It was 2013 when RPM were first approached by Aquastrength. An opportunity had presented itself to them to establish a niche product range in the fitness industry, specialising in aquatic fitness. The opportunity was too big to ignore. However the Aquastrength team were faced with problems in finding the right equipment to do the job for which it was intended.

After deciding to develop their own range of equipment, they undertook the challenge of finding a supplier at a reasonable price that would make good, quality equipment. Chinese suppliers were considered, but were decided against due to the potential the difficulties that can arise.

RPM was recommended to the Aquastrength team as the “best in the business”, making world class moulds and producing quality products. “We were given a number of names originally, of potential businesses to deal with, we had no experience in manufacturing with plastic injection moulding, but we are delighted that in the end we chose to work with RPM as their quality and support is second to none.” said a spokesperson from Aquastrength.

The Aquastrength team met with the Directors of RPM and discussed their visions and goals to see how RPM could assist.  The RPM team explained their processes and time frames of building a tool and manufacturing the product and were happy to offer their services in the business start up.

Design, Development and Manufacture

At the onset of the project, one of RPM’s designers took on the design development of the equipment and after spending some time in the pool under the instruction of the Aquastrength team, he was able to fully see how the equipment was to work and how the water resistance could be used synonymously with weights resistance along with just how well the equipment worked.

The pool time was crucial to the design of the products as it allowed for a full understanding of the flow of water and how the ergonomics would affect the functionality of the equipment.

Once the first prototype design – a 3D printed model, was complete, there was an excited bustle at RPM as the mould tool manufacture began. Always an exciting time at RPM as this marks the start of the concept becoming reality and reaching completion.
Work load and materials were delegated as the tool got underway. Both RPM and Aquastrength were keen to see the first finished piece of equipment in a trial production. 30 days later, a finished plastic injection mould tool proudly sat in the moulding machine producing one component after another in the trial run.

Specialist colour additive was chosen with chlorine resistant pigments and the production run could get underway.

More equipment designs and moulds were underway and before long the Aquastrength Bundle was complete.

RPM were able to mould the components for Aquastrength and have manufactured their products from the start.

Product Launch

Two years later, the products are doing very well. Their Total Body Bundle consisting of leg fins, dumbbells and workout programme provide a complete aquatic resistance system that allows consumers to reach their health and fitness goals regardless of their age or ability.

Jane Hosking, Marketing Director for Aquastrength says “Our equipment puts the user is in complete control of their workout. The harder they push, the harder the water pushes back. Meaning that you can have two people with entirely different fitness levels in the pool, using the same equipment and doing the same exercises and they will both get a great workout.”

“Feedback from everyone that uses the equipment, both professionals and those completely new to aquatic exercise, is extremely positive. Awareness is growing and now that the professional training courses are underway in the US, more and more personal trainers are getting involved and introducing their clients to a new way of training.”  According to Jane, this is in turn helping personal trainers to increase their client base and grow their business. It’s also a great way to help bring back old clients who may have injured themselves and are no longer able to train on land.” The system really does cater for everyone. “We have professional sports teams in Canada and the UK using our system.”

The products have been launched with a focus on the US, Canadian, New Zealand, Australian and UK markets. However with the development of their online store, their products and programs can be shipped anywhere in the world.

The product range is growing with the recent addition of aquatic training shoes, barbells and dumbbells, which have been very popular.

Jane says “Professional athletes and sports teams have been incorporating aquatic workouts into their training regime for years with great results and we want to educate the public and provide them with a system to do the same so they too can see and feel the benefits that come from training in the water.” The Aquastrength team strongly endorse the concept that water based exercise is just as beneficial as land based exercise, if not more so in some cases.

Aquastrength are extremely proud of their achievements to date and are looking forward to the exciting road ahead.  RPM are also very proud of their involvement in this project and look forward to being of continued assistance to this innovative company.

When asked how they would rate the service at RPM, the Aquastrength reply was humbling. “The RPM team are outstanding to deal with. They are true professionals and have assisted us in the development of world class products, from design right through to manufacturing. We would definitely give RPM a 10 out of 10, but we would never tell them that as we love the drive and speed at which they work so would hate for them to think they could afford to ease off.”

If you would like to know more about the team at RPM then please visit our website at www.rpmtoolanddie.com.

For more information on Aquastrength products, please visit their website at www.aquastrength.com

 

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