Device removes hot-tub headache
Water-care management system just the start for local company
Arctic Spas — the hot tub brand invented in Edmonton to withstand Canadian weather extremes — has unveiled a new high-tech innovation that’s also made in Edmonton.
The Alberta-made, internationally distributed hot tubs are now available with Spa Boy, a self-monitoring, self-adjusting water-care system that mostly handles an owner’s biggest chore, water management.
The technology was developed by Levven Electronics, a local manufacturer owned by James Keirstead, a co-founder and former partner at Blue Falls Manufacturing, which makes Arctic Spa products in Thorsby. Blue Falls was founded by several longtime friends, including Keirstead.
“We identified a long time ago, my partners and I, that one of the biggest challenges in spa ownership was managing water chemistry,” Keirstead said.
“That’s the biggest fear most people have in spas. They don’t know how to do it, have the time to do it and they’re always concerned about whether it’s going to be a lot of work.”
Levven, which Keirstead purchased in 2011 to supply electronic components for Arctic Spas, spent a year researching the science behind Spa Boy.
The device, installed as an option, uses medical-grade sensors to monitor the tub’s water chemistry and displays the readings on a web page or a smartphone app.
A salt water generator uses the data to create water sanitizer to keep it within the ideal pH range. Spa Boy uses electrolysis to turn the salt that owners add to the water into separate sanitizing chemicals.
Although the technology was produced for Arctic Spas, Keirstead himself is no longer affiliated with that company, having sold his interest to his former partners last year.
He wanted to concentrate on Levven, the electronics company formerly known as Enspire, that he bought originally as a parts supplier for Arctic Spas.
“I kind of fell in love with this. I had been in partnership with the guys for 17 years so it was my opportunity to craft out my own legacy,” Keirstead said.
Besides hot tub components, Levven, a former University of Alberta spinoff, has branched out to design and produce custom electronic solutions for clients and home-automation technology.
It has come up with a wireless multi-room audio amplifier system, GoRave, that competes with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi sound technologies.
Levven has also developed GoConex, a system that connects electrical light fixtures wirelessly with go-anywhere switches.
“Basically, it’s a remote- control load controller,” Keirstead said.
“Most people, when they move into a new home, they invariably find a switch they wish they could move, but moving it is a huge job today, because you’ve got to reroute wire. Now, moving it would be no problem.”
Levven has 35 employees in its south side plant. It has posted annual revenue of about $4 million the last two years and Keirstead expects significant growth this year as Go Rave and Go Conex launch.
“Net income is still really low,” Keirstead said. “I would consider us a startup because while we have a small ongoing business, the new products that we’re developing — all of our profits go back into that.”
Keirstead chose the name Levven as a nod to his Dutch heritage. “Leven is the Dutch word for life, and when we first started, my vision was to build things to improve people’s lives.”