A family history

PlatyPool - Un système d’écumage de surface, éco-responsable, conçu et fabriqué en France

Jean-Jacques

INVENTOR & SERIAL-ENTREPRENEUR

When I acquired a hotel in the south of France in 2005, I quickly realized that keeping a pool clean and attractive for my guests is a daily real challenge.

Cleaning with the classic skimmer pool net several times a day to remove leaves, insects and pollen is a time-consuming and physically demanding task that was impossible with my disability.

I could have hired a specialist to clean the pool for me daily, but that’s expensive. So, I invented and designed the Platypool first version: a large floating net that was light, handy, efficient and effortless.”

PlatyPool - Un système d’écumage de surface, éco-responsable, conçu et fabriqué en France

Gwen

CO-INVENTOR & CEO

” In 2020, my father showed me the invention he designed in his garage . Intrigued, I tested the first prototype and realized that this new tool was efficient and easy to use.

Pool surface cleaning market research showed there was a need for a new manual solution.

After registering the patent in February 2021, I went to the south of France to test the prototype with more than 80 pool owners. The tests were a success and many were surprised such a tool didn’t already exist.

Our industrial engineer and I worked on 8 prototypes to simplify the system and make it practical and easy to assemble and disassemble in under a minute.”

The company

French company launched in January 2021, which designs, manufactures and distributes its first patented innovation.

The Platypool won two medals at the famous french innovation competition “Concours Lépine” in October 2021, and has been a success with pool owners and distributors in Europe and Australia.

Platypool has be launched on the Europeen market after 18 months of product development (8 prototypes tested).

The European and International patents were registered respectively in 2021 and 2022.

Prizes

PlatyPool - Un système d’écumage de surface, éco-responsable, conçu et fabriqué en France

2 Medals in october 2021

PlatyPool - Un système d’écumage de surface, éco-responsable, conçu et fabriqué en France
PlatyPool - Un système d’écumage de surface, éco-responsable, conçu et fabriqué en France

Pool cleaning challenges

We started from three simple observations:

 

      • The classic hand skimmer is a must-have tool to clean the pool’s surface, but it is tedious and time-consuming to use. The physical effort required can strain your arms and your back. 
        • Not all pool owners invest in a cleaning robot or a pool cover.
      • The hand skimmer is often made of non-recyclable plastic and its durability is limited.
  •  

Platypool puts an end to those challenges. It is an efficient, effortless, affordable and eco-friendly manual alternative.

Eco-responsible

The materials are recyclable and very resistant to chlorine and UV.

 

Our 8 prototypes all had clear objectives:

 

.  simplifying the system as much as possible to limit the number of parts needed to operate, and therefore use as little material as possible.

 

.  limiting as much as possible the waste during production:

 

The only waste related to the production is 3% of the net (in fiberglass, therefore recyclable) due to its cutting.

 

The materials come mainly from France, but also from Germany and Spain.

 

We have tried to reduce as much as possible the transportation time and distances between our suppliers and our production place in order to limit as much as possible our carbon footprint.

Socially
responsible

We work in close collaboration with an ESAT and an association which are a few kilometers away from each other.

 

The association makes the net and sews the ropes. The ESAT (a French structure that helps the disabled re-enter the job market) takes care of screwing the brushes to the stretchers, packaging the product and palletizing the Platypool before they are sent to the customer.

 

The association works in the social and solidarity economy sector and has humanist values.

 

“We place the human being at the heart of our considerations, and value respect, solidarity, responsibility and loyalty.”

 

ESATs are a pivotal part of the Social and Solidarity Economy. Their vocation is to support and accompany all their employees with disabilities. 

 

“We offer the people we employ the means to obtain the greatest possible autonomy, both professionally and socially, in order to promote their integration.”

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