Henry Foundation Drilling Inc.

In 1974, Barry Henry’s father, Ralph, saw a truck-mounted auger, and purchased it with his 16-year-old son in mind. By 1979, Barry was putting the truck to use often; building pole barns and augering holes for construction companies under the name D&B Auger Services Inc. Throughout the 1980’s, Barry along with his wife/business partner Bonnie, expanded the business to utility pole sales, delivery and installation. Despite having three young kids to raise, and being in their early 20’s.

Barry and Bonnie ventured into the drilling market, buying the third largest truck-mounted drilling machine in Canada in the early 1990’s. In 1998, Don Henry joined his father, and together they and Bonnie expanded the business further. Don brought new aggressive ideas to the company, and in the early 2000’s he and Barry noticed a void in the marketplace for a company that specialized in drilling. In response, they purchased a 1988 track-mounted Spiradrill rig, and put it to work immediately on a project in Burnaby that required pre-drilling for a 2,000-pile job.

Like his father had done 20 year’s earlier, Don learned how to use this new piece of equipment, manage the project, and repair the drill when necessary. The hours were long, and the work often difficult, but the payoff for Don was the creation of a new company:

Henry Foundation Drilling Inc.

With his new company off to a strong start, Don was overwhelmed with work. In 2006, he received some help when brother Ken joined the fold. This allowed Don to focus all of his efforts on Henry Drilling, by spreading word about the company to prospective clients, purchasing more drills, and bidding projects throughout Western Canada. Ken focused his attention on running and operating D&B Auger Services Inc., and also managed the bookwork for HFDI.

Don purchased his first Soilmec track-mounted drill rig in 2008, and today Henry Foundation Drilling Inc. has the largest fleet of drill rigs in British Columbia, becoming a leader in the foundation drilling industry. D&B Auger Service’s has also expanded and dominates the market in the Lower Mainland for pole sales and installation and has opened a pole transport division in Alberta.

But it all started with one truck-mounted auger, and two people who had the work ethic and dedication to create and expand a new business. All four Henry’s are still actively involved in the company.

As for the original truck-mounted auger?

It is still part of the fleet today, working hard, more than 40 years later.