Challenge: Building an international reputation for excellence
Solution: Going beyond technical specifications
Eight years ago Chad Collet and Adam Rowe were working in a basement trying to launch their subsea video company. “We developed things quickly. We made lots of mistakes,” says Chad, the company’s chief technology officer.
The entrepreneurs learned from their mistakes, and today the Clarenville, NL-based company has 25 employees and a global client base. “We are focused on optical quality and the efficiency of obtaining high-quality data. It’s about more than meeting technical specs,” says Chad, who began his career as a diver with the Canadian Navy, then went on to work at Oceaneering and Welaptega Marine.
SubC’s market is both diverse and competitive. Recently, for example, the company was selected to supply two cameras for the high-profile Titanic Expedition. These will be installed on a five-person submersible to record high-definition videos and pictures that will eventually be used to build a 3D model of the ill-fated ship.
The company also provides a wide range of services including mechanical design, computer-aided design, and rapid prototyping for equipment serving in hostile marine environments. Its designs are in operation from the desert heat of Saudi Arabia to the harsh cold of the Arctic Ocean even to the depths of the Pacific Marianas Trench.
Creativity is critical in developing video products and services for clients with very particular subsea requirements, notes Chad. “We look heavily at the user experience to develop products specific to a job.”
Consultation is inherent in market success and customer satisfaction, he adds. “Test your product with your user. Don’t just test the hypothesis.” The Newfoundland company will do just that with its next possible product line. SubC has been focused on looking below sea level. Now it is preparing to look in a new direction: to the skies.
Aerospace is a potential market, notes Chad, who believes existing products can be adapted to meet this sector’s unique requirements. “We will go in with a product the customer actually needs.”
Partnerships focused on innovation and developing new technology, such as the one with the Government of Canada, are key to SubC Control’s continued success. With support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the government is helping SubC Control commercialize its suite of subsea video and imaging solutions. A recent investment of $500,000 will also allow the company to acquire production equipment as well as undertake renovations and training initiatives.
SubC Control Ltd is a prime example of how innovation and resourcefulness fuel Atlantic Canada’s economy, at home and beyond.
Do you have a business concept? Do you have an innovative idea to improve or grow your business? For more information on programs and services available to businesses in Atlantic Canada call 1-800-561-7862 or go to canada.ca/acoa.