Columbia Industries, which manufactures custom rig moving systems, expanded the company through a wholly owned subsidiary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The company’s new subsidiary will emphasize a strong local presence that will enable the Columbia team to bring their expertise and customer service closer to their Canadian clients.

“Our desire to expand into Canada is a strategic part of a longstanding plan. Columbia has been building partnerships in Canada for years, and a local presence is vital in order to fully engage with our customers and to ensure that we understand their needs,” said Saj Shapiro, the company’s president and CEO. “Our new subsidiary gives us the opportunity to provide better support and customer service to our clients, while also affording us the chance to establish new relationships.”

In other news, Columbia announced the receipt of its biggest single order for a multiple pad drilling project destined for the United Arab Emirates. Labeled the 3000 hp Rig Island project, the UAE order comprises a custom application of seven rigs in three modules -- drill, mud and power for a Chinese drilling rig manufacturer.

Columbia also reported its new rig moving system Atlas has been delivered to a new customer for an island drilling project in the Middle East.  The Atlas Rig Walking System is an innovative custom design for a desert rig moving system. The company developed a unique hybrid technology of wheels and walkers to maximize the rig system’s capability, offering efficiency over longer distances between drilling pads, with the flexibility to change to the walkers between individual well sites.