Floataway was a design-led British company. Its strength, as a small company operating in a global market, was rooted in its engineering heritage and technology-driven approach.
The original Tranquility Float tank
Background
The name Floataway was coined and registered by Colin Stanwell-Smith in 1999 while the product was being developed. Colin used his experience to design and engineer the Floataway Tranquility float pod from the ground up.
Floataway's strength, as a small company in a global market, is in its technology roots.
Colin Stanwell-Smith - Speaking at the Float Conference 2016
About the founder
Colin studied Mechanical Engineering at Bristol, England, and took an apprenticeship at the British Aircraft Corporation working on Concorde.
He became chairman and a senior consultant of PA Consulting. In 1983 Colin started out as an independent technology consultant with his own company and developed many products for other companies.
Design of a new wall system in development 2015
Design
Floataway has historically provided design consultancy and implementation services for organisations, companies, and private clients. Projects have been delivered through a combination of engineering, design, and specialist partners.
The Team
Colin Stanwell-Smith
C. Eng. M.I.Mech.E. B.Sc F.R.S.A.
Founder, Director and Chairman (deceased January 2026)
Colin Stanwell-Smith was a Chartered Engineer and award-winning designer. After many years working as a technical consultant across the UK and Europe, he established Floataway, choosing floatation as an ethical, life-enhancing and technically challenging field.
Colin designed the Floataway floatation tank from the ground up and led the company’s technical and commercial development, as well as contributing directly to installations. His work defined the company’s approach to engineering, design, and quality, with a focus on continually improving a range of float tanks, pods, pools, and cabins.
Gini Stanwell-Smith
Managing Director
Gini Stanwell-Smith has a commercial background and previously ran a language school in Brussels for 20 years. At Floataway, she has been responsible for sales, administration, and accounting, as well as supporting project coordination and installations.
Gini speaks fluent French, has a good working knowledge of Dutch.
Toby Stanwell-Smith
I.D.T. BA Hons. Brunel, Electropneumatics CVA. A.&D. Dip
Former Design Manager (until early 2026)
Toby Stanwell-Smith is a specialist in floatation systems engineering with over two decades of experience designing, manufacturing, and delivering float pools internationally. As Design Manager at Floataway, he led system design, production integration, and global project delivery. Toby has since left the company and now operates independently as a consultant and equipment specialist.
Float Essence - Shanghi China
Why Floataway?
By 2018 Floataway had installed tanks in more than 300 centres, spread over 51 countries world wide. Find out why so many people have chosen Floataway to partner with....