A Canadian company that made its mark in Alaska during the oil pipeline construction days with its utilitarian, sturdy camp structures, has opened an office in Anchorage, an effort by ATCO Structures and Logistics to re-establish its marketing presence in the state.
The company, which now operates worldwide, has identified Alaska as an important area for growth, says Harry Wilmot, president of Calgary-based company. In addition to Anchorage, ATCO Structures is opening new offices in Canada, in Ontario, Maitoba and British Columbia.
"Alaska has been an important market for ATCO for decades," Wilmot said. "The design and quality of our modular housing product was originally proven in Alaska. We built our reputation in tough northern climates and we believe in the Alaska market."
The company provided workforce housing along the trans-Alaska oil pipeline during construction. The early units were capable of withstanding extreme temperatures and winds of 120 mph.
ATCO is now constructing a new 78-person camp at the Pogo gold mine near Delta, southeast of Fairbanks, set to be completed by November.
"The camp is being built to U.S. code requirements and includes newly manufactured accommodations, kitchen, dining room, recreation and office facilities," Wilmot said.
ATCO was started in 1947 as Alberta Trailer Co., and has since grown and diversified. The parent company, ATCO Group, now has more than $9.8 billion in assets and employs 7,700 in a variety of fields, including energy and utilities, as well as structures, logistics and facility management.
Among other activities, the company operates and maintains 62 remote early warning radar installations across Arctic regions of North America for the U.S. Air Force, including 15 sites in Alaska.
The Alaska sites are operated in a joint venture with Arctic Slope Regional Corp. ATCO also operates military support facilities in Afghanistan.
ATCO Structures and Logistics, the ATCO company that focuses on the firm's original core business, was recently reorganized through the combination of three business units, Wilmot said.
ATCO Structures and Logistics now manages ATCO's offerings in rentals of modular offices, catering and camp management and construction services and noise reduction services.
"Noise reduction is becoming increasingly important where industrial facilities are built in pristine areas or in congested areas where people are living close to a project site," Wilmot said.
A new building product being developed by the company is a blast-proof industrial structure capable of sheltering workers in a facility, such as a refinery or oil and gas processing plant, in the event of an explosion, Wilmot said.
The company's new office in Anchorage is at 425 G St., Suite 707.
Tim Bradner can be reached at
tim.bradner@alaskajournal.com.
