Atlas Copco has been involved in spectacular projects throughout its history; from relocating the Abu Simbel temple in Egypt to discovering a new species of dinosaur.
At ten o'clock in the evening of August 3, 1962, the final blast was ignited from the Italian side of the Mont Blanc Tunnel. The Italian workers had reached the middle of what was then the world's longest highway tunnel. Their French colleagues would reach this point a few days later.
On December 14, 1911, an expedition led by Roald Amundsen was the first-ever to reach the South Pole. As help in accomplishing this, he had one of the world's strongest seagoing vessels, equipped with an engine from Diesels Motorer. This was good advertising for the engines, and they were subsequently marketed as Polar engines.
In 1964, one of the world's largest and most spectacular dismantling and reassembly projects was begun in Egypt. To rescue the ancient temples in Abu Simbel from the waters of the Nile, the temples had to be relocated. The feat was accomplished through international collaboration, with Atlas Copco contributing with its technical know-how and equipment.
Thanks to assistance and equipment from Atlas Coco, paleontologist Thomas H. Rich was able to conduct excavations for a period of ten years at Dinosaur Cove in Australia. A new species was discovered, and in appreciation of the help received, it bears the company's name – Atlascopcosaurus.
When the gigantic Three Gorges power plant was to be constructed in China, Atlas Copco was the leading foreign advisor at the site. This was due to its long presence in China and that the company had previously assisted its Chinese colleagues in similar projects.
In South Dakota, a project that is as fascinating as it is gigantic has been underway for more than 60 years. A 172-meter high and 195-meter wide sculpture of the legendary Chief Crazy Horse is taking form in Black Hills, with the help of Atlas Copco's drills.
