Our History

Who we are… Where we came from

Big Iron Drilling was founded by Ray Field and his father George Field (1906-2003), both of whom have been directly involved in the water supply industry since 1957.

The business started in the basement of the family home in 1957 where a simple manual water softener was designed and assembled for distribution to farmers who did not have running water. Hundreds of these units were sold to Alberta farmers in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.

Ray is still fully active in the Company as is his wife, Elaine. Their son George and daughters Susan and Jane have been raised in the business all their lives and are fully active.

From the late 1950s until 1968, the primary business of the company was the installation of running water to farmers in north central Alberta within 150 miles of Edmonton. Thousands of pressure systems were installed and running water was supplied into farmers’ homes.

The company owned seven Case 530 Tractor Mounted backhoes and a crew of 20 to 30 men worked in the field. It was a great life. George Field Sr. often commented, “nothing was more satisfying and invigorating than to see the tears of joy from farmers, when a tap was turned on in their home for the very first time. It was quite remarkable.”

“That experience hooked us on the water business for good,” Says Ray.

As farmers eventually got “watered up”, the company diversified into the water well drilling business in September 1963 and the installation of running water to farmers subsequently ended in 1968.

The company’s operation became known as Big Iron Drilling and since then Big Iron Drilling has become the most active domestic water treatment and water well drilling company in Canada.

Big Iron Drilling’s innovative approach to the water treatment and water well drilling industries has resulted in a remarkable 29 patented and patent pending inventions.