COMPANY PROFILE
Ervin Bata hoped when he left Canada for Australia
four years ago he would return home one day. In fact,
he and his wife had already spoke about returning
when the time was right to begin raising a family.
Bata returned to Canadian soil a little more than a year
later and it had everything to do with bringing a new entity
into the world – just not the kind you might be expecting.
Soon after arriving in Australia in 2014, Bata was introduced
to Stephen Ainge, the director of Hard Metals Australia,
by a mutual friend. One thing led to another and he was hired
a short time later as the company’s manager of drilling products.
Bata already had extensive experience in the drilling
and metal fabrication sectors, having worked for the likes of
Hyduke Energy Services and Western Drilling Tools prior to
moving to Australia.
Soon after being hired, Bata began travelling around the
world to help promote Hard Metal’s directional drilling products
to international customers. Following a strong reception
at the Global Petroleum Show in Calgary, Ainge suggested
setting up a subsidiary here in Canada with Bata serving as
the company’s general manager.
In October 2015, Hardmetals Canada Inc., was launched.
The business specializes in promoting the company’s signature
PDC Wombat Hole Opener to the Canadian horizontal
directional drilling (HDD) market as well as providing associated
services and products to the general drilling market.
Company Digs
Deep into
Canadian Market
The Canadian division of
Australian-based Hard Metals is
starting to make its mark thanks
to its innovative technology
By Jim Timlick
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HARDMETALS
PILING CANADA 41