Ever since Hurricane Laura damaged the plant in Louisiana last August, BioLab management knew they would have a challenge on their hands — not only with replacing the supply of trichlor the plant produced, but also with the added demand for chlorine products from consumers staying at home.
“We are actively working to rebuild our plant, which is a $170 million investment slated to be completed in spring of 2022, and will operate at 30% greater production capacity,” says Jon Viner, BioLab president. “This means we will be well positioned to rapidly address the shortage of pool disinfecting agents in North America. Until then, we’ve secured alternate sources of raw materials and are still producing chlorine tablets we will be supplying to our retailers throughout the season. Unfortunately, there may be times when retailers do not have adequate supply on the shelves. In those cases, we are encouraging pool owners to keep visiting their retailers for added solutions.”
BioLab has increased educational efforts to consumers by issuing a press release to all major North American news media outlets. The release focuses on recognizing the challenges pool owners face and encouraging them to visit their local retailers for product solutions and expert advice. The websites of its major brands, BioGuard and Natural Chemistry, have been updated with information detailing alternatives and best practices to enhance the performance of chlorine-based products. BioLab also plans on creating additional tools and events to help spread the educational message.
“While the season is already well underway, we can still offer dealers, distributors and their staff ways to improve the customer experience and keep them recognized as the local experts at a time when consumers are actively looking for answers,” says Alicia Stephens, education manager for BioLab. “We will keep finding creative ways to keep our network informed and ready to handle the ongoing challenges, so they can help everyone keep swimming this year.”
