Backed by more than 60 years of product development experience, Wavin has more than 12,000 employees across 66 production sites worldwide, serving over 80 countries as a leading supplier and manufacturer of smart water management solutions, water reuse systems, plastic pipes and fittings for plumbing, waste and sewer systems, roof drainage, stormwater management, and underfloor heating.

Wavin is part of Orbia, a global organization based in the Netherlands that operates in the agriculture, building materials and infrastructure sectors. 

Bow Plumbing Group, a leading Montreal-based manufacturer of plastic pipes and fittings for North America, was acquired by Wavin in 2022, and the full North American launch of Wavin took place in 2023.

We caught up with Courtney Fretz Obregon, Vice President, North America, Wavin to find out more about company’s first year in North America.

PHC News: You recently celebrated your first year in North America after a 60-year history in Europe. What have you experienced in your first year here?

Obregon: In our first year in the North American market, we experienced a welcoming reaction and opportunities for growth.

We say that “we see water differently” as we bring our global experience to address resiliency challenges related to increased rainfalls, heat stresses and water shortages. As North American communities are evolving to address the threat—and in the U.S., to leverage the infrastructure investments—we are able to support the local learning curves due to variations in local codes, especially as it relates to our stormwater management business.

Our first-year results were strong, especially when it came to market acceptance of our pipes and fittings business. 

PHC News: How have your products been received? 

Obregon: We’ve been thrilled with the acceptance of our PEX products, particularly our SuperPex, and continued support of Flow Guard Gold CPVC. The products introduced new advantages to the market. Our SuperPex’s enhanced chlorine and UV resistance, coupled with its flexibility and durability, has made it a standout product in the market. 

PHC News: What challenges have you faced?

Obregon: Building brand recognition and acceptance in a new market takes time, something we had, of course, anticipated. At a basic level, we had to ensure people knew how to pronounce our brand! (WAH-vin).

I wouldn’t say there were any significant challenges we had not foreseen. We focused on building relationships and adding value to our customers and partners. The need to navigate various local codes and regulations, required us to invest in educating our customers and navigating these regulatory differences.

PHC News: As you’re building relationships, what did you find most beneficial as a new brand in North America?

Obregon: As your readers know, the North American plumbing industry is competitive, and yet collaborative. We’re all in the business of public health and safety, so having platforms such as the American Society of Plumbing Engineers to provide ongoing education and media such as PHCPPros.com to educate our customers and partners at scale is invaluable. 

When it comes to partnering with our customers, we identified opportunities to make a difference beyond just product solutions to provide on-time deliveries, exceptional customer service and a 25-year warranty. 

PHC News: How has your team evolved in North America? 

Obregon: We have two sales teams each dedicated 100% to the U.S. and Canadian markets and continuing to invest in local markets, where we are building our stormwater management business. Having acquired the Bow brand, we integrated that team into our Wavin North America team. 

PHC News: What can we expect to see from you in the coming months? 

Obregon: We are rolled out our AquaCell stormwater attenuation tanks this summer, promoting the fact that they are manufactured from 100% recyclable materials. As we head into the fall, we’ll be introducing our PEX A and also a new tree tank solution for urban trees. And we invite your readers to come see as at the ASPE convention this fall.