The Brand Story
Polaris: A Dentist, a Doctor and a Pool Cleaner Made of Coke Cans
The first Polaris pool cleaner was not born in a factory. It began as a prototype built from Coke cans and rubber bands by two unlikely inventors, Mel Henkin, a dentist, and Jordan Laby, an anesthesiologist. They were tired of the work a pool demands, and they were convinced a machine could do it better. A team of engineers then spent about two years turning that contraption into something real.
Chapter 1 · 1973
The Vac-Sweep makes its debut
Polaris introduced its cleaner at the 1973 National Swimming Pool Convention in Anaheim, California. The Polaris Vac-Sweep was described as the first pool cleaner that could both vacuum and sweep, and it stepped into a market then dominated by the Arneson Pool Sweep. For its first decade or more, that single product line was the whole company.
Chapter 2 · 1980s
The 180, the 280 and a familiar silhouette
In the 1980s the Polaris 180 became the brand's defining product, and the Polaris 280 Vac-Sweep that followed is still a common sight in American pools. These pressure-side cleaners run on water pushed from the pool's return line, often with help from a dedicated booster pump, and their long sweep hoses became the signature of the brand. Greg Howard led Polaris Pool Systems as president and chief executive from 1986 to 2004, the years it grew into a household name among pool owners.
Chapter 3 · 2005 to today
Zodiac, then Fluidra
Zodiac Pool Systems acquired Polaris in 2005, joining it with Baracuda and later Jandy under one roof. In July 2018 Zodiac merged with Fluidra, creating one of the world's largest pool equipment groups, with North American offices in Carlsbad, California. Polaris kept innovating within that family, introducing the dual-canister QUATTRO Sport in 2017 and expanding into robotic cleaners.
The Lineup
What Polaris builds today
Polaris builds pressure-side, robotic and handheld cleaners and the equipment that powers them. HVAC365 carries a focused selection of Polaris pool cleaners:
- Robotic pool cleaners: the Alpha iQ, in a floor-only version with a 60-foot cord and a floor, wall and waterline version with a 70-foot cord, and the EPIC 8640 with a 60-foot swivel cord.
- Surface cleaning: the Skimbot, a solar-powered cleaner that skims leaves and debris from the water surface.
- Handheld vacuums: the SpaWand and the SpaWand PRO with a fiberglass pole, for spas, steps and small spots.
- Booster pumps: the Polaris Quiet Booster Pump at 0.97 hp, 115/230V, which supplies the pressure a pressure-side cleaner needs.
In the Field
Pressure, suction or robotic
Pool cleaners fall into three families. Pressure-side cleaners, the kind Polaris made famous, are driven by water pushed through a dedicated return line, usually by a booster pump, and they carry debris into their own bag rather than the pool filter. Suction-side cleaners connect to the skimmer or a suction port and send debris to the pump basket and filter. Robotic cleaners carry their own motors and filters and plug into a low-voltage power supply, so they work independently of the pool plumbing. The right choice depends on the pool's plumbing, the kind of debris it collects and how much of the wall and waterline needs scrubbing.
At a Glance
Polaris at a glance
- Debut
- 1973, Anaheim, California
- Inventors
- Mel Henkin and Jordan Laby
- First product
- Polaris Vac-Sweep
- Defining model
- Polaris 180
- Acquired by
- Zodiac Pool Systems, 2005
- Parent company
- Fluidra, since the 2018 merger
- Sister brands
- Zodiac, Jandy, Baracuda
Questions
Frequently asked questions about Polaris
Who invented the Polaris pool cleaner?
Polaris was created by Mel Henkin, a dentist, and Jordan Laby, an anesthesiologist, whose first prototype was built from Coke cans and rubber bands.
Who owns Polaris?
Polaris is part of Fluidra. Zodiac Pool Systems acquired Polaris in 2005, and Zodiac merged with Fluidra in July 2018.
When did Polaris introduce its first pool cleaner?
The Polaris Vac-Sweep debuted at the 1973 National Swimming Pool Convention in Anaheim, California.
Do I need a booster pump for a Polaris cleaner?
Many Polaris pressure-side cleaners need a booster pump to supply enough water pressure. Robotic cleaners such as the Alpha iQ and EPIC 8640 run on their own power supply and do not.
What is the difference between Polaris and Zodiac?
Both brands belong to the same company, Fluidra. Polaris is best known for pressure-side and robotic cleaners, while Zodiac is a broader pool equipment brand with roots in inflatable boats.
