Atlas Copco, recognized as one of the world’s most innovative and sustainable companies, today celebrates 140 years of industrial excellence with a range of activities in the more than 90 countries where it has its own operations. Atlas Copco Ghana Limited is also celebrating 20 years of business incorporation in Ghana. The company currently employs 127 people and operates from Accra, Tema and Obuasi with regional responsibility covering Sierra Leone and Liberia where it provides sustainable products and services to the region’s mining and construction industries. “Celebrating 140 years as a Group and 20 years in Ghana is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen customer focus and to further translate our values into daily activities to serve our customers better” said George Apostolopoulos, Regional General Manager, Atlas Copco Ghana Limited. He said it is a great occasion to create pride among employees and to make them enthusiastic about future opportunities. Our history exemplifies long-term industrial experience as well as innovative products and solutions to current and potential customers. In marking the 140 years anniversary, Atlas Copco’s President and CEO Ronnie Leten today will be ringing the opening bell at the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York, U.S. The shares of Atlas Copco, the biggest industrial company by market capitalization in Europe’s Nordic region, are listed on NASDAQ OMX in Stockholm, Sweden, where the company is based. Other events around the world today to mark this significant milestone include the inauguration of a new compressor manufacturing plant near Pune, India, a donation of $60,000 (USD) to safe drinking water projects from Atlas Copco’s Water for All organization in the US, and several customer events in Australia. Atlas Copco develops and supplies machinery such as rock drills, power tools, construction equipment and compressors to customers in industries spanning from automotive, mining and road construction to aerospace, food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals. In January, 2013, Atlas Copco earned a spot on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the world list, the most prestigious corporate sustainability ranking. The Global 100 recognized Atlas Copco for its commitment to sustainable productivity and its work and achievements in doing more with less - such as the development of new innovative, highly energy-efficient products that save customers money and benefit the environment at the same time. Atlas Copco’s long history is filled with cutting-edge product innovations. Highlights include introducing the first light rock drills in 1905, manufacturing the first portable air compressor that same year, introducing the world´s first serial-produced hydraulic breakers in 1966, and launching new error-proof and low-energy tightening tools. The landmark projects that Atlas Copco has been involved in are almost too numerous to mention. A few notable ones include helping to build the Mont Blanc Tunnel across the France-Italian border, which was then the world’s longest highway tunnel, in the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1980s Atlas Copco got a dinosaur species named after it – Atlascopcosaurus Lourdsi – in appreciation of the equipment and assistance the company provided that helped unearth a dinosaur skeleton in Australia. Atlas Copco has steadily expanded its global presence. It established operations for example in Kenya 1936, in the United States 1950 and in India 1960, and last year added seven countries including Senegal, Burkina Faso and Tanzania. Atlas Copco now operates in more than 170 countries. In 2013 Atlas Copco, ranked as one of the most innovative, sustainable and ethical companies in the world, celebrates 140 years of profitable growth. At the beginning the company made products for railways, but the core of Atlas Copco’s business dates back to the early years of the 20th century when the first compressors, tools and rock drills were manufactured. Today, the Atlas Copco Group has world-leading positions in these areas and many others. Atlas Copco supports customers in 180 countries with its own operations in 90 countries. Read the story about a company that believes ‘there is always a better way’ on www.atlascopco.com/history.