StoneAge – Pioneering the Next Generation of Industrial Cleaning Solutions through Innovation, Employee Ownership, and Unwavering Commitment to Safety and Sustainability

Innovation drives progress, transforming challenges into opportunities and ideas into groundbreaking solutions. The most remarkable companies don’t just respond to change—they lead it, blending vision with purpose to craft solutions that reshape industries and redefine standards. By addressing complex problems with creativity and foresight, these organizations inspire transformation, setting new benchmarks for success and becoming pillars of progress in their fields.

StoneAge is one such company that exemplifies this approach. With a mission to tackle complex industrial cleaning challenges while creating meaningful careers, StoneAge began its journey over four decades ago in Durango, Colorado. Originally focused on water jet drilling for uranium mining, the company soon recognized an opportunity to pivot, leveraging its expertise to develop industrial cleaning tools. This strategic shift marked the start of StoneAge’s evolution into a global leader, delivering state-of-the-art waterblasting equipment and automated cleaning solutions.

Renowned for its reliability and innovation, StoneAge’s Sentinel^® Automation Technology has revolutionized industrial cleaning with unmatched precision and efficiency. As a 100% employee-owned company, it fosters a culture where every team member contributes to shared growth and excellence. With a steadfast commitment to safety, sustainability, and customer satisfaction, StoneAge continues to set new standards, enabling industries to tackle the toughest cleaning tasks with confidence, ease, and innovation.

At CIO Bulletin, we had the distinct honor of interviewing Kerry Siggins, CEO of StoneAge. During our conversation, she shared profound insights into how she and her company are committed to making a meaningful impact—empowering customers, supporting local communities, and ensuring that every project is completed with ease, safety, timeliness, and within budget.

Interview Highlights

StoneAge has a rich history dating back to 1979. Can you share the inspiring story behind the company's inception and the vision of its founders?

Our founders, John Wolgamott and Jerry Zink, bonded over their passion for innovation at the Colorado School of Mines. Initially focused on designing water-powered rock drills for uranium mining, they were forced to pivot after the Three Mile Island disaster, realizing the potential of waterblast technology for industrial cleaning. Their vision was to create tools that improved safety, efficiency, and reliability, which remains the core of StoneAge's mission. Today, waterjetting's versatility has extended far beyond its original applications, supporting industries such as aerospace, food production, and the military.

Can you tell us about some of your most groundbreaking products or technologies and the impact they’ve had on the industry?

Our Sentinel^® Operating System pairs with our advanced automated tube cleaning equipment to revolutionize the way industrial heat exchangers are cleaned. Heat exchangers are critical components in facilities like power plants and refineries that transfer heat to keep processes running efficiently. Over time, they become clogged with scale, residue, and debris, reducing performance and risking costly shutdowns if not maintained and cleaned regularly. Our system enhances operator safety, minimizes water consumption, and dramatically increases efficiency, solving these challenges with precision and reliability. By addressing these critical maintenance needs, we help industries worldwide stay operational, safe, and sustainable, redefining standards for high-pressure cleaning.

StoneAge is recognized as a leader in waterblast tooling and automated equipment. What drives your innovation, and how do you stay ahead in this competitive market?

We continuously push boundaries to redefine safety, efficiency, and performance in industrial cleaning. By fostering a culture of innovation and actively collaborating with customers to solve challenges, we set industry benchmarks and consistently strive to exceed them. Our customers work in some of the world’s most hazardous industries, relying on our products to clean the equipment that powers the supply chains producing essential goods for everyday life. We are deeply committed to the people who use our equipment, driven by a strong resolve to ensure they return home safely to their families each night.

StoneAge products serve customers across 90 countries. How do you manage to maintain consistency in quality and service across such a diverse market?

Our global network of dedicated sales and customer support teams ensures personalized, localized service across 90 countries. By understanding the unique needs of each market and maintaining high manufacturing standards, we deliver consistent quality and exceptional customer experiences worldwide. This enables industries such as refineries, petrochemical plants, and food production facilities to benefit from the reliability of our tools, no matter where they operate.

How does your team ensure the safety and efficiency of your tools, and what role does customer feedback play in product development?

We adhere to stringent, non-negotiable safety protocols and material tolerances, making safety our top priority through investments in top-of-the-line Quality Control equipment, technicians, and training. Customer feedback is integral to our innovation process, driving the development of tools and technologies that meet real-world challenges and ensure user safety.

As a 100% employee-owned company, how do you empower your team to contribute to the company’s growth and innovation?

StoneAge encourages employees to actively participate in the company’s success by embodying the 3 pillars of the Own It Mindset: Be a Great Teammate, Practice Self-Leadership, and Deliver on the StoneAge Assurance Promise. As employee-owners, our teammates are passionate about contributing to the quality and excellence that distinguish StoneAge from our competitors by taking responsibility and ownership of the company’s performance. Through our Continuous Improvement program, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), and regular feedback surveys, combined with our employee-led performance review process, we ensure every team member has a voice and is invested in our growth.

In today’s world, innovation goes hand in hand with sustainability. How is StoneAge integrating sustainable practices into its tools, technologies, and operations?

Our equipment minimizes water and fuel consumption while utilizing recycled water whenever possible. Sustainability plays a significant role in our product roadmap, with a focus on reducing water and fuel consumption by creating more efficient products that measure and monitor water usage. More efficient products mean less time spent cleaning, which equates to less water and fuel being used. By replacing environmentally harmful cleaning methods, such as chemical cleaning and sandblasting, with the power of water, we help industries reduce their ecological footprint and enhance operational sustainability.

What trends in industrial cleaning and automation do you foresee, and how is StoneAge preparing to lead these changes?

The future of industrial cleaning is centered on integrating fully automated and computerized systems to enhance both safety and operational efficiency. StoneAge is leading this shift by investing in advanced automation technologies, such as the Sentinel^® Operating System, which enables precise, remote-controlled cleaning with reduced manpower and water usage. As industries like refineries, power plants, and aerospace demand more sustainable solutions, we are leading the charge in creating tools that balance high performance with environmental responsibility.

Could you share some key insights about StoneAge’s collaborations with industry partners and the impact these partnerships have had on driving innovation and advancing industrial cleaning solutions?

StoneAge has been closely collaborating with the WJTA (WaterJet Technology Association) since the early 1980s. Our founders, John Wolgamott and Jerry Zink, attended a WJTA conference at the Colorado School of Mines to showcase the water-powered drilling capabilities of their first shotgun-style prototype for mining applications. An offhand yet serendipitous remark from an industrial cleaning contractor stated, “If you can drill holes in the rock, you can drill out the fouling in the heat exchanger!” This was the catalyst for the pivot that shifted StoneAge’s focus from mining to industrial cleaning, and we have been members of the WJTA ever since. This partnership has been integral in driving the industry forward and continues to influence waterblast standards worldwide. John served as a board member for over two decades, and Kerry has dedicated 14 years to the board, currently serving as Board Chair.

What is StoneAge’s long-term vision for shaping the future of the industrial cleaning tools and equipment industry? Are there any upcoming product launches or technological innovations that you are particularly excited about?

StoneAge aims to have working computerized industrial cleaning solutions in every major heavy industrial facility worldwide by 2040. This is an ambitious goal, and one that we are highly focused on. We are continuously innovating new products and solutions designed to increase safety and reduce environmental impact, with exciting advancements in automation expected to address workforce shortages and enhance remote training to enable new operators to work safely and efficiently.

The Stalwart Leader behind StoneAge’s Success

Kerry Siggins is the CEO of StoneAge. Appointed CEO at just 28, she has transformed the company into an innovative force while fostering a culture where employees think and act like owners. Under her leadership, StoneAge has navigated three major transitions, earning recognition as a top workplace by Outside Magazine and Inc. Magazine.

In 2023, Kerry was named ‘EY Entrepreneur of the Year’ and ‘Colorado’s CEO of the Year’. She is a sought-after speaker, presenting at global corporate events, universities, and conferences.

Kerry is the author of ‘The Ownership Mindset: A Handbook for Transforming Your Life and Leadership’ and hosts the Reflect Forward podcast. She also contributes to Forbes, Entrepreneur, Authority Magazine, and BIC Magazine. Through her leadership, Kerry inspires individuals to grow both personally and professionally while building a strong, sustainable workplace culture.

“With our Sentinel^® Operating System, we’re revolutionizing heat exchanger cleaning by enhancing safety, reducing water use, and maximizing performance, setting a new standard for sustainability and efficiency worldwide.”