June 9, 2020
PDC Spas: Patented Propulsion
Published: June 9, 2020
PDC Spas is proud to announce their patent award for propulsion swim spa design and this article as printed in SpaRetailer magazine, June 2020 issue, by Michelle Cramer.
PDC Spas strives for the optimal swim experience with TruSwim®
“In the 2010s, PDC Spas, manufacturer of jetted swim spas and hot tubs, began to realize that propulsion swim spas were a growing market for swimming enthusiasts, says Lynda Livingston, vice president. “We became very aware of the propulsion market and with my engineers and mechanical people here, we found what works and doesn’t work,” Livingston says. “Could we do this different, better?”
Development on the PDC propulsion system began, and TruSwim spas were introduced to the market three years ago.
One of the standout design features of the TruSwim line is the flat sidewalls and shell. While buyers are accustomed to curved swim spa designs, PDC made optimal functionality a top priority. “When it comes to performance, the straight sides actually allow for a much smoother swim lane,” Livingston says. “The returning water remains along those flat sides and does not get involved with the swim channel. If you have large curves on the outside wall, the returning water, of course, follows the curve. It gets mixed in with the swim lane and becomes very turbulent and difficult to exercise with.”
This year, PDC acquired a patent for its dual propulsion system design, which runs side by side, producing a wider current for the swimmer. Securing the patent, Livingston says, was labor intensive, but worth the effort. “We knew that we had a design that is industry leading and different from the other units out there that allowed us to have that niche,” she adds. “We stepped out of the gate knowing what worked, why we believe it works and improving upon that.”
The design of the shell, says production manager Travis Reed, also helped widen the swim lane and make the dual system possible. “With [the wider lane], the position of the motors allows us to turn that water and expel it out through the propulsion housing,” Reed says, “taking the twist out of the water from the propulsion blades, which makes for a nice smooth, [less turbulent] flow out of the propulsion housing.”
Keith Patridge, owner of Half Price Hot Tubs with five locations in Pennsylvania and Delaware, is impressed with PDC’s hands-on approach to each product the company produces, with what he says is unmatched quality control. “It is extremely important to have a TruSwim on the showroom floor,” Patridge says, “because when a customer wet-tests the product, they realize there is not another swim spa on the market that has a smooth lane, and the [customizable controls] allow a customer to ‘dial in’ their own personal training regimen. When the customer test swims the TruSwim, they buy!”
The programmable option on the TruSwim are certainly a plus, says Brian Bater, co-owner at Deep Blue Pool & Spa in Batavia, New York, adding that the TruSwim provides a great choice for customers based upon their ability and intended use. “For the customers who are in the market for a serious workout or a high-end swim training unit, the closing takes care of itself once they see the difference in the swim path and the lack of splashing from jet aeration,” Bater says. “The warranty and service support is the icing on the cake.”
Audra Johnson, partner at Johnson Pools in Owego, New York, says the TruSwim experience is like no other on the market. “The internet is crowded with junk swim spas, poorly equipped, uninsulated and unsupported,” she says. “If you want to offer your customer a product that you can deliver then leave and not worry about future failures and leaks, and have a great warranty, TruSwim is your product.” Both Johnson Pools and Deep Blue are close enough to the PDC manufacturing facility that they send prospective TruSwim customers straight to the factory to do a wet test on the models. Both say it’s beneficial for customers to get an opportunity to tour the factory and see firsthand the quality behind the product. “If a prospect wishes to do just that,” Johnson says, “the sales team at PDC also does a great job helping to close the sale.”