Clemco Celebrates 85 Years of Generations of Excellence
In 1941, Clemco began with a simple purpose: serve customers with dependable equipment, practical innovation, and a commitment to doing the job right.
Eighty five years later, that same mindset continues to guide us.
What started as a small business serving the shipbuilding industry has grown into a global manufacturer of abrasive blasting and surface preparation solutions used across some of the most demanding industries in the world.
Along the way, Clemco has introduced new products, expanded into new markets, developed lasting distributor relationships, and supported generations of employees, customers, and partners.
But an 85th anniversary is about more than looking back.
It is also about recognizing the people and ideas that brought us here and carrying that experience forward.
As we celebrate 85 years, here are five stories that define the Clemco journey.
1. Built on Innovation
Innovation has been part of Clemco from the beginning.
From early blast machine designs to modern abrasive metering valves, automated cabinets, blast rooms, recovery systems, dust collection, and operator safety equipment, Clemco has continued to improve how surface preparation gets done.
That includes industry defining developments such as the inverted dome blast machine design that made abrasive loading easier and products such as the PQV Pro that bring decades of experience into a new generation of abrasive metering technology.
The goal has always remained the same: make the work safer, more productive, and more reliable.
2. Legendary Reliability
Clemco equipment has earned a reputation for lasting.
Across generations, customers have depended on Clemco blast machines, hoses, valves, cabinets, and complete systems to perform in environments where downtime is costly and reliability matters.
That reputation was not created through advertising alone.
It was built job by job, product by product, and customer by customer over 85 years.
Legendary reliability is not just part of our history. It remains one of the standards we hold ourselves to today.
3. Industries That Changed the World
Clemco began by supporting shipbuilding, and today our equipment serves industries that help build, protect, move, and power the world.
Aerospace. Transportation. Manufacturing. Energy. Infrastructure. Defense. Marine. Automotive. Heavy equipment. Medical manufacturing. Power generation.
In many cases, Clemco equipment works behind the scenes, preparing the surfaces that make larger products and systems possible.
That has always been part of our story.
At the beginning of all things amazing, there is often a surface that first had to be prepared.
4. People, Partnerships, and Generations of Excellence
Clemco would not be celebrating 85 years without people.
Employees past and present have designed the products, built the equipment, solved the problems, served the customers, supported the distributors, and carried the company forward.
Our authorized distributors have helped bring Clemco products and expertise to customers around the world.
Our customers have challenged us, trusted us, and helped us continually improve.
Together, those relationships represent generations of excellence and form the foundation of everything Clemco has become.
5. Celebrating Together at World Wide Technology Raceway
Our 85th anniversary also gave us an opportunity to celebrate in a very different way.
In September 2026, Clemco served as the primary sponsor of the Hyak Motorsports No. 47 Chevrolet driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis.
For Clemco, the race was about much more than motorsports.
It became an employee celebration, a customer and partner experience, and an opportunity to bring together the people who have helped shape our company.
With employees, customers, distributors, community partners, and local organizations represented throughout the weekend, the event helped showcase Clemco on a national stage while keeping the celebration rooted in the people and community that have supported us.
It was a fitting way to mark 85 years and begin the next chapter.
85 Years Behind Us. The Future Ahead.
Eighty five years is a significant milestone, but it is not a finish line.
It is a foundation.
The products will continue to evolve. The industries we serve will continue to change. New technologies will create new opportunities. New generations of employees, distributors, and customers will help define what comes next.
What will remain is the commitment that has carried Clemco since 1941.
Serve people.
Solve problems.
Keep learning.
Keep improving.
Build equipment that earns trust.
For 85 years, Clemco has helped prepare surfaces to support a safer and more productive world.
And we are just getting started.
85 Years. Generations of Excellence.
The five sections also give you a clean five week social campaign: Innovation, Legendary Reliability, Industries That Changed the World, People and Partnerships, and the WWT Raceway employee celebration.
