Ironclad Earthworks Ltd, a multifaceted civil infrastructure contractor, has built a formidable reputation across Western Canada, reaching as far as the United States border. Since its founding in 2009, the company has steadily grown into a trusted name in the industry, tackling projects that range from modest $200,000 jobs to ambitious $30 million undertakings.
At the heart of Ironclad Earthworks’ success story are two brothers, Clinton and Stephen Herman, whose entrepreneurial vision laid the foundation for the company’s growth. “Recognizing an opportunity in the market, they decided to venture out on their own, choosing to build their own operation rather than continue working for others.,” says Clinton (“Clint”) Herman, One of the founders and owners of Ironclad Earthworks.
Stephen brought expertise in business and finance, while Clint’s background in construction and operations provided the necessary technical knowledge. “We had an entrepreneurial drive and recognized the opportunity to begin taking on smaller projects independently,” Clint explains. “In 2009, we founded Ironclad to pursue that vision, and since then, it’s been a story of consistent growth year after year. “Ironclad Earthworks has become a trusted leader in civil infrastructure, built on a strong reputation and a robust network of owners, subcontractors, and suppliers. These valuable relationships create mutual benefits, fostering opportunities for collaboration. With a proven network of subcontractors and suppliers, Ironclad ensures the best value for every dollar spent while delivering exceptional reliability on every project.” Clint notes. “There’s a network of trust that’s been built within the market.”
“We had an entrepreneurial drive and recognized the opportunity to begin taking on smaller projects independently.”
Beyond its strong industry connections, the company places a high priority on cultivating a positive work culture. “One of the key things that separates Ironclad is that there’s a strong company culture,” Clint emphasizes. “The vision is to have a strong and positive company culture where people want to work for Ironclad, basically as a family member—you’re an employee and a colleague as much as you’re a family member.”
This emphasis on culture has fueled employee retention, strengthened industry relationships, and bolstered the company’s reputation. “Success comes as a function of all those different influences,” Clint says.
Over its 15 years in operation, Ironclad Earthworks has executed numerous successful projects across both public and private sectors. The company specializes in material handling, excavation, backfill, material hauling, and placement, but its expertise also extends to large-scale civil infrastructure projects. “Ironclad Earthworks build complex civil infrastructure projects that include dams, roads, bridge structures, and culverts—things of that nature,” Clint explains.
One of the pivotal moments in Ironclad’s history came in 2014. Following the catastrophic 2013 floods in southern Alberta, the company seized the opportunity to support rebuilding efforts in Southern Alberta. “That was a catalyst for growth and presented some opportunities that were responded to and taken advantage of,” Clint recalls. “The 2013 flood event in southern Alberta led to a substantial amount of work in 2014 and beyond and provided Ironclad Earthworks with an opportunity to expand capacity and diversify the portfolio of services offered. That was a big milestone for Ironclad in terms of growth.”
As a result, the company expanded both its workforce and its annual sales, setting the stage for continued success in the years that followed.
Among Ironclad’s many accomplishments, the Cougar Creek flood debris retention structure in Canmore, Alberta, stands as one of its most intricate and impactful projects to date. Completed in 2024, this $29 million endeavor saw Ironclad take on the role of general contractor for the construction of a massive dry dam, featuring approximately 185,000 cubic meters of rock sourced and placed on-site. The project also included the installation of over 4,000 square meters of sheet pile core wall, 1,000 cubic meters of reinforced cast-in-place concrete, and nearly 400 meters of drilled and pressured grouted grout curtain, which was installed at the interface between the structure and the bedrock it was built upon.
The significance of the Cougar Creek project extends past its financial scope and technical and logistical complexity—it carried a deeper meaning. “Celebrating its success and recognizing how it has fueled Ironclad Earthworks’ ongoing momentum also provides a moment to pause and reflect.,” Clint comments, “The project’s origin traces back to the 2013 floods in southern Alberta. It feels like a full-circle moment—those floods sparked Ironclad Earthworks growth, and now, ten years later, Ironclad Earthworks is completing the largest project yet, all in response to that same event. Ironclad Earthworks has taken on numerous high-profile projects, including a complex bridge demolition along Highway One. “That was a high-profile, complex project located on Highway One, also known as the Trans-Canada Highway where there’s a high traffic volume and high visibility to all levels of government and the traveling public,” Clint explains. The project involved demolishing and removing an aging bridge structures over abandoned railway tracks and filling in the remaining voids and rebuilding the highway, all while safely accommodating highway traffic through the work zone—a task requiring precision and strategic execution.
However, Ironclad is selective about the projects it pursues. “Ironclad Earthworks is not chasing volume; rather Ironclad Earthworks is chasing success,” Clint asserts. “A lot of contractors can get caught in the trap of chasing volume, but in Ironclad Earthworks view, that’s not a strong or successful business model.”
Following a successful 2024, Ironclad Earthworks is maintaining its momentum, with a robust backlog of work and a forward-thinking approach to expansion. Clint describes the company’s current posture as “ strategic growth mode,” with a keen focus on leveraging its accumulated knowledge, experience, and resources to replicate past successes.
“In the long term, the vision is to be a vertically aligned, medium-sized civil infrastructure contractor in Western Canada,” he says.
The vertical alignment model plays a crucial role in this vision. “The vertical alignment model is for the purposes of efficiency and control,” Clint explains. “A vertically aligned company has the most control over day-to-day operations on their sites. They have maximum opportunity and control over efficiency and are best positioned to react to issues and changes.”
By reducing reliance on subcontractors and suppliers, Ironclad aims to streamline project execution and enhance its service delivery. “More vertical alignment, more self-performance, less reliance on subs and suppliers—that seems to be a recipe for success,” Clint states.
A Legacy of Growth and Innovation
As Ironclad Earthworks looks to the future, its ambitions remain bold. “We’re looking to grow the company in terms of employees and equipment, increase the size of the fleet, forge new relationships with industry colleagues and clients, and just continue to repeat the success that we’ve experienced to date,” Clint concludes.
With a track record of resilience, strategic decision-making, and a commitment to excellence, Ironclad Earthworks is well-positioned to continue building both its legacy and the infrastructure that supports communities across Western Canada.
