History milestones

Epiroc’s ambitious climate targets were validated as science based.

An almost silent surface drill rig was launched, perfect for use around the clock at construction sites in densely populated areas

Ingersoll-Rand Drilling Solutions, a manufacturer of large blasthole drilling rigs in the USA, was acquired. The strategic acquisition makes Atlas Copco a leading supplier in surface drilling.

Marianne Hamilton became the first woman in Group Management and successfully transformed the internal job market. It enforced a decentralized organization with high job mobility.

Through the acquisition of Secoroc in Fagersta, Sweden, Atlas Copco became the world’s largest supplier of complete rock drilling equipment.

For a period of ten years at Dinosaur Cove in Australia, the company’s products were used for historical excavations. A new dinosaur species was discovered, and in appreciation of the help received, it got the name Atlascopcosaurus Loadsi.

The first 100 years were celebrated with an exhibition with royal presence in Sickla

The legendary face drilling rig Boomer was introduced. It was, and still is, a robust face drilling rig for tunneling and mining applications. Today, customers can have the Boomer with either diesel or battery driveline.

The rig-mounted hydraulic breaker helped create the 11.6 km long Mont Blanc tunnel, which at the time, was the world's longest. It reduced the distance between Paris and Rome by 150 kilometers

After the acquisition of Arpic Engineering NV in Belgium, the company’s name was changed to Atlas Copco. Copco came from the French words Compagnie Pneumatique Commerciale.

Dr. Peter Wallenberg began his life-long career at Atlas Copco, lasting 62 years. By giving employees a large degree of personal responsibility as well as accountability, he established a customer-oriented and decentralized culture.

“AB Växlar & Signaler” i Örebro, Sweden, (AVOS) was acquired. Today, this is Epiroc's largest production site with almost 3 000 employees.

The ground-breaking Swedish Method was introduced. “One man – one machine”. Key innovations in the solution were the combination of a “pusher leg” and hard metal drill bits

The newly formed company moved to Sickla, Sweden, where the headquarters have been ever since. The engines produced, mainly stationary and marine diesels, could be loaded onto railcars inside the factory, which was connected to the entire European railway network.

AB Diesels Motorer merged with AB Atlas, creating AB Atlas Diesel.

AB Atlas expanded internationally. Within a few years, there are operations in Russia, England and Norway.

The first rock drill was produced. The Cyklop and Rex light rock drills were hand-powered, light, and hard-hitting, making drilling much more efficient for customers.

AB Diesels Motorer was founded in Sickla, Sweden. It was a technically prominent company that made several important improvements on the diesel engine, such as enabling a quick switch from forward to reverse, which opened up the market for marine engines.

Best wishes from His Majesty King Oscar II. ”I wish this company, so beneficial to the fatherland, all happiness and success”.

AB Atlas was founded in Stockholm, Sweden. The company offered all types of equipment used in the building and maintenance of railways