Atlas Copco Tools expansion in the midwest

A new headquarter in the heart of 'Automation Valley' creates new opportunities for growth.  

  • Ribbon cutting ceremony held in the parking lot in front of the Atlas Copco Tools and Assembly Systems custom-built headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. At the podium, L-R: Lennart Johansson, Swedish Consul General in Michigan; Kevin McDaniel, the mayor of Auburn Hills; Bjorn Lyrvall, Swedish Ambassador to the U.S.; Anders Hoberg, Atlas Copco Regional General Manager of North America; and Atlas Copco president and CEO, Ronnie Leten handling the scissors; Oakland County Senior Business Development Rep. Mark Adams and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.

  • Atlas Copco Tools and Assembly Systems has consolidated its North American operations in Auburn Hills, Michigan and celebrated the official ribbon cutting for the new location on June 29. In front of nearly 500 invited guests, Atlas Copco CEO Ronnie Leten and U.S. General Manager Anders Hoberg were joined at the podium by local officials L. Brooks Patterson and Mark Adams from Oakland County, Auburn Hills Mayor Kevin McDaniel along with Michigan Swedish Consul General Lennart Johansson and Swedish Ambassador to the U.S. Björn Lyrvall.

  • Visitors were touring the exceptionally clean and well-structured production area of Atlas Copco Tools and Assembly Systems' new headquarters - in itself a marketing tool through its modern design and well-versed, educated crew. Atlas Copco is of Swedish origin, which may explain, at least in part, why creating good working conditions and the environmentally friendly way of thinking is deep-seated. Scandinavians have been working toward environmentally friendly solutions for years, Hoberg says.

  • “We’re proud to be here in the middle of Automation Alley,” said Hoberg. “We think it shows a commitment to many of our customers in this area and it’s a great location for us as well because of all the talent we have access to in this part of Michigan.”

  • Atlas Copco president and CEO, Ronnie Leten explains the Atlas Copco main principles from the big book displayed at the headquarters entrance to Ambassador Lyrvall

  • Being a supplier to the automotive industry isn’t a business for the faint of heart. Even after more than a decade of massive restructuring among both the vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers, the process is still going on.

  • Automotive is still a good chunk of the business for this division of the Swedish multinational with revenue increasing 30 to 40 percent since we spoke with Hoberg eight years ago. Automotive has gone from 80 percent of the Michigan plant’s customer base to around 40 percent, however; industries such as aerospace, oil and gas and off-road vehicles represent major growth opportunities, Hoberg said.

  • With sales in over 180 countries and production in 20, Atlas Copco manufactures a full range of products and services including compressors, vacuum solutions and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems. More than 200 employees are housed at the Auburn Hills office, which moved last fall from the Atlas Copco Tools’ former location in the same town. The new office is twice the size at 120,000 square feet, and serves as the automotive, heavy industrial and general manufacturing center for the company’s North American operations. Hoberg said the company plans to continue its expansion and create an additional 50 jobs in a variety of areas — engineers, customer service personnel along with marketing and sales professionals — over the coming year.