Expanding into New Areas Under Ground with GIA

2012 Apr 10

Atlas Copco’s acquisition of the underground business of the Swedish company GIA Industri brings electric mine trucks, utility vehicles, ventilation systems and other new products to the Atlas Copco range.

The acquisition earlier this year of GIA Industri of Sweden has resulted in a wide range of complementary products for underground mining and construction.

This means that in addition to drill rigs, bolters, loaders and trucks, Atlas Copco can now also offer electrical haulage trucks, locomotives and shuttle car systems for underground transportation, charging and service trucks, Häggloader continuous loaders as well as complete ventilation systems.

?We are entering new market segments and will be able to serve customers with an even broader product portfolio,? said Bob Fassl, Business Area President for Atlas Copco Mining and Rock Excavation Technique. ?We especially look forward to offering the Kiruna Electric haulage truck with its strong environmental profile.?

GIA Industri AB was founded in 1884 and has been owned since 1994 by Vätterleden Invest AB. Based in Grängesberg in the old mining region of Bergslagen, south-central Sweden, the underground equipment business has 113 employees. It is represented in Sweden, China and Australia. As part of Atlas Copco?s Underground Rock Excavation Division, the products will now be available through Atlas Copco?s global sales and service network as well as through selected GIA distributors.

 

Exciting development

Björn Lifvergren, the newly appointed Genera­l Manager of Atlas Copco GIA, sees global opportunities ahead for both companie­s? present and future customers.

?This is a very exciting development for Atlas Copco and our customers. Not only do the products of GIA complement our range of underground products extremely well, they also open up many new possibilities for future cooperation around the world,? he says.

?Atlas Copco is a world leader in drill and blast and haulage products. With the GIA range we can now offer electrical trucks and also a wide range of the auxiliary equipment that is used in mining. Furthermore, these products will be available to all customers through our global sales and service organization.?

Among the most interesting new products in the GIA portfolio are ventilation systems for underground operations. These include control systems for providing customers with ventilation on demand.

In a mine, for instance, such systems enable ventilation to be used selectively, directing it only to those areas where work is in progress, thereby lowering energy costs substantially.

Continues Lifvergren: ?This is a completely new and exciting area for us and fits perfectly with our efforts to help customers reduce their production costs.

?We have the necessary equipment, knowhow and service enabling customers to source state-of-the art ventilation systems from Atlas Copco in most areas of the world.?

 

Positive response

Atlas Copco plans to establish GIA product specialists to support its worldwide customer centers and train its new staff at the Grängesberg HQ in Sweden.

The response received from customers has so far been positive, especially in relation to the news that aftermarket services for GIA products will now be taken care of by Atlas Copco?s service organization.

 

For more information on GIA, go to www.atlascopco.com/gia

 

Epiroc operated under the trademark “Atlas Copco” prior to January 1, 2018.