Designing, manufacturing, and printing
In order for these unique designs to perform in the pool, tight controls in the manufacturing process are required to guarantee durable quality. Every pool liner design must withstand the wear and tear of the swimming pool environment—from water treatment chemicals to extended periods of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.
The entire manufacturing process mirrors the design process in scope, taking several months to produce a single pattern design. All vinyl must be printed and ready to ship before the building season, which invariably makes deadlines tight. In fact, it is not unusual for a designer to be on call 24-7, in case the manufacturing department needs a colour press or print check of a particular liner design. For this reason, a smart designer works with the highest degree of accuracy possible, with the foresight to minimize these eleventh-hour incidents which could jeopardize deadlines and possibly delay product shipment. To ensure the highest level of quality, the author’s company not only designs the pool liner patterns, but it also manufactures the vinyl film and does all the printing in-house, under one roof.
Looking ahead
Design is not just how it looks, but also how it works. This balancing act between function (usability) and form (esthetics) is one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of designing vinyl pool liners. Technological advances in inks, printing, and manufacturing are propelling designs to new heights.
Moving into next season, the industry will have more choices in patterns, colours, and textures to meet the surge in demand for all things pool and outdoor living. Not only will pool builders have more options to meet consumer demand, but they will also have high-quality vinyl products to help them stand out from their competitors. Being able to bring these innovations to both residential and commercial pools and provide the industry with unsurpassed designs, technological innovations, and quality vinyl materials is the most rewarding part of being a pool liner designer.
David Sones is the supervisor for industrial design, as well as the lead designer for North American and European industrial design development, at Canadian General-Tower (CGT). Sones has over 21 years of design experience and is proud to be a part of CGT, which has been in business for over 150 years. Sones can be reached at david.sones@cgtower.com.
