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Who We Are

Our Story

Our history has been shaped by imagination, courage, perseverance and integrity. Our achievements over the years reflect the ?Heart and Mind? of ATCO and have laid the foundation for a future that is ripe with possibility and promise.

In 1947 R.D. Southern was just 17 years old when ATCO was originally founded as Alberta Trailer Hire in Canada. With initial revenues of CAD $1,077 and 15 utility trailers, R.D. Southern and his father, S.D. Southern, set a bold course to service Alberta?s booming oil industry.

More than seventy years later, ATCO Group is a diversified CAD $25 billion enterprise with thousands of employees worldwide providing innovative and integrated solutions in Structures & Logistics, Electricity, Pipelines & Liquids, Energy and Energy Infrastructure.

Historical photo of building

True Southern: A History of ATCO

R.D. Southern was just 17 years old when ATCO was originally founded as Alberta Trailer Hire in 1947. With initial revenues of $1,077 and 15 utility trailers, R.D. Southern and his father, S.D. Southern, set a bold course to service Alberta?s booming oil industry.

ATCO in Australia

ATCO first started working in the Australian marketplace in 1961 with the establishment of a 6,500m2. modular structures plant in Adelaide. The plant was expanded to 10,000m2 by 1971.

In the 1990?s the Australian subsidiary of CU Power International (now ATCO Australia) commenced construction and then commissioned a 180MW cogeneration plant in South Australia.

The Karratha Power Station in Western Australia was opened in 2010, an 86MW facility that set a new bar for efficiency and environmental standards in the State's North West Interconnected System. It is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly power generation facilities in the North West Interconnected System in the Pilbara region.

In 2011, ATCO acquired the WA Gas Networks (previously Alinta Gas Networks) and combined all of our Australian operations under the ATCO Australia brand.

To learn more about ATCO Group around the world, we invite you to browse our timeline and share our journey.

historical photo

1947: ATCO began in 1947 in Alberta, Canada when father S.D. and son R.D. Southern started Alberta Trailer Hire to provide housing accommodations to workers in Canada?s first oil boom.

1959: The rapidly growing demand for modular housing led to the opening of ATCO?s original manufacturing facility in Airdrie, Alberta, a former Royal Canadian Airforce Hangar.

1960: ATCO's first large overseas contract supplied international workforce housing for the Mangla Dam project in Pakistan. This was followed by the Guri Dam project in Venezuela both of which established ATCO on the world stage.

1961: Operations expanded to Australia with the opening of a 6,500m2. modular structures manufacturing facility in Adelaide, South Australia. This facility was expanded to 10,000m2 in 1971. Over 26 years of operation in Australia, ATCO became a leader in the supply of relocatable housing and once had a rental fleet of 6,500 units.

1968: On 9 January 1968, ATCO became a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange with 700,000 common shares listed at CAD $7.50 each. Only nine months later, ATCO shares had more than doubled to CAD $20.00.

1975: From the mid to late 1970's, massive housing projects for thousands of workers in the Middle East confirmed the ATCO Group as the world leader in workforce housing.

Calgary olympics
Canadian forces in Bosnia

1980: ATCO purchased 58.1 per cent of Canadian Utilities Limited from Philadelphia-based International Utilities returning it to Canadian ownership. This pivotal acquisition was a turning point for the company as it introduced consistent and reliable earnings to ATCO?s balance sheet and represented a long-term investment in Alberta.

1988: ATCO supplied the dramatic natural gas flare atop the Calgary Tower, as well as several major shelter and accommodation contracts for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games held in Calgary. 1988 was also the year ATCO was awarded a five-year contract worth $114.2 million to operate and maintain Canada?s North Warning System

1991: By 1991, ATCO and its partners had secured CAD$1.4 billion in financing for the Barking Power Station ? a 1,000 MW natural gas-fired facility located in East London. To-date, this is the largest power station we has ever been involved with.

1998: ATCO returned to Australia with the acquisition of a modular manufacturing and leasing company, adding two manufacturing facilities and a fleet of more than 2,000 space rental and workforce housing units, and the commencement of construction on a 180 MW cogeneration plant.

ATCO infrastructure
truck on road

2000: ATCO provided support services to Canadian Forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina ? one of many future military contracts the company would deliver in its history.

2003: ATCO brought its emission-free, 32 MW Oldman River hydroelectric generating facility online. Now jointly owned with the Piikani Nation, it was our first-ever hydroelectric project and electricity generating facility in Southern Alberta, Canada.

2006: ATCO began its unique and highly successful EPIC (Employees Participating in Communities) fundraising initiative, benefiting more than 500 charitable and non-profit organizations. Since its inception, the program?s cumulative fundraising total has reached more than $57 million.

2010: ATCO commissioned Karratha Power Station in Western Australia, a 86MW facility.

2011: ATCO expanded its business in Australia with one of the largest acquisitions in the company?s history with the AUD $1.1 billion purchase of WA Gas Networks, previously Alinta Gas Networks - the largest gas distribution utility in Western Australia.

2014: ATCO entered Mexico and was awarded two major projects, marking a significant long-term commitment to the people and industries of Mexico.

2015: ATCO completed the longest transmission line in Alberta?s history. The Eastern Alberta Transmission Line plays a critical role helping meet increased demand and bringing renewable energy to Albertans across the province.

Sunset at ATCO
ATCO infrastructure

2016: In January, ATCO launched ATCOenergy, a new electricity and natural gas retail company that promises Albertans outstanding service and lower costs for their homes and businesses.

2018: ATCO acquired a 40% stake in Neltume Ports in Chile.

2019: The Clean Energy Innovation Hub producing renewable hydrogen launched in Jandakot, Western Australia by ATCO Australia.

2020: LUMA Energy formed by ATCO to rebuild and modernise Puerto Rico's electricity infrastructure.

2022: ATCO Australia commissioned Western Australia's first Hydrogen Refuelling Station and piloted blending renewable hydrogen into the existing natural gas distribution network to 2,700 homes in the City of Cockburn in Western Australia. ATCO also made a global announcement that we are committed to achieving net-zero global greenhouse gases by 2050.

2023: ATCO Australia named a preferred partner by the South Australian Government to deliver the South Australian Hydrogen Jobs Plan. The project includes a 250MW hydrogen production facility, a 200MW hydrogen-fuelled electricity generation facility and hydrogen storage at Whyalla, South Australia.

 

LUMA
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