Atlas Copco, a 150-year-old Swedish multinational company, is a global leader in industrial innovation, particularly in sustainable technologies aimed at reducing carbon footprints and is fully aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The company is recognized for its proactive approach to sustainability, and it is driving significant initiatives to reduce its environmental impact by 2030. With a workforce of 45,000 employees globally, Atlas Copco continues to evolve and adapt its business strategies to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly solutions across industries worldwide.
A strong presence in India with expanding manufacturing footprint
“We have been in India for more than six decades and have established a strong foothold with two plants in Pune. As part of our growth strategy, we are now expanding and opening a new production facility in Talegaon, which is poised to become a hub for our operations,” points out Sourav Chaudhary, National Sales Manager, Low Pressure, Oil Free Division in the Compressor Technique business area at Atlas Copco India.
This expansion highlights Atlas Copco’s strategic focus on strengthening its market presence in India and delivering high-performance products and solutions that cater to diverse industry sectors, including textile, manufacturing, and energy.
Atlas Copco’s core business areas and market leadership
Atlas Copco operates across four key business areas that cater to a broad spectrum of industries worldwide. These include:
1. Compressor Technique: Providing compressors, blowers, and related equipment such as dryers and accessories. This division is a global leader in air and gas compression technology.
2. Vacuum Technique: Offering vacuum solutions for a wide range of industries, including food packaging, medical, and electronics.
3. Industrial Techniques: Providing high-precision tools and assembly systems for industrial applications.
4. Power Technique: Specializing in portable compressors, generators, pumps, and lighting towers for construction, mining, and other industrial sectors.
As the world’s largest manufacturer of compressors and blowers, Atlas Copco dominates the global market with an impressive 40% market share. The company’s Compressor Technique division is renowned for its broad product range, which includes compressors ranging from as low as 2 KW to as high as 7 MW, providing solutions for diverse customer needs across industries.
Innovating for a sustainable future: Oil-free versus Oil-based compressors
One of the key advancements in Atlas Copco’s technology is the development of oil-free compressors, which provide completely oil-free compressed air. Unlike oil-injected compressors, which introduce oil into the compressor chamber and require complex filtration to remove residual oil, oil-free compressors generate air without any oil contamination. This makes them ideal for industries where air purity is critical, such as the textile industry.
Atlas Copco’s oil-free compressors are Class Zero certified and ISO 8573 certified, ensuring that the air generated is free from contaminants. The company’s products are further categorized based on operating pressure, providing customized solutions that align with the specific needs of customers. These include Low Pressure Compressors that operate at pressures up to 4 bar, Medium Pressure Compressors, operating between 4 to 13 bar and High Pressure Compressors for pressures above 13 bar.
Within Atlas Copco’s Low Pressure Oil Free Division, the company specializes in offering compressors and blowers that cater to pressures up to 4 bars, which are commonly used in a wide variety of industrial applications, including the textile sector.
“A significant advantage of our oil-free compressors is the cost-saving aspect in the long term,” explains Mr. Chaudhary. “While the initial capital investment may be slightly higher compared to oil-based compressors, the operational cost over the lifespan of the technology is much lower. This translates into lower energy consumption, fewer maintenance requirements, and, ultimately, lower total cost of ownership.”
Optimizing textile industry applications with energy-efficient solutions
The textile industry is heavily dependent on compressed air for several key processes, making it a primary focus for Atlas Copco’s specialized product offerings. One of the company’s key innovations for the textile sector is the application of intermingling technologies, which utilize compressed air at varying pressure levels to achieve different types of yarn treatments.
“Intermingling is an important process in textile manufacturing, and our compressors are designed to meet the unique pressure and energy efficiency requirements of these applications. We offer compressors with pressures ranging from 1 bar to 3 bar, tailored to meet the specific needs of each customer, whether they require low, medium, or high intermingling levels,” said Mr. Chaudhary.
In addition to intermingling, Atlas Copco’s compressors are used in a variety of other textile applications, where energy efficiency and oil-free air are paramount. By offering solutions that reduce operational costs and improve process efficiency, Atlas Copco has positioned itself as a key partner in the textile industry’s move toward more sustainable manufacturing practices.
“Our commitment to sustainability is not just about meeting regulatory requirements, but about making a positive impact on the environment and helping our customers achieve their own sustainability goals,” Mr. Chaudhary emphasized. “We are actively working to develop solutions that are energy-efficient, reduce waste, and minimize carbon emissions, all of which support the broader objectives of the Paris Agreement.”
A strong customer-centric approach: Ensuring maximum efficiency and value
Atlas Copco’s approach to customer service is built around understanding the unique needs of each client and providing tailored solutions that maximize both performance and value. The company’s Compressor Technique division in India employs approximately 900 people, including a dedicated team of after-sales service engineers who are strategically located to ensure rapid response times across the country.
“Our focus is on understanding the specific applications of our customers, providing them with the right solutions for their requirement, and ensuring that the solutions we deliver result in significant cost savingsin their operations over time,” said Mr. Chaudhary. “We aim to add value to our customers’ operations by offering energy-efficient products that help them reduce their operational costs and also overall carbon footprint.”
