Bristola
Bristola is a leader in tank cleaning innovation. Their revolutionary patented technology allows for the cleanout of liquid storage tanks without the need for human entry or system shutdown. Bristola’s CEO, Jared Burma, founded the company in 2019. With over 25 years of experience in tank cleanouts, Jared was inspired to create a safer alternative after a dangerous incident while cleaning a storage tank.
Bristola’s remote tank cleaning system uses a remote-controlled submersible robot and a patented airlock-style entry system to access storage tanks directly for cleaning and maintenance. The technology can be installed on new facilities or retrofitted to existing ones. In addition to anaerobic digesters, it has applications across a range of industries, including oil and gas, pulp and paper, steel mills, and food and beverage processing.
Bristola is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa and provides a suite of operational and sales activities. The company has a full engineering team dedicated to building and adjusting the robots. In addition, because Bristola works with many digesters, they often perform the original tank cleanout using traditional methods before incorporating the valve for the entry system. During this process, they frequently notice components that may need to be replaced, such as agitators and roofs, so the company also has an equipment division that can handle those replacements.
Bristola’s technology is novel, offering a tank cleanout solution that requires zero human entry, no plant shutdown, and no need to reseed the digester biology. They are the only company with a patent for this type of entry box technology. To perform the cleanout, Bristola installs their patented valve system. They currently have over 60 valves in operation across North America and have worked with companies such as Chevron, Shell, and Vanguard.
One satisfied customer is fellow Canadian Biogas Association (CBA) member Seacliff Energy, located in Leamington, Ontario. The facility has been operating since 2011 and completed its first cleanout using the Bristola robot in April, with excellent results. A video case study of their experience is available here.
Bristola joined the CBA as members because they recognized the value of building their presence in the Canadian biogas industry. They exhibited for the first time at the Value of Biogas East in April 2025 and enjoyed sharing their innovative technology with biogas stakeholders who can benefit from its improved safety and efficiency.
