ByShoba Dasari
Today at 4:00 PM
Tucked away in the small town of Kindred, a company with just 17 employees is making a global impact through technology designed to enhance rainfall, increase snowfall and reduce hail damage
ICE Crystal Engineering recently earned the 2025 North Dakota Exporter of the Year Award, recognizing the company’s continued growth in international markets and its role in expanding the state’s global reach. Today, the company’s cloud-seeding pyrotechnics are used on five continents and in more than 25 countries, helping support weather-modification programs around the world
For Mark Skarohlid, chief operating officer, the award represents decades of dedication from the company’s employees
“It’s great recognition for our team and Kindred and the decades of work that the business has accomplished,” Skarohlid said. “It’s great recognition for all of that hard work and the quality of product that they manufacture each day.”
Cody Anderson, operations manager, said receiving the honor reinforces the company’s growing presence both in North Dakota and internationally
“It feels pretty good to receive that award,” Anderson said. “It shows that we are definitely a growing force in the state and also in the world.”
The company has experienced significant growth in recent years. What once consisted of only two or three employees manufacturing two types of pyrotechnics has expanded into a team of 17 full-time employees producing three product lines
Along with adding staff, ICE Crystal Engineering has invested in automation to improve efficiency, product quality and workplace safety
On any given day, employees work in specialized manufacturing areas producing cloud-seeding flares before assembling, inspecting, packaging and preparing products for shipment to customers around the world
“We have three different products that we manufacture,” Anderson said. “We have a certain group of people working one product line, another group working another, and then others doing the final assembly, wiring, labeling and getting everything boxed up and ready to ship out.”
Although many people have heard the term “cloud seeding,” few understand how it works
According to Anderson, ICE Crystal Engineering’s pyrotechnic flares replicate the formation of natural ice crystals inside existing clouds. As aircraft fly through a cloud, the flares release particles that encourage water droplets to freeze into tiny ice crystals, allowing them to become heavy enough to fall as precipitation
Skarohlid said the company’s products are used in three primary weather-modification applications: rain enhancement, snowfall enhancement and hail suppression
Rain and snow enhancement programs help increase precipitation from existing moisture already present in clouds. Hail suppression works differently by creating more, but smaller and softer, hailstones that are less likely to damage crops, homes and vehicles
“There have been external studies that have validated the performance of ICE Crystal Engineering pyrotechnics,” Skarohlid said
The company also emphasizes that cloud seeding does not create storms or clouds. Instead, the technology enhances natural weather systems already in place
One of the biggest challenges, Skarohlid said, is educating people about the science behind cloud seeding
“Many people just don’t have that knowledge of the technology,” he said. “More importantly, they don’t know about the validation of the operations by independent third-party organizations.”
Another misconception is that cloud-seeding materials harm the environment
Skarohlid said numerous independent studies have found no measurable environmental impact because the materials used occur naturally and are released in extremely small quantities
“There have been numerous independent studies that reveal there is no material environmental impact with the materials that we use in our cloud-seeding operations,” he said
Despite operating from Kindred, ICE Crystal Engineering has built an international customer base that spans five continents
Shipping specialized pyrotechnic products around the world requires navigating different regulations, customs requirements and logistics for every country
“Every country that we ship to has different requirements,” Anderson said. “There’s a lot of paperwork and a lot of things that we have to do in order to get the product shipped out.”
While operating from rural North Dakota presents challenges, including workforce recruitment and additional shipping time, both leaders say the state’s business-friendly environment has supported the company’s success
Skarohlid pointed to North Dakota’s strong export network and efficient licensing processes as advantages for businesses serving international customers
Anderson added that finding employees can sometimes be difficult because of the company’s rural location, but referrals from current employees have helped build a strong team
“We’ve had family members get referred, and a lot of our new hires come from referrals of existing team members,” he said
The company plans to continue expanding while keeping its manufacturing base in Kindred
Skarohlid said ICE Crystal Engineering expects to continue hiring and is exploring satellite locations in regions where demand continues to grow, including Europe and the Middle East, while maintaining its North Dakota headquarters
Researchers are also investigating new applications for the company’s technology, including wildfire management. Potential uses include reducing lightning strikes that can ignite wildfires and dispersing materials to help suppress active fires
For Anderson, one of the most rewarding parts of the job is watching visitors discover the work being done in Kindred
“I think the biggest surprise is when people actually learn what our flares do and the science behind it,” he said. “When they come out and see the facility, they’re kind of blown away that something like that’s right there in little Kindred, North Dakota.”
As ICE Crystal Engineering continues to grow, its leaders hope the company’s success demonstrates that innovation with worldwide impact can thrive in rural North Dakota
By
Shoba Dasari
Shoba Dasari is the assistant managing editor for the Wahpeton Daily News and Richland County News Monitor. Shoba can be reached by calling (701) 291-3548 or emailing shoba.dasari@wahpetondailynews.com.
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