Atlas Copco

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Template:Short description Template:Multiple issues Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox company Atlas Copco Group (Copco from Compagnie Pneumatique Commerciale) is a Swedish multinational industrial company. It manufactures compressors, vacuum equipment, pumps, generators, assembly tools, quality assurance equipment and other products and systems for industrial applications and mobile power generation. The products are sold in around 180 countries.<ref name="AR2024" /><ref name="150years" />

The company was founded in 1873 in Stockholm. By the end of 2024, the number of employees was around 55,000 and the yearly revenue Template:SEK. Atlas Copco is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange, and its A and B classes of shares are both constituents of the OMXS30 index. The head office is in Nacka, near central Stockholm, on a site where the main factory of the company used to be located.<ref name="AR2024" /><ref name="150years">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Gale">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>

History

Early development

AB Atlas, as it was previously named, was founded by Edvard Fränckel, who was a Swedish industrialist, politician and senior official at the Swedish State Railways. The company was established along with Andre O. Wallenberg, Johan W. Arnberg, Carl G. Cervin and Fredrik Didro.

In its inauguration phase, Atlas dealt with the manufacturing, purchasing and selling of material for railway construction and operations. After the recession in the 1880s, Atlas diversified its products and branched off into locomotives, central heating and tool machinery. In 1899, Atlas began developing their first air compressors and established itself as a compressor manufacturer. As older production branches started phasing out, Atlas teamed up with Diesel Motors in 1917, and the new company, Atlas Diesel, emerged with two primary divisions: diesel engines and compressor air products.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

War-time development

The Atlas Diesel merger experienced significant growth during the First World War and towards the end of the war, the export was 40–50 % of production. The depression years caused significant losses for the company, which led to several financial reconstructions in the 1920s and 1930s.

During the Second World War, manufacturing capabilities were developed. The "Swedish method" influenced the firm's pneumatic program, consisting of lightweight rock drills and drill bits with carbide tips. In 1948, the company terminated its diesel manufacturing and the name "Atlas Diesel" was no longer pertinent. The name Atlas Copco became official in 1955 and was inspired by the Belgian subsidiary Compagnie Pneumatique Commerciale (Trading Pneumatic Company).

Post-war international expansion

The acquisition of the Belgian compressor company Arpic Engineering in 1956, was the firm's first major international acquisition. Eventually, Arpic's plants carried out the majority of Atlas Copco's compressor production. In 1960, the company purchased Craelius. In the 1970s, a number of strategic acquisitions were made, including the French compressor manufacturer Mauguière. In order to strengthen their position in the United States, several strategic acquisitions were made in the airpower business, including the key purchase of Worthington Compressors.<ref name="atlascopco.com">Template:Cite web</ref>

They purchased Chicago Pneumatic Tools in 1987. In 1992, AEG Elektrowerkzeuge was purchased, and in 1995, Milwaukee Electric Tool was acquired. In 2004, Milwaukee Electric Tool was sold to a Hong Kong-based manufacturer, Techtronic Industries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1997, Atlas Copco purchased Prime Service Corporation, which was the largest machine leasing company in the United States. The North American Rental Service Corporation was purchased in 1999.<ref name="atlascopco.com"/>

Split-off of mining and infrastructure equipment business

In 2017, Atlas Copco announced that it planned to move its production of rock excavation, drilling and demolition equipment for the mining and infrastructure sectors into a separate listed company, the shares of which would be distributed to Atlas Copco shareholders. The new company was named Epiroc, and the transaction was completed in 2018. Trading in the shares issued started in June that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Operations

Business areas

Since 2017, Atlas Copco has had four main business areas: Compressor Technique, Vacuum Technique, Industrial Technique and Power Technique.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>

Compressor Technique

Atlas Copco's Compressor Technique area creates products such as industrial compressors, oil and gas treatment equipment, air management systems, and gas and process compressor and expanders. The products are mainly used in the manufacturing, oil, gas and process industries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Vacuum Technique

Atlas Copco's Vacuum Technique business area provides vacuum products, exhaust management systems, valves and related products mainly under the Edwards, Leybold and Atlas Copco brands. The main markets served are semiconductors, chemical processing industries, food packaging and paper handling. Principal product development and manufacturing units are located in the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Germany, South Korea, the United States, China and Japan.

Industrial Technique

Atlas Copco's products in Industrial Technique are mainly developed for the automotive and aerospace industries, but are also used in industrial manufacturing, maintenance and vehicle service. Products manufactured include assembly systems, industrial power tools, quality assurance products and various types of software.<ref>Atlas Copco for investors Template:Dead link</ref>

Power Technique

This area produces portable compressors, lighting towers, pumps, generators, compaction equipment, demolition tools and construction tools for infrastructure projects. These include civil works, road construction, gas and oil, and drilling construction projects.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Brands

File:BeaconMedaes oxygen, vacuum, and medical air medical gas supply outlets on a ceiling at Campbell County Memorial Hospital in Gillette, Wyoming.jpg
BeaconMedaes oxygen, vacuum, and medical air medical gas supply outlets on a ceiling at Campbell County Memorial Hospital in Gillette, Wyoming

The Atlas Copco Group has around 80 brands, including Atlas Copco and Chicago Pneumatic for compressors and tools, Edwards for vacuum systems, BeaconMedeas for medical gas and Desoutter for assembly equipment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable brands include:

Manufacturing and sales

Atlas Copco manufactures critical equipment components in-house and cooperates with business partners for non-critical components. Approximately 75% of the production cost of equipment represents purchased components and around 25% are internally manufactured core components, assembly costs and overhead. Equipment represents less than 64% of revenues and the manufacturing of equipment is primarily based on customer orders. Only some standard, high-volume equipment is manufactured based on projected demand.<ref name="atlascopcogroup.com">Template:Cite web</ref>

Atlas Copco has customer centres in about 71 countries and sales in about 180 countries. Sales and service are primarily direct but also channeled through alternative sales mechanisms, e.g. distributors. Sales of equipment are performed by engineers and service and maintenance are performed by technicians. Service is the responsibility of divisions in each business area. The responsibility includes the development of service products, sales and marketing, technical support, service delivery and follow-up. About 36% of revenues are generated from services (spare parts, maintenance, repairs, consumables, accessories and rental).<ref name="atlascopcogroup.com" />

Structure

Atlas Copco's operations are organized into four business areas and more than 20 divisions. The organization has both operating units and legal units. Each operating unit has a business board. The duty of a business board is to serve as an advisory and decision-making body on strategic operational issues. It also ensures the implementation of controls and assessments. Each legal company has a legal board focusing on compliance and the legal structure of the group.<ref name="atlascopcogroup.com/investor-relations">Template:Cite web</ref>

Innovation

Atlas Copco conducts research and development in a wide range of technologies at their global research centres, where each division has its own individual area of focus and resources. Training and workshops have been rolled out in customer centres and product companies globally. The company puts its focus on growth in automation to bring more production back to the US and Europe. In 2020, Atlas Copco acquired Isra Vision in February<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Perceptron in September<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to automate more.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In March 2022, Atlas Copco acquired the assets of Ceres Technologies,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a US-based manufacturer and designer of gas and vapour delivery equipment for the semiconductor industry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Controversies

Atlas Copco has faced criticism for its operations in Russia during the geopolitical tensions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While the company announced plans to discontinue operations in Russia in line with international sanction concerns persist about the timing and ethical implications of its business activities during the conflict.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

References

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