Editing Atlas Copco (section)

== 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 [[André Oscar Wallenberg|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 engine]]s and compressor air products.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atlascopco.com/history/evolution/buildingthecompany/atlas/|title=From Atlas to Atlas Diesel|publisher=Atlas Copco|access-date=2016-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416213136/http://www.atlascopco.com/history/evolution/buildingthecompany/atlas/|archive-date=2016-04-16|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== War-time development ===
The Atlas Diesel merger experienced significant growth during the [[World War I|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 [[World War II|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">{{cite web|url=http://www.atlascopco.com/history/evolution/buildingthecompany/expansion/|title=International acquisitions and expansion - Atlas Copco History between 1873 and 2013|access-date=2016-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623213619/http://www.atlascopco.com/history/evolution/buildingthecompany/expansion/|archive-date=2016-06-23|url-status=dead}}</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>{{cite web| url = https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2004/08/30/daily2.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050419114516/http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2004/08/30/daily2.html| archive-date = 2005-04-19| title = Milwaukee Electric Tool, other units to be sold for $626.6M|date=30 August 2004}}</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"/>