Clarity, Collaboration, And Continuous Improvement

What we stand for

What began in a jobsite trailer in a quiet Indiana field has grown into a clear mission — to redefine how the world understands and uses concrete.

From the start, E5® has focused on bringing scientific clarity to a process often clouded by tradition.

Through years of field trials, university partnerships, and third-party validation, we’ve proven that colloidal silica isn’t a concept — it’s a catalyst for progress. Every advancement we make is backed by data, transparency, and results that speak for themselves.

E5® was never meant to operate in isolation.

Our growth is rooted in collaboration — with ready-mix producers, engineers, contractors, and research partners across the country. The opening of our new state-of-the-art facility and innovation lab in Central Indiana embodies that commitment.

By bringing testing, manufacturing, and applied research together under one roof, we’ve created a space where ideas can turn into proven solutions.

From optimizing mix designs to solving real-world challenges, collaboration drives every pour, every test, and every innovation we deliver.

Concrete may harden — but innovation doesn’t.

At E5®, we believe progress is a continuous process. Each project, each data set, and each partnership fuels the next discovery.

Our advanced lab and production systems are designed for constant refinement — not just improving product performance, but advancing the science of hydration and sustainability across the industry.

We’re building a future where every mix is smarter, every cure is more efficient, and every structure stands stronger, longer.

E5 Cares.

While no product will solve 100% of the problems with concrete, E5® Nano Silica provides a solution for MOST of the problems plaguing concrete while also benefiting the environment.

A look into E5's Story

While others in the industry have attempted to treat problems with concrete on the surface, E5® has focused on solving concrete challenges from the inside out.

Colloidal Silica was introduced.

AkzoNobel began using colloidal silica in oilfield cements in Halliburton.

1980

Colloidal Silica introduced to Concrete Market

AkzoNobel markets colloidal silica to the global concrete industry.

1990

Joe Shetterley owns and operates Trace Construction.

Joe Shetterley, founder of E5, owned one of the largest commercial concrete construction companies in the State of Indiana.

2000

Shetterley experiments with Nano Silica

In 2014-2015, Joe Shetterley set out to rethink concrete from the ground up. What started as an experiment with nano silica became a breakthrough — proof that even complex problems can be solved by returning to the basics.

2014

Manufacturing of E5 Nano Silica is started.

E5 quickly starts manufacturing nano silica - a breakthrough in the concrete industry. Millions of SQFT of concrete is poured across the US in the commercial sector.

2021

E5 Nano Silica is adopted by Indiana DOT

E5 enters in exclusive partnerships with many ready mix producers across the nation. Indiana DOT adopt E5 Nano Silica into their specifications along with multiple surrounding DOT's. Independent testing completed by Oregon and Purdue Universities validate and prove the E5 process and products in the field to be superior.

2023

Expansion, New state of the art testing facility, and global presence.

E5 expands once again - moving to a larger facility of over 40,000sqft with a state of the art testing facility and customer experience center. Launch of pilot program for the full line of E5 admixtures. E5 increases the market share internationally, now adopted in India, Australia, and Canada.

2025

Get Started

Joe Shetterley

Founder and CEO

Ben Shetterley

COO (Chief Operating Officer)

Joel Cookston

CBO (Chief Branding Officer)

Kelli Malcolm

CRO (Chief Revenue Officer)

Meg Gumble

Director of the Office

Carl Miller

Vice President of Sales

Mike Will

Director of Finance

Kevin Moore

Director of Business Development

Joe Shetterley | CEO

Joe Shetterley is a third-generation concrete finisher and the CEO of E5, a pioneering company at the forefront of nanotechnology in the concrete industry. With deep roots in the trade and a genuine passion for advancing the craft, Joe has dedicated his career to developing innovative solutions that bridge the gap between traditional field practices and modern material science.

Born into the industry, Joe gained his knowledge from the ground up. He spent years working hands-on in the field, testing and refining materials in real-world conditions before bringing them into the lab. This approach instilled a core belief that practical application must guide innovation, and that “trust but verify” is more than a phrase—it’s a principle.
Joe’s exploration into nano silica began with field experimentation.

He saw measurable improvements in performance but was driven by a deeper question: Why does it work? This sparked a relentless pursuit to understand the science behind the results. Over time, Joe became an expert in the behavior, types, and properties of nano silica, dedicating thousands of hours to product development and field validation.
To ensure the integrity of his work, Joe collaborated with leading universities and independent laboratories around the world. These partnerships provided rigorous validation—but for Joe, the journey didn’t stop there. His mission remains centered on developing practical, high-performance solutions that elevate the quality of concrete and support the craftsmen who place it.

Today, Joe continues to lead E5 with the same conviction that launched his journey: a commitment to creating better products that serve the people behind the finish.

Founders Story

Shetterley grew up on job sites. And, as problems would arise (as they often did), his father would always tell him that “there is no concrete problem that a good old wet cure can’t solve.”

The trouble is, today’s accelerated construction timelines and jobsite workflows do not always allow for an effective curing process. And, any time water is added to the surface of the concrete or there is an attempt to prevent evaporation using blankets or spray-on curing compounds, there is a risk of human error and damage to the concrete surface.

A cure for concrete, its finishers, and the planet.

Shetterley, along with his team at E5®, have proven through millions of yards of concrete poured that E5® Nano Silica is the ultimate cure for concrete.

By simply adding E5® Nano Silica within the concrete mix – with no added labor or time or equipment – fresh-state properties are improved for reduced pumping pressures and easier placement and finishing; evaporation of water is controlled to ensure proper hydration of cement even in extreme weather conditions and under tight timeframes; the concretesurface is densified; and cementitious material can be reduced.

E5® is committed to making a positive impact on the concrete industry and the world – both by reducing carbon emissions and creating quality concrete structures with increased service life and by providing efficient, highly-effective solutions for the men and women who put in the hard work every day on the jobsite.

This is the Mission of E5®.

E5 Cures.

E5® Nano Silica Technology is changing the concrete industry for the betterment of it’s people as well as the sustainability of our communities. This has been the mission of E5® from it’s inception.