Compressed air company to open new premises

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 12

Compressed air company to open new premises

Atlas Copco, the world’s biggest firm specialising solely in the design, development and manufacture of compressed air equipment, officially open their new compressed air centre at Hornby today.

The new centre, which will be the biggest in the South Island, will serve industry in Canterbury and on the West Coast.

SWEDISH FIRM Atlas Copco is a Swedish firm, with headquarters in Stockholm. Its world-wide group comprises 36 national companies, and the firm’s products are sold in more than 100 countries. A sub-

stantial amount of the capital of the group is invested in the British Commonwealth. WIDE RANGE The Swedish firm manufactures more than 500 different types and sizes of compressed air equipment. Its products range from the small high-speed dental drill, which has taken much of the pain out of dental surgery, to multiple drill rigs for driving tunnels through granite; from the portable compressor, widely familiar as the machine that powers the breakers that dig up roads, to the big stationary compressors that supply whole factories with their air power; and from screwdrivers and

other small tools which operate with extreme delicacy on such things as electronic circuits, to enormous impact wrenches which loosen and tighten the nuts on ships* engines. RAPID EXPANSION All this equipment, and the Swedish technology that goes with it, is available to industry in New Zealand through Atlas Copco (N.Z.), Ltd. Atlas Copco, New Zealand, was formed in 1953, and since then, through continual expansion, the company has established a chain of compressed air centres throughout both islands.

1 The company’s Christ- • church branch was estab- ’ lished in 1964, and the move J to the new centre has been ; brought about by rapid expansion in the Christchurch area and the need for larger facilities and more space to s provide the required service. > I DIVERSIFIED USE All but a few of New Zealand’s 50 biggest companies , use equipment from the 1 Swedish firm, as do also several Government depart--1 ments. Among major works projects the firm has been prominently associated with are Manapouri, Tongariro and Benmore. “Increasingly diversified use is now being made of compressed air in New Zealand, and with the rapid development of this country’s manufacturing industry the demand for this source of power is certain to accelerate,” said the managing director of Atlas Copco (N.Z.), Ltd (Mr C. G. Read). “It’s our endeavour to help industry to find the most economical and productive methods. DIRECT DEALING “Atlas Copco is the only international compressed air firm operating in New Zealand in its own name. I personally consider that being able to deal directly with the company and not having to go through agents is one of the major benefits we have to offer our customers,” said Mr Read.

The New Zealand company’s head office in Wellington will also be moving to larger premises shortly.