliers of swimming pool and wet leisure equipment. Over the years, the company expanded through partnerships, acquisitions and innovation, including the development of pool heating, filtration, covers and water-treatment products.
In 1992, Certikin International was created following the acquisition of Ellis & Everard Pools by Hawtin PLC. Fluidra acquired Certikin in 2003, helping the company expand internationally. Today, Certikin operates from facilities in Witney and Leeds, supplying more than 8,000 products to domestic and commercial customers in the UK and over 50 countries worldwide.
AstralPool ultimately grew out of Astral Construcciones Metálicas, founded in Barcelona in 1969 by four Catalan families. It began by manufacturing swimming-pool components such as ladders, skimmers, drains and stainless-steel filters, and subsequently expanded into manufacturing and distribution. Astral UK was established in Britain in 1984, headed by Alan White and followed by his daughter Helen who played an influential role in the development of the UK water leisure sector as a whole.
