GLOBAL SOLUTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION Three years after it was established as a stand-alone operation, Atlas Copco’s Construction Technique business area is helping customers all over the world to improve their productivity.
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2011 the Atlas Copco Group decided to modify its business structure to strengthen its focus on specific product and customer segments. It restructured into four business areas in place of the previous three, creating a new dedicated business specifically for construction equipment and related services. The Swedish headquarted company’s divisions for portable compressors and generators, road construction equipment and construction tools were put together in what is now known as the Construction Technique business area. Atlas Copco’s divisions for underground and surface drilling products as well as crushing, loading, hauling and exploration equipment, which were previously part of the Construction and Mining business, were given a distinct identity as the Mining and Rock Excavation Technique business area. The company’s Compressor Technique area was focused on stationary equipment for air and gas related services – industrial compressors, gas and process compressors, air and gas treatment equipment etc – while the Industrial Technique business continued to
specialise in high quality industrial power tools and assembly systems for the automotive and aerospace industries as well as for general industry. “With more focused business areas, each will have a strong platform from which they can develop the offering for their customers,” said Ronnie Leten, president and CEO of the group, at the time of the reorganisation. “The modified structure also allows us to better capture the sales and service synergies between our construction businesses and capitalise on the future growth of construction projects around the world, especially in emerging markets.” In September 2014, Atlas Copco followed up on this reorganisation by appointing a new president of the Construction Technique business area. Andrew Walker had been in management roles at Atlas Copco since he joined the company in Ireland in 1986 and was president of the Service division of the Compressor Technique business before taking over the Construction Technique presidency. He is now a member of the Atlas Copco’s Group management and is currently based in Antwerp, Belgium. Industry Europe 59
