You hit the headlines because Construccion Alimarket, the specialised magazine has established your company as the first in concrete swimming pool construction volume in Spain.
Yes, that's right

Do you have a rough estimate about the number of swimming pools you have built since the company was founded in 1968?
I don't know, let me work it out (…) I would say about 9,000, more or less. In fact, now we construct a swimming pool per day and we repair about 40 daily.

What has this recognition meant to you?
A moral injection for all our effort, for our everyday work; it has been a major boost for us.

Your father, Joan Ortensi, founded it in 1968, but now your two sisters and you run the company. Has the installation system changed much since then?
No, it hasn't, the basic construction system is the same, but now we use better materials that do not rust so much. What has really changed is the water treatment and its complements, many of which are automatic.

And has there been an increase in the number of swimming pools installed?
Definitely, because economy has improved, there's more purchasing power and a lot of people can afford a swimming pool.

Has your father ever told you the reason that brought him to construct swimming pools?
Yes, he was a lathe operator and he started to make water pressure pieces until one day a French customer ordered a swimming pool filter, this was the starting point.

And what made you work for the company?
I used to come here when I was a child and it came as something natural, without realizing it I was working here.

What about the competition with regard to swimming pools?
There is fierce competition, because they're small companies without much infrastructure and without many production costs and this is why their prices are very low.

And in view of this situation, is there any magic formula to keep on a par?
Yes, there is, working 15 hours every day, there's no other alternative.

Apart from your branch in Vila-sacra, you've also got branches in Vall-llobrega and Salt.
That's right. The one in Vall-llobrega started out as a branch but now it has turned into another head office, and we hope the one in Salt becomes another head office in the future as well.

Does this mean that we are in a good area, geographically talking?
No doubt about it, because we are right in the middle of the Costa Brava.

Where do you operate?
Mainly from Lloret de Mar to Salses, in the South of France.

How much does it cost to have a swimming pool built?
Between 9,000 and 150,000 euros.

And is the maintenance as complicated as it seems?
It isn't as complicated as that if you do what it has to be done. Problems come when it is not maintained regularly. Filters need cleaning, the pressure has to be checked and pH and chlorine levels have to be controlled. There is no other complication.

Which are your most usual customers, companies or private customers?
Private customers.

Among the 9,000 swimming pools you have constructed since you started, there is a wide range of types and it is good to bear this in mind, because we can go beyond the typical rectangular blue swimming pool, can't we? In fact you even install underwater colour lights …
And how! If a customer gives us an idea of what he wants, we study, design and tailor it to his taste.

And how long does it usually take to construct an average swimming pool?
If everything turns out right, it can take about three weeks, but that depends on the customer's order.

What's the best period to do it?
October

But this is not peak time work for you?
No, it isn't. It's in May and June, that's when we have to install them .

What is your policy?
We simply do our best, trying to advice customers as best as we can and work our utmost. But sometimes the customer has a wrong idea about what we do, because sometimes he thinks he's just buying an accessory, whereas in fact it is a construction process as we build them, our swimming pools are not made of polyester or any other material. We could say that building a swimming pool is not like buying a fridge.

Would this be the message then?
Absolutely, we are constructors not installers. We make concrete swimming pools, which are the most difficult swimming pools in the market, and we're proud to be the first in Spain.

What are the advantages of concrete swimming pools?
The main advantage is that they are lifelong swimming pools while polyester swimming pools deteriorate because water dirties the paint, it then fades and finally patches and stains appear. We had installed polyester swimming pools in the past but we are now replacing them by concrete ones, because they're a failure.

Which arguments would you state if you had to convince me to construct a swimming pool?
For me it is a change of lifestyle, especially in summer. If you go for a swim at midday you're ready to go to work in the afternoon, and if you go for a swim at night, you sleep better. Moreover, you can stay at home at the weekend and enjoy it.