Slot Drain was invented and patented by Glen Kehler in 1986. During his 30-year career as a concrete construction professional, Glen found himself wondering why standard industrial drainage plans so often call for an expensive four-slope floor process and an inefficient graded trench drain.
The four-slope plan creates an uneven surface, leaving production employees to contend with continual changes in floor elevations for the life of the building. The maintenance teams must also deal with heavy grates that are prone to rust, as well as wear and tear, which eventually leads to expensive replacement.
Glen knew there had to be a better way!
In 1986, at the height of his career, he turned his attention to the creation of the slot drain system: a pre-sloped, pre assembled, pre-slotted drainage solution.
In one fell swoop, the problem was solved!
The slot drain solved the issue of expensive installations, ergonomic and worker health considerations, and maintenance wear and tear. Slot Drain Systems was the world’s first grate-less trench drain solution, allowing for the same drainage performance without the hassles of a grated trench.
Over the past three decades, Slot Drain Systems has been specified by architects and engineers throughout North America, and can be found in farms, warehouses, FDA-regulated food and beverage manufacturing facilities, homes, poolsides, slaughterhouses, zoos, aquariums, car washes, and automotive facilities.
Now, as a division of Global Drain Technologies, Slot Drain Systems is intent on taking the original slot drain design to even greater heights, creating many new products and expanding into new drainage market segments.
Slot Drain Systems’ team of professionals are proud to assist you with any surface drainage project, offering drainage solutions that are as effective as they are aesthetically pleasing.
A slot drain can solve many of the common problems that accompany grated trench drain systems. In the chart below, you can see how we tackle all these issues.
| Issues in grated drains | Benefits of using slot drain |
|---|---|
| Chemicals corrode grates and drain channels | Can be made of stainless steel, which is corrosion-resistant and temperature-resistant |
| Grates break and may cause injury, especially in heavy duty applications | Can handle beyond Load Class F and is forklift-friendly |
| Bacteria gets trapped in grates and where grate meets drain channel | Clean in appearance and inside, with bacteria-resistant stainless steel and radiused edges |
| Grates deteriorate and need replacement due to normal wear and tear | No grating and lower the cost of maintenance |
| Difficult to clean due to heavy grates | Very easy to clean with a cleaning paddle and brush or self-flushing system |
Slot Drain Systems slot drains can be used in a wide variety of applications in nearly any industry, offering a safe, sleek drainage solution that can be reinforced to stand up to even the heaviest forklift traffic.
Turn to Slot Drain Systems for highly effective drainage in any of the follow industries and more:
Slot drains can also be used in many other applications. Send us an email or call us toll-free at 1-855-497-7508 for a free drainage consultation.
Slot drains ship worldwide and arrive fully assembled, ready to be installed. Contact us for further details on shipping, including international service.
