John Creighton: The Aussie inventor who revolutionised drainage

In the dynamic realm of sustainable architecture, design and construction, we tend to look ahead, constantly evaluating the environmental impact of our choices and anticipating the future. However, while our collective gaze should certainly remain on the horizon, it’s crucial to pause and acknowledge the trailblazers who paved the way for us. These are the individuals who refused to settle for mediocrity; the industry pioneers whose unwavering ingenuity and foresight laid the foundations for sustainable solutions as we see them today.

John Creighton, the visionary founder of Stormtech, is undoubtedly among these luminaries. A creative country boy with a deep love for invention, John’s journey is a quintessential Australian tale – a story of ingenuity, resilience and a profound connection to the land – that ultimately redefined drainage solutions. We sit down with John’s son, Troy Creighton, the current driving force at Stormtech, to reflect on John’s inspiring story, explore his most consequential inventions and understand how his sustainable legacy permeates Stormtech’s ethos until this day.

From rural origins to inventive pursuits
John’s story begins in the serene countryside of Casino, a rural town in northeastern NSW, where he cultivated a deep appreciation for the natural world and the unhurried rhythm of country life. As Troy fondly recalls, John possessed a “strong-willed, independent and creative” spirit – a unique blend of attributes that inevitably propelled him toward invention.

Despite the undeniable pull of his rural roots, the vibrant allure of opportunity brought John to Sydney, where he initially embarked on a pursuit of a rugby league career, only to later find unexpected success in the world of insurance. However, John’s innate ingenuity proved too compelling. “His creative flair drove him into the rewarding hobby of invention,” Troy reveals.

John’s mind was constantly buzzing with ideas, many of which demonstrated a keen awareness of what we now understand to be the critical importance of sustainability. From refillable pressure packs designed to supersede disposable aerosols to explorations of hydrogen generation, these early endeavours showcased his ingenious, forward-thinking approach and clear, albeit indirect, commitment to a more sustainable future.

A concreter’s bold vision for better design
This innate affinity for hands-on work prompted John to swap his corporate position for the demanding physical labour of a concreter. “A job well done became his core ethos,” Troy describes, highlighting his father’s exceptional work ethic, meticulous craftsmanship and commitment to excellence.

These traits quickly established his reputation for outstanding quality, making him a sought-after expert for prestigious architectural projects. And it was within the dynamic context of the bustling construction site that John identified a significant market gap – effective and aesthetically pleasing drainage grating.

“Dad’s acute attention to detail and unremitting pursuit of true refinement and lasting quality left him deeply dissatisfied with the limited options for available gratings, which would have been basic cast iron, hot dipped ladder grates, cast aluminium or domestic-style plastic grates,” Troy recalls his father’s refusal to settle for mediocrity. “Given the focus on the high-quality finish of the slabs by the architects and engineers he was working for, he was convinced there had to be a better way.”

The Slot Drain is born
Inspired by an Austrian publication focused on the innovative applications of precast concrete, John invented an ingenious and elegantly simple solution: his first drainage product, the now-iconic Slot Drain.

This wasn’t just a variation on existing drains – John’s solution represented a radical departure from the constraints of conventional drainage design. Rejecting the traditional channel intended for a separate grate, the new design harnessed the inherent structural integrity and load-bearing capacity of the surrounding concrete itself, yielding a sleek slot resembling a simple expansion joint, that far transcended the utilitarian appearance of traditional products.

And while John’s immediate focus may not have been singularly centred on environmental sustainability, the Slot Drain’s innate sophistication and functional minimalism embodied many of its core principles. “By significantly reducing the amount of required material compared to traditional systems that relied on separate grates and channels, this refined design exemplified the core sustainability tenant of maximising efficacy and performance, while minimising the consumption of resources,” Troy explains.

Pioneering a sustainable ethos
Predating the widespread adoption of sustainability as a guiding principle for responsible manufacturing, this notion of resourcefulness was at the core of John’s remarkably future-forward vision for Stormtech when he started the company in 1989. The pragmatic imperative to “do more with less,” Troy says, had been carefully cultivated by the practical realities of John’s rural upbringing and – coupled with his innate sense of frugality and fiercely independent character – this philosophy shaped John’s uniquely efficient approach to problem-solving.

“This ethos led Dad to find ways to utilise components for the drain that were reusable, including the packaging,” Troy reflects. So, in an era when potential reuse of construction waste was frequently overlooked, John saw it as a valuable resource that could be repurposed. “Much of the early Stormtech material sourcing was from construction waste,” Troy says.

He adds that John’s deep connection to the land also meant he never even considered moving manufacturing out of the country. “This Australian-made ethos is John’s DNA. He would only source local materials which, inherently, supported sustainable outcomes by reducing energy used in transport.”

Embracing ingenuity in the face of adversity
These formative years were defined by John’s highly practical and creative approach; however, Troy points out, the company’s trajectory wasn’t without its difficulties. “His initial and most pressing challenges in those early years centred around the critical need to maintain consistent product quality and to establish efficient and scalable manufacturing processes,” Troy recalls. “Not having sufficient capital to employ a qualified engineer, he was repeatedly compelled to rely on his own ingenuity to overcome these technical hurdles.”

John faced these challenges head-on, meticulously devising innovative – often unconventional – testing protocols, including the implementation of empirical testing to ascertain the hydraulic capacity and performance characteristics of the groundbreaking Slot Drain. These resourceful efforts perfectly encapsulate the quintessential Australian ethos of pragmatic problem-solving and a “can-do” attitude in the face of adversity – one of the most inspirational aspects of John’s long-standing legacy.

Lasting heritage of innovation and sustainability
John’s enduring legacy transcends the tangible realm of his groundbreaking products, profoundly permeating Stormtech’s ethos, its values and ongoing operations. And, perhaps more than anything else, it’s John’s remarkable ability to recognise the often-overlooked needs of the industry and articulate those insights into simple and functionally brilliant solutions, that remains the company’s most pertinent guiding principle.

“The essence of truly listening to what people want, to genuinely understand their needs and challenges, is a skill that, while seemingly obvious, isn’t as commonly or effectively employed as one might expect,” Troy says. “John possessed this rare and valuable ability to truly hear the intent of what people desired, and then, with his characteristic creativity and problem-solving acumen, he was able to simplify a complex problem and craft an elegant solution, achieving an outcome that often seemed so intuitively obvious that people would invariably wonder aloud, ‘Why hasn’t it been done this way before?’”

John’s unique curiosity and steadfast commitment to exceptional quality, durability, functionality and refined aesthetic continue to define Stormtech’s approach to both design and manufacturing. “Dad instilled in us this deeply-held conviction that products should never be conceived as merely ‘good enough’ to meet a minimum standard,” Troy says. “Rather, they should be meticulously engineered to endure the test of time, a powerful principle that resonates with contemporary sustainability imperatives.”

Troy adds that it was John’s invaluable first-hand immersion in the practical realities of a construction site that informed his design decisions, motivating him to shape his products to streamline the construction process and enhance overall efficiency. “Dad gave to the world the idea that stormwater drainage does not have to look industrial,” Troy says. “It can be discrete, durable, highly functional and easy to install. Today, each of our products honours that belief.”

Recontextualising the legacy for the modern realities
Today, under Troy’s stewardship, Stormtech continues to uphold and amplify John’s pioneering spirit. Troy has wholeheartedly embraced his father’s enduring legacy, propelling the company forward with a reinvigorated emphasis on sustainable product innovation, thoughtful optimisation of the manufacturing processes and responsible sourcing practices. “I am in the fortunate position to exercise careful discretion in the selection of our supply sources,” he explains with a palpable sense of purpose. “Ensuring that they scrupulously reinforce our overarching commitment to sustainability.”

Reflecting this commitment, Stormtech only uses Outokumpu certified and verified lowest-carbon, 316-grade stainless steel and Capral’s Super LocAL Green Aluminium – one of the lowest-embodied-carbon extruded aluminium products in the world – while the incorporation of Best Environmental Practice (BEP) PVC further underscores the organisation’s holistic approach to sustainable material selection.

Plus, Stormtech’s NSW state-of-the-art manufacturing facility reinforces the company’s sustainable objectives. The site operates almost entirely on renewable solar and battery energy, and features convenient on-site EV charging infrastructure, promoting the adoption of electric vehicles and further reducing carbon emissions. Rightfully, these endeavours have garnered well-deserved recognition and independent validation through rigorous audits and certifications from Global GreenTag and the Vinyl Council of Australia, solidifying Stormtech’s position as a leader in sustainable practices.

“We’re aiming for a future that our kids can inherit without dealing with a legacy of neglect, ignorance and greed,” Troy states, and it’s clear that Stormtech’s modern leader is genuinely galvanised by a compelling vision of perpetual innovation and a desire to expand the frontiers of sustainable design. “We have several new products under development,” he reveals. “Each has its own sustainability story, but they are all unique and will undoubtedly ‘move the bar’.”

Alongside advancements in product innovation, Stormtech is also implementing further enhancements to its manufacturing facility to augment efficiency, expand production capacity, maintain exceptional product quality and accelerate production velocity. “Collectively, these improvements contribute to the establishment of a more ecologically responsible, economically viable and fundamentally sustainable operational system,” Troy adds.

However, this idea of collective impact transcends Stormtech’s operations, extending to the broader community of Australian industry professionals who share the same unwavering commitment to sustainability. 

“In today’s increasingly complex and often misleading marketplace, it is more critical than ever to exercise caution and diligence to conscientiously avoid the pervasive practice of greenwashing, where companies may make unsubstantiated or exaggerated claims about their environmental credentials,” he says, reinforcing the fact that architects and designers should seek independent verification. “If they genuinely aspire to partner with truly innovative, sustainable businesses, they must prioritise a careful assessment of a company’s underlying passion, its genuine focus and its proven expertise in a specialised area – such as our unwavering dedication to the advancement of linear drainage solutions.” And the easiest way to investigate is to check if any green claims are independently certified or at least verifiable openly.

The transformational power of intrinsic ties
Fuelled by a combination of boundless creativity, unwavering determination and a profound affinity for the resilience of the Australian landscape, John’s remarkable heritage has laid the fundamental cornerstone for a market-leading company that continues to reinvent the very parameters of effective, beautiful and sustainable drainage. And as Stormtech confidently advances into the future under Troy’s dynamic leadership, the company’s singular story – a tale of powerful family ties and shared ingenuity – emerges as a compelling reminder that the transformative potential of innovation and sustainability, much like those familial connections, comes from their intrinsic interconnectedness.