In 2017, the Swedish industrial group Atlas Copco increased its turnover by 15 percent to 116 billion Swedish kronor (SEK) worldwide (12 billion euros). Organic growth amounted to a good 10 percent. Order intake totaled 123 billion kronor or 12.7 billion euros - up 20 percent on the previous year (SEK 103 billion). Both figures, sales and order intake, represent historic highs for the Group, which manufactures and sells compressors, compressed air and vacuum technology, construction and mining equipment as well as industrial tools and assembly systems.

At the end of 2017, the Atlas Copco Group employed 47,599 people worldwide, around 3,500 more than at the end of 2016. At 24.2 billion kronor, operating profit was more than a fifth higher than in 2016, as was profit before tax (23.1 billion kronor). In Germany, around 3,400 employees, including more than 130 trainees, were employed in around 20 companies under the umbrella of two holding companies (Atlas Copco Holding and Atlas Copco Deutschland) at the end of the year.

Vacuum technology stands out

Last year, Atlas Copco collected more orders in all five Group Divisions and all key regions worldwide than in 2016. The young Vacuum Technology Division in particular stood out: sales grew by 44 percent to 19.6 billion crowns (two billion euros). This was partly due to the vacuum specialist Leybold, which was acquired in the second half of 2016 and whose headquarters are located in Cologne. Demand for vacuum pumps increased in all industrial sectors, with a focus on the semiconductor industry, the manufacture of flat screens and laboratories. More orders than in the previous year came from Asia and North America in particular.

The Compression Technology Division can also look back on a strong year with sales growth of seven percent to 38.8 billion crowns (seven billion euros). Among other things, the market launch of a new turbo compressor for high compressed air requirements provided impetus. Demand for both large and small compressors increased worldwide, particularly in North America.

The Industrial Technology Division once again reported good business in 2017. Sales increased worldwide by nine percent to 16.4 billion crowns (1.7 billion euros). In Industrial Technology, Atlas Copco bundles the business with industrial tools, assembly systems, bonding and dispensing technology as well as self-pierce riveting systems. The division benefited from investments by the automotive industry, particularly in the manufacture of electric cars and vans. The aviation industry also demanded more equipment. Most recently, the geographical focus was on South America, Europe and Asia, while demand from North America hardly changed.

Atlas Copco's sales of equipment for power generation, tunneling and mining recovered significantly in 2017. Tunneling and mining achieved sales of 29 billion kroner (three billion euros), an increase of 16 percent, with rising demand in all areas. The recently restructured Power Technique division increased its turnover by twelve percent to 13.2 billion crowns (1.3 billion euros). This division offers mobile compressors, power generators, light towers, pumps as well as hand-held construction tools, compaction and concrete technology. as