Even with pool chemical companies, the reality is more complex than many users here seem to believe.

As far as I know, only Olin (now, Arch), Monsanto and Biolab had true research departments. Arch was spun off, is not independent, and is not doing research any more. Monsanto has been out of the business for years. Biolab is doing research, but I think it has more to do with marketing, than pool chemistry.

Apart from these guys, the labels are "me-too" affairs.

Some of you'd be amazed at how utterly ignorant of pool chemistry some of the pool product process engineers really are. Their focus is all on MAKING and/or PACKAGING the product in a way that complies with all the regulators and makes the marketing department happy. They don't have the time or interest to do more.

At the base level, I don't think anyone is doing research into new or better ways. The pool industry is just not big enough, and the barriers to entry (thanks to the EPA and others) are so high, pool product research is a genuinely dumb investment.

So, most of the pool product makers are just packaging someone else's idea.

PoolDoc