Hatch Ltd
Professional services
UnclaimedCanadian multinational engineering, project management, technology and operations-support consultancy.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Hatch Ltd is a Canadian multinational engineering and project-management consultancy serving industrial, energy and infrastructure clients. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the privately held firm operates through a network of offices in Canada and international markets, including Australia, South Africa, Chile, China, Brazil, Peru, the United Kingdom and the United States. Its group companies have been described as employing more than 10,000 people across more than 70 offices. Hatch's work combines management consulting, engineering design, process and technology development, project and construction management, commissioning, and operational support. The business began in Toronto in 1955 as W. S. Atkins & Associates, founded by W. S. Atkins. Its early work included subway tunnelling and other civil-engineering assignments. A major turning point came in January 1958, when metallurgist Gerry Hatch joined the company as president. Under his leadership, the firm broadened from civil engineering into metallurgy and industrial project delivery. Hatch acquired the company in 1962 and renamed it Hatch, establishing the identity under which the business expanded internationally. Metals and mining became a defining part of the firm's portfolio. Hatch has worked with major companies and operators associated with aluminium, steel, mining and mineral processing, including Alcan, Alcoa, BHP, Barrick Gold, BlueScope, Glencore and predecessor Falconbridge, Vale and predecessor Inco, and Rio Tinto. The company developed capabilities spanning metallurgical process design, mine and mineral-processing infrastructure, smelting and refining, materials handling, rail and port systems, and large-scale project execution. Gerry Hatch served as president until 1988 and chairman until 1990. From 1996 onward, Hatch pursued an expansion strategy based partly on acquiring engineering businesses with complementary expertise. Transactions identified in reference material include Billiton Engineering in 1996, Rescan Mining in 1998, BHP Engineering in 1999, Kaiser Engineers in 2000, Acres International in 2004, and MEK Engenharia in 2012. These additions strengthened the firm's mining, power, infrastructure, international and specialist engineering capabilities. By 2005, the combined business was reported to have approximately C$700 million in billings; the figure is historical and is not treated here as a current financial measure. Hatch's contemporary business is organized around three principal sectors: mining and metals, energy, and infrastructure. In mining and metals, it supports clients from studies and technology selection through engineering, procurement, construction management, commissioning and operations improvement. In energy, its activities include engineering and project services for power and related industrial systems. In infrastructure, the firm works on transportation, water, urban and heavy civil projects, including rail, tunnels and major material-handling facilities. The company has also been associated with prominent projects and industry awards. Its work with Aurecon on the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group project was recognized with a 2013 Bulk Handling Facility of the Year award. Hatch received the PMI-Montréal 2013 Project of the Year award for Phase 1 of Rio Tinto Alcan's AP60 aluminium technology project in Québec. Its owner's-representative role on Ontario Power Generation's Niagara Tunnel Project, performed with Hatch Mott MacDonald, was recognized as a North American Project of the Year by International Water Power and Dam Construction. In 2020, Hatch expanded its rail-transportation capabilities by acquiring LTK Engineering Services. Today, Hatch remains an active multidisciplinary consultancy whose positioning rests on combining technical engineering depth with project delivery and operational expertise.
History
Hatch Ltd traces its origins to Toronto, Ontario, where W. S. Atkins established W. S. Atkins & Associates in 1955. The company initially concentrated on civil engineering, including subway tunnelling and related infrastructure work. Its later identity and industrial specialization were shaped by Gerry Hatch, who joined the firm as president in January 1958. Hatch brought a strong metallurgy orientation to the business, allowing it to move beyond its original civil-engineering base into the design and development of industrial and metallurgical facilities. Gerry Hatch purchased the company in 1962 and renamed it Hatch. Over the following decade, the organization grew from five employees to approximately 60. The firm developed long-term relationships with major mining and metals companies and became involved in projects connected with aluminium, mining, mineral processing, steel, materials handling and related infrastructure. Its client and project experience included companies such as Alcan, Alcoa, BHP, Barrick Gold, BlueScope, Glencore and its predecessor Falconbridge, Vale and its predecessor Inco, and Rio Tinto. Gerry Hatch remained president until 1988 and chairman until 1990. After his retirement from those roles, the company continued to broaden its technical and geographic footprint. Beginning in 1996, Hatch pursued an expansion program that included the acquisition of aligned engineering firms. The named additions were Billiton Engineering in 1996, Rescan Mining in 1998, BHP Engineering in 1999, Kaiser Engineers in 2000, Acres International in 2004 and MEK Engenharia in 2012. These transactions added capabilities in mining, engineering, power, infrastructure and international project delivery. By 2005, the combined company was reported to have billings of roughly C$700 million. The modern Hatch organization operates as a multidisciplinary consultancy rather than as a single-discipline design practice. Its services include consulting, engineering, process and technology development, operations support, project management, construction management and related delivery services. The business is principally active in mining and metals, energy, and infrastructure. This combination enables Hatch to participate across the lifecycle of large projects, from early studies and technology selection through detailed design, construction, commissioning and operational improvement. Hatch's infrastructure work has included transportation, tunnels, water and major material-handling systems. Its rail capabilities were further strengthened in 2020 through the acquisition of LTK Engineering Services. The firm has also operated internationally through offices and projects in Australia, South Africa, Chile, China, Brazil, Peru, the United Kingdom, the United States and other markets, while retaining Canada as its home base. Several projects have received external recognition. Work performed with Aurecon on the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group project received a 2013 Bulk Handling Facility of the Year award. Hatch received PMI-Montréal's 2013 Project of the Year for Phase 1 of the AP60 aluminium technology project in Québec. The Niagara Tunnel Project, for which Hatch and Hatch Mott MacDonald provided owner's representative services to Ontario Power Generation, was named a North American Project of the Year by International Water Power and Dam Construction. In 2015, Hatch was listed among the top international design firms in Engineering News-Record's rankings. The company remains active as a private, global engineering and project-services group.
- 2020
LTK Engineering Services acquired
[1]Hatch acquired LTK Engineering Services, extending its rail transportation engineering platform.
- 2015
Ranked among leading international design firms
[1]Hatch was reported as a top-20 international design firm in Engineering News-Record rankings.
- 2013
Multiple project and employer recognitions
[1]Hatch-associated projects received recognition for bulk handling, aluminium technology, water infrastructure and project management, while the company was also recognized in Canadian employer and management rankings.
- 2004
Acquisition of Acres International
[1]Hatch acquired Acres International as part of its expansion into aligned engineering capabilities.
- 1996
Expansion through Billiton Engineering acquisition
[1]Hatch began a sustained acquisition program with the purchase of Billiton Engineering.
- 1962
Company renamed Hatch
[1]Gerry Hatch purchased the company and renamed it Hatch.
- 1958
Gerry Hatch joins as president
[1]Gerry Hatch joined the company as president and helped direct its expansion into metallurgy and industrial engineering.
- 1955
Company founded in Toronto
[1]W. S. Atkins founded W. S. Atkins & Associates in Toronto, beginning the business that later became Hatch.
Products and positioning
A global, multidisciplinary engineering and development consultancy positioned at the intersection of technical design, proprietary industrial technology, project execution and operational support. Hatch is particularly associated with mining, metals and metallurgical processing, while also serving energy, rail, water, transportation and other infrastructure markets.
Engineering and consulting
Mining and metals services
Hatch's core mining and metals offering covers studies, engineering, technology selection, process design, project management, construction management, commissioning and operational support. Its experience spans mining, mineral processing, aluminium, steel, smelting, refining, materials handling and associated logistics infrastructure. The service is aimed at helping large resource companies develop new assets, expand existing facilities and improve safety, productivity, cost performance and environmental outcomes.
Energy
Energy engineering and project services
Hatch provides consulting, engineering and project-delivery support for energy-sector clients and industrial energy systems. The offering sits within the firm's broader multidisciplinary model and can include front-end development, technical studies, detailed design, project management, construction support, commissioning and operations assistance. Specific capabilities and project scope vary by market and client requirements.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure and transportation engineering
Hatch's infrastructure practice covers major civil and transportation assets, including rail, tunnels, water infrastructure and materials-handling systems. Services may extend from planning and design through owner's engineering, contract administration, construction monitoring, commissioning and operational support. The practice reflects the company's original civil-engineering heritage while incorporating the project controls and delivery capabilities developed through its industrial work.
Technical and management services
Operations support and asset improvement
Hatch supports operating clients after project completion through technical consulting, process improvement, operational assistance and asset-performance work. This offering connects the firm's design and technology expertise with the practical requirements of running mines, processing plants, energy facilities and infrastructure systems. It is part of Hatch's lifecycle-based approach, intended to provide value beyond the initial engineering and construction phases.
Brand decisions
2020
Acquisition of LTK Engineering ServicesM&ABackground
Hatch identified rail transportation engineering as a complementary area for expanding its infrastructure platform.
Action taken
Hatch acquired LTK Engineering Services on November 1, 2020.
Aftermath
The acquisition strengthened Hatch's rail transportation engineering capabilities and broadened its infrastructure offering.
1996
Start of acquisition-led expansionM&ABackground
Hatch sought to expand its technical and geographic capabilities by adding engineering businesses aligned with its existing markets.
Action taken
The company acquired Billiton Engineering and subsequently added Rescan Mining, BHP Engineering, Kaiser Engineers, Acres International and MEK Engenharia over the following years.
Aftermath
The acquisitions broadened Hatch's capabilities across mining, engineering, power, infrastructure and international project delivery.
1962
Rebranding and ownership transitionStrategyBackground
After joining the company as president and steering its expansion into metallurgy, Gerry Hatch purchased the business.
Action taken
The company was renamed Hatch, creating the enduring corporate identity.
Aftermath
The renamed firm developed into a multidisciplinary engineering and project-services group with a strong mining and metals specialization.
Recent events
Reported
Hatch releases Positive change campaign[2]
Hatch released its “Positive change: leadership for a better world” campaign, which includes a report, curated video content, and a microsite, as part of its 65th-anniversary celebration.
GE Hitachi agrees to cooperate with five Canadian firms on SMR supply chain[3]
GE Hitachi entered into an agreement with five Canadian companies—Aecon Nuclear, BWXT Canada Ltd., Hatch Ltd., Black & Veatch, and Overland Contracting Canada Inc.—to cooperate on construction, engineering, modularization, and manufacture of safety-related components for potential BWRX-300 construction and future services and components.
Hatch partners with Montreal Port Authority on Smart Port Challenge[4]
Hatch is partnering with the Montreal Port Authority on the Smart Port Challenge, which was launched at École de Technologie Supérieure in Montreal. The challenge involves student teams addressing logistics problems facing the Port of Montreal.
Sources4 sources
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