Making the wheels go around

28 June, 2019

It was the development of pneumatic tools, rock drilling equipment and compressors in this era that took the Swedish company, AB Atlas Diesel, founded in 1873, from producing rail rolling stock, boilers, and steam and diesel engines, to becoming a world-leading specialist in compressed air, with an impressive record of notable innovations. 1904 saw its first steam-driven piston air compressor. Fifty years later, the company introduced the first rotary screw compressor, based on an improved version of Alf Lysholm’s helical element concept.

A string of technical developments followed from the company, now known as Atlas Copco, including the first oil-free, electrically driven screw compressor in 1967, which opened up new opportunities for pure air for medical care and the food industry. In 1994 Atlas Copco launched the first fully integrated variable-speed drive compressor unit. This revolutionary new product made possible a whole new standard of energy efficiency in the industrial workplace.

Further development saw energy consumption, noise levels and footprint dramatically reduced, and compressors connected via the internet into a factory’s network. This constant drive for innovation has turned compressed air from just an alternative power source into an essential fourth utility, supporting the smart factories of the 21st century and playing a crucial role in the production of just about everything in our homes, workplaces and leisure pursuits.