Pentair Inc. has purchased Acu-Trol Inc., a manufacturer of chemical controllers. The acquisition allows the Golden Valley, Minn.-based manufacturer to offer automated water chemistry monitoring and control systems.

Acu-Trol will operate as a subsidiary of Pentair Water Pool and Spa, a Sanford, N.C.-based division of Pentair. Terms of the acquisition were not released.

“We are very pleased with this agreement,” said Jeff Sanchez, CEO of Auburn, Calif.-based Acu-Trol, who will become general manager of the new business. “The collective resources of Pentair and Acu-Trol will … position us for growth while strengthening our ability to provide technologically advanced products to our customers.”

With Acu-Trol, Pentair said it will be able to expand its automated water chemistry control business into industrial, commercial and residential swimming pools, waterparks, and shower and restroom facilities. The company’s residential water products include Smart pH, Stor-Pro, Acu Check and AquaPC on Point.

“The addition of this technology will give us a better opportunity to meet the growing needs of our customers,” said Scott Levin, president of Pentair Water Pool and Spa, in a press release.

By entering the market with established products, Pentair avoids having to invest in new research and development or marketing efforts. This was the same thinking the company used when it brokered a sales agreement earlier this year with Laars to market its line of commercial pool heaters.

The Acu-Trol deal is yet another notch in a string of Pentair transactions in the past five years. Some of the larger deals are below:

  • 2006: Entered sales/marketing agreement with Laars
  • 2004: Sold Tools Group to Black & Decker Corp.; bought Sta-Rite for $850 million, doubling product line
  • 2003: Expanded niche water product options after buying HydroTemp heat pumps and Letro’s line of pressure-side cleaners.

Pentair generated $2.95 billion in revenues in 2005 and employs approximately 15,000 people. No information was available about whether or not Acu-Trol’s operations might relocate.