Cars, machinery, tools: these are often the first things that come to mind when people think of „Made in Germany“ and the success stories of Germany’s small and medium-sized businesses. But pool technology belongs on that list too. After all, Germany is home to companies that have spent decades ensuring that water is treated properly, pools stand the test of time, covers work reliably and pools look their best.
Some of this work remains invisible to swimmers. Anyone enjoying a few leisurely lengths rarely thinks about pumps, dosing equipment or pool fittings. Nor do they need to. That is what specialist companies are for, and Germany’s pool industry has plenty of them.
Their histories are well worth exploring. Anniversaries celebrated in recent years range from 20 years of pool technology at Weinmann to 100 years of grando. SPECK Pumpen’s roots go back even further, to 1909. In between are stories of attic offices, garages, workshops and people who, at some point, decided: we are starting our own business. Or: we are going to solve this problem.
KWS
Asking how to do it better, then building a pool of its own
Klaus Schrörs already had practical experience in pool construction when he began investigating material problems affecting certain polyester pools. Osmosis, in particular, was a problem he was determined to solve. He developed his own system combining specially treated rigid PVC, a glass-fibre composite and a honeycomb core. This became the KWS honeycomb composite system.
In 2001, he founded KWS Schwimmbadanlagen GmbH in Wesel with his brother Wolfgang. Over time, the pools grew larger and the projects more demanding. Bespoke shapes, glass elements and complex installations within existing buildings are all part of the pool manufacturer’s work. Together with Bernd Henne of Schwimmbad Henne, the company also developed the High-Level-Pool, which combines features of skimmer and overflow pools.
The team’s commitment to the business became clear after a major fire in March 2016. The production halls were destroyed, but employees continued working in temporary premises. Just 14 months later, manufacturing resumed at the rebuilt site. This chapter in KWS’s history deserves just as much recognition as its spectacular pools.
Read more about the KWS story.
Schwimmbad Henne
A newsstand visit that changed everything
Bernd Henne originally wanted to change jobs. Starting his own pool company was not part of the initial plan. A mechanical engineering technician working for a chemical company, he was familiar with water treatment. Private pool owners began asking him for advice. Discovering a pool magazine at a newsstand finally encouraged him to set up his own business.
The exceptionally hot summer of 1976 helped get things moving. Accessories, water treatment products and above-ground pools were in demand. His first office and storage space were in the attic of his home. Bernd Henne kept his existing job until the business was sufficiently established.
Today, Christine Henne-Zapf and Steffen Henne run their father’s company. What began with a few tips on water care has become a specialist business supporting customers through the planning, construction and ongoing care of their pools. After all, anyone buying a pool needs someone who can also answer the questions that never make it into the brochure.
grando
It all began with wood
When Hubert Granderath founded his joinery business in 1924, pool covers were not yet on the agenda. The company worked in areas including staircase construction and, later, ship interiors. It was Robert Granderath and his invention of the fully automatic slatted pool cover that steered the business towards the pool industry.
There were plenty of challenges along the way. After the war, the destroyed premises had to be rebuilt. Money was tight at times, and securing patent protection for the invention required perseverance.
Today, grando is an internationally sought-after manufacturer of pool covers. An episode from the pandemic illustrates the family’s approach to customer service: Robin Granderath and a colleague travelled to Heligoland with special permission to carry out an urgent repair. With hotels and restaurants closed, dinner required some improvisation. The result was a frozen pizza cooked in a frying pan. The pool cover still received the company’s customary first-class service.
Read the full grando history.
WDT
The founder lived next door
Dietmar Werner already had professional experience in the pool industry when he founded his own company in 1985. The basement and garage of his home became his production facilities. His dosing technology for chlorine granules attracted customers far beyond Hirschbach in Swabia. His wife Christa handled the commercial side of the business.
Today’s managing directors, Rainer and Jochen Rieger, had known the company since childhood. They lived next door to the Werners, visited frequently and later worked there during school holidays. At the time, there was certainly no expectation that they would one day run the business.
Rainer decided to join in 2002 and helped establish the wellness division. The children from next door became the company’s successors. It is an unusual story, showing how a connection with a business can develop long before anyone starts discussing management roles or succession.
Find out more about WDT’s development.
Weinmann
Modern thinking, down-to-earth values
Jochen Weinmann discovered the pool industry during his apprenticeship at Zodiac-Kern. It stayed with him ever since. When he joined his parents’ business, he also began building a specialist pool technology supply business. Around 80 square metres of garage space were available for the venture.
Today, Weinmann Wellness & Lifestyle operates with advanced large-scale logistics and automated high-bay storage systems. Its customers are mainly pool builders and landscaping contractors who need the right products and reliable order fulfilment.
Despite all the automation, Jochen Weinmann makes a point of remaining personally available, including in the evening when a customer still has a question. His wife Katharina looks after HR and team relationships. The company has grown while retaining its personal approach.
Read more about Weinmann Wellness & Lifestyle.
Hugo Lahme
From cooking pots to pool technology
In 1945, people primarily needed everyday essentials. Hugo Lahme therefore used material from scrapped aircraft parts to manufacture cooking pots, irons and cake tins in his foundry.
The first pool products followed in the 1960s, including multiport valves for filtration systems. The company later developed its own brands, such as FitStar and AllFit. Underwater lighting is also part of the range, including the adjustable Waterfarm spotlight.
The foundry evolved into a pool technology specialist serving customers in Germany and abroad. The fourth generation of the family is now involved in the business, alongside employees who have been with the company for many years. The company also trains apprentices, helping to retain expertise while continuing to develop it.
Discover more about Hugo Lahme.
Behncke
Entrepreneurship runs in the family
Hans-Jürgen Behncke also founded his company immediately after the Second World War. Initially, he manufactured products needed at the time, including household appliances, textile machinery and oil burners. On a plot of land in Putzbrunn, he built the company’s first premises as well as housing for his employees. A decent home, he believed, should go hand in hand with a place to work.
His son Michael steered the company towards pool technology in the 1970s. An engineer and enthusiastic inventor, he recognised the potential of energy-saving water and heating technology early on. He also worked to bring manufacturers and pool builders closer together and helped merge the predecessor associations into today’s bsw.
When Michael became seriously ill, his daughter Stephanie took over the company’s management. Together with her sister Caroline, she successfully navigated the transition. Today, Stephanie Behncke-Weber, Caroline Behncke-Wild and Markus Weber lead the family business.
The Hohenbrunn site, inaugurated in 2024, represents continued investment in production, administration and logistics, as well as a commitment to Germany as a manufacturing base.
Krieger
A family with many talents
Norbert Krieger had already spent several years working in Iran before starting his own business. As a master electrician with experience in water treatment, his skills were in demand as a construction site manager. His own company initially focused on water treatment, later adding pool construction.
Today, several generations of the family work together. Stefan Krieger contributes his technical expertise, while Angela Krieger, an authorised signatory, handles commercial matters. Jana is responsible for marketing and draws on her media design background to shape the company’s visual identity. Alexander works in pool construction.
The siblings are creative outside the business too: Jana draws, while Alexander produces music and performs as a DJ. Within the company, their skills complement one another in the planning, delivery and presentation of pool projects.
Customers range from the area around the company’s headquarters in Eichendorf to Austria. Personal service is part of the package, occasionally extending beyond business hours when someone needs water treatment products.
Read more about Krieger’s 40-year history.
SPECK Pumpen
At the heart of the pool
SPECK’s history stretches back to 1909, when master mechanic Daniel Speck founded the family company in Nuremberg with his five sons. Pump manufacturing was the business from the outset.
Development of pool technology began in 1964. Pumps and counter-current swimming systems were introduced under the BADU brand. The BADU 19 plastic pump reached the market in 1967, marking an important step in the development of the company’s pool range.
Today, SPECK supplies technology for private and public pools. The equipment serves different purposes: circulation pumps keep water flowing through the system, while counter-current systems enable swim training even where pool length is limited. Both require expertise in engineering, materials and manufacturing.
Learn more about SPECK’s development.
Stories worth telling more often
These nine companies represent the many small and medium-sized family businesses in Germany’s pool industry. Their stories reveal the depth of expertise within the sector and the close interdependence of manufacturers, suppliers and pool builders.
A pool shell alone does not make a finished pool. It takes the right technology, careful planning and people who can bring everything together professionally. Ongoing support matters just as much. After all, the enjoyment of owning a pool should last far beyond the first swimming season.
This is where Germany’s small and medium-sized businesses have much to offer: in-house developments, experienced employees, knowledgeable contacts and companies where decisions can often be discussed directly with the people responsible. Many train apprentices, invest in their sites and prepare the next generation to take over.
That deserves attention, particularly at a time when discussions about Germany as a business location are so often dominated by concern and a lack of confidence. Our industry has plenty of examples that inspire optimism. People with expertise who get things done. Companies willing to take a chance. And products they can be proud to put their names to.
We believe that is something to be proud of.
