Haviland’s Creative Chemistry Center 

Haviland Enterprises, Inc., a globally recognized chemical manufacturer and distributor, has opened its Creative Chemistry Center, a $7 million, 11,000-square-foot research and development lab in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The CCC’s mission is to develop chemistry solutions that support cleaner water, easier maintenance and greater customer satisfaction. 

This laboratory is a long-term investment in our customer’s success. For pool and spa professionals, it means access to chemistry that’s backed by science, quality and a team that understands the realities of maintaining water in the field.”

Meg Post, Haviland

“This laboratory is a long-term investment in our customers’ success,” says Meg Post, president and CEO of Haviland Enterprises, Inc. “For pool and spa professionals, it means access to chemistry that’s backed by science, quality and a team that understands the realities of maintaining water in the field.” 

Brian Schoen, vice president for Haviland Pool & Spa, says the lab provides a centralized space for testing, troubleshooting and developing water care solutions across Haviland’s core markets.

“Innovation at Haviland has always started in the lab,” Schoen says. “The Creative Chemistry Center allows us to build on that foundation while delivering better-performing products and stronger technical support to the pool and spa industry.” 

The new facility also creates opportunities for closer collaboration between technical teams, sales and marketing. Lab-developed innovations can now be shared efficiently through training, demonstrations and field support. 

“The CCC isn’t just a development space,” says John Bokor, director of Haviland Pool & Spa pro sales. “It’s a resource for our partners in the field, giving our team and dealers deeper insight into how and why our products work.”

For retailers, this means access to chemistry that has been thoroughly tested for consistency and real-world performance. 

“Dealers don’t just need more chemistry. They need chemistry that works consistently,” Bokor says. “The CCC allows us to validate performance before products ever reach the shelf.”

The lab’s expanded capabilities — including enhanced clarity, metals, performance and quality-control testing — allow Haviland to check product performance earlier in development and simultaneously run multiple pilot formulations. This shortens development timelines, getting new and improved products to the market faster. The facility was also designed to scale as water-treatment needs and performance expectations evolve.

Along with research capabilities, the CCC includes designated areas for hands-on training and education, giving dealers and service pros opportunities to understand not just how a product works but why. 

For the third consecutive year, Haviland was named one of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, and the company expects the CCC to continue growing in both talent and capabilities. 

“This investment is the beginning of the next chapter for Haviland,” Post says. “Innovation is foundational to our success, not just for ourselves, but for our customers.”