In 1989, while working as a plumber in Sydney, John Creighton hit upon the idea of developing a new type of driveway drainage which was more efficient and more reliable than what was then available.

John’s solution, a permanent formwork slot drain, was an immediate success. The first product of its type on the market, it represented the first of many development milestones for Stormtech, the company he went on to found.

Others include the Threshold Drain – an unobtrusive unit, which facilitates seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces; the Shower Channel Drain – a product which has established itself as one of the most popular of its type on the market; and the Shower Screen Support Drain – a unique multifunction system that facilitates dual-sided drainage (on either side of the shower screen).

All these products, and indeed all the various grates and drainage systems in the Stormtech range, are designed with quality at front of mind. Australian made according to the standards of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System, they exceed compliance requirements for Watermark, Australian design standards and the National Construction Code.

Sustainability: a key focus

On top of that, and importantly, they are environmentally sustainable.

For Stormtech, this is nothing new. Since its earliest days, and the above-mentioned development of the permanent formwork slot drain, the company has counted environmental awareness and sustainable manufacturing processes as a key priority.

Today, this commitment can be seen in its status as the first drainage manufacturer in the world to have received Level A Gold Global Greentag Certification across its entire product range.

It can be seen in the steps it has taken to eliminate single-use plastics from its packaging materials and to ensure that all boxes and wraps are 100% recyclable.

And it can be seen in the fact that, since late 2024, Stormtech’s manufacturing hub in Nowra (on the NSW South Coast) has been powered entirely by renewable solar energy.

Drilling deeper still, Stormtech’s ecological commitment is evidenced by its choice of materials. The company sources stainless steel in Finland from the lowest carbon emission mills in the world (which is manufactured using over 90% recycled content); Utilises Capral LocAL Super Green aluminium (which is manufactured using three times less carbon emissions than the global average) in its award-winning ‘Wave Grate’; and uses Vinyl Council of Australia certified Best Environmental Practice PVC.

What all of this means, for specifiers and consumers, is that whenever they choose a Stormtech linear drain (for their bathroom, laundry, patio, and so on), they can be sure that they are meeting the highest standards in terms of not just functionality, reliability, and style, but also sustainability.

And they can be sure that they are dealing with a supplier with a demonstrated record of excellence and innovation; an industry leader, who is taking real steps to reduce their environmental footprint and the of the Australian construction industry.