EuroCover Water Systems

Hexprotect® AQUA vs. Hexofloat®

Side-by-side: Hexprotect® AQUA (AWTT, 25+ yr, 130+ MPH wind) vs Hexofloat® (EuroCover, AWTT design-approved, 190 mm, 15-yr life, 3–6 wk lead).

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Hexprotect® AQUA is AWTT's pre-ballasted 220 mm workhorse — 25+ year life, 130+ MPH wind; Hexofloat® is EuroCover's 190 mm AWTT-design-approved alternative — ~30% lighter, 75 MPH wind, 15-year life, 3–6 week EU lead.

At a glance

Metric Hexagonal floating cover Hexofloat®
Origin AWTT (USA) — original patent holder (granted 2010); AQUA in commercial service since 2009 EuroCover Water Systems (EU) — in-house; AWTT design-approved
Manufacturing AWTT — US manufacture, EU-stocked European Union — EuroCover-owned tooling
Patent status AWTT-patented Patented (EuroCover-owned); AWTT design-approved
Tile diameter 220 mm (8.7 in) 190 mm (7.5 in)
Surface coverage 99% effective 99% effective
Wind resistance 130+ MPH (209+ km/h), certified — hurricane-rated specifiable 75 MPH (121 km/h)
Shell construction One-piece moulded HDPE; pre-ballasted with potable water Self-contained chamber; ~30% lighter, ~30% thinner wall
Buoyancy 39 kg/m² (8 lb/ft²) Less buoyant than Hexprotect® AQUA
EU lead time (typical) 2–8 weeks (EU stock or US manufacture) 3–6 weeks (EU manufacturing)
Shipping footprint Standard More compact than Hexprotect® AQUA
Anchorless install Yes Yes — identical procedure
Manufacturer warranty 10 years (AWTT) 10 years (EuroCover)
Life expectancy 25+ years 15 years
Certifications NSF/ANSI food-grade by default; FDA-compliant formulations available NSF/ANSI food-grade formulations available (not certified by default); FDA-compliant
Maintenance None required None required

EuroCover supplies two hexagonal floating covers across the EU. This page is the procurement-side guide for picking between them. For the technology-side comparison (tile geometry, ballast mechanism, wind-load handling), see pond-cover.com/vs/hexprotect-aqua-vs-hexofloat.

Pick Hexprotect® AQUA when

  • The site is hurricane-exposed or sees sustained extreme wind. Specify the wind rating in the RFP.
  • The procurement case favours the longest validated design life.
  • NSF/ANSI food-grade certification documentation is required by default for a potable application.
  • Chemical or temperature envelope at the edge of what HDPE can handle.

Pick Hexofloat® when

  • EU manufacturing origin is a binding procurement constraint (REACH-bound projects, EU-only tenders).
  • The 3–6 week lead time fits the project schedule better than the AQUA lead time window.
  • Transport efficiency matters on a large order — Hexofloat® ships more compactly per m².
  • Site wind exposure stays comfortably below the Hexofloat® envelope (Hexofloat® lifespan envelope is EuroCover-published; the AWTT Hexprotect® AQUA equivalent is on the AWTT product page) and a 15-year amortisation window is acceptable.

Side-by-side (procurement view)

Buyer concernHexprotect® AQUAHexofloat®
Manufacturing originAWTT (US-manufactured / EU-stocked)EuroCover (EU-manufactured)
EU lead time2–8 weeks3–6 weeks
NSF/ANSI food-grade documentationAvailable by defaultAvailable on request
Manufacturer warranty10 years (AWTT)10 years (EuroCover)
Best fitHurricane sites, longest-life industrial deploymentsEU-origin or short-lead-time projects

Specific engineering envelopes (tile diameter, wind rating, life expectancy, surface coverage) live in the spec table at the foot of each product page, or in full on the engineering reference at pond-cover.com.

Sources

When Hexofloat® makes sense

Hexofloat® wins when lead time is the binding constraint (3–6 weeks, EU-manufactured), when EU-only sourcing is a procurement requirement, when transport efficiency matters (more compact to ship), or when site wind exposure stays below 75 MPH and a 15-year service life envelope is acceptable. (For Hexofloat® specifications, EuroCover is the source of truth; for AWTT-published Hexprotect® AQUA values, see awtti.com.) Hexprotect® AQUA stays the right pick for hurricane-exposed sites, the most demanding chemical / temperature envelopes, longest validated life, and projects that need NSF/ANSI food-grade by default.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hexofloat® a copy of Hexprotect® AQUA? #
No. Hexofloat® is a separately patented EuroCover product on EuroCover-owned tooling — and AWTT formally design-approved it. Both share the self-contained-chamber, hexagonal-tessellation concept but have different envelopes (tile size, shell thickness, wind / life rating).
Why does EuroCover sell both? #
Different buyer needs. Hexprotect® AQUA suits projects where hurricane wind exposure, the longest validated life, or NSF/ANSI food-grade by default are decisive. Hexofloat® suits projects where lead time, EU-only sourcing, or shipping efficiency are the binding constraints. Offering both means we can serve the project on its own terms.
Do they install the same way? #
Yes. Both are anchorless, both deploy without draining, both launch from the shoreline and self-distribute via natural water motion. Installation crews trained on one can deploy the other.
Can I mix them on a single site? #
Operationally, yes — both tessellate compatibly at the hexagonal grid. Procurementally, most clients standardise on one product to simplify replacement-parts inventory and warranty handling.
How do the warranties compare? #
Both carry a 10-year manufacturer warranty (AWTT for Hexprotect® AQUA; EuroCover for Hexofloat®). Life-expectancy targets differ: 25+ years for Hexprotect® AQUA, 15 years for Hexofloat®.
What about price? #
Comparable in most European deployments once shipping is factored in. Hexofloat®'s lighter shell and more compact transport profile often advantage it on large EU orders; Hexprotect® AQUA's longer life can advantage it on lifetime-cost calculations. Project-specific pricing is issued with the quotation.

Sources & further reading