Our History

In 1949, George Blomdal, a Norwegian Engineer, was dispatched to Canada to test the mining market’s reaction to a new type of Swedish-designed rock drill and a new drilling method: this could be operated by one man instead of two. Due to the vast gold mining industry, Blomdal focused on Northern Ontario to sell this machine and the method revolutionized Canadian mining and quickly spread all over the country.

On May 9, 1949, Canadian Copco Ltd. was born and headquartered in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. In 1956, the name subsequently changed to Atlas Copco Canada Ltd. when the parent organization Atlas Diesel AB was changed to Atlas Copco AB.

In 1951, Atlas Copco Canada moved its headquarters to Dorval (Montreal), Quebec and the expansion continued with the opening of the Dorval manufacturing shop in 1970.

During the same period, the Industrial tools were introduced.

With the global introduction of hydraulic rock drills, the Dorval workshop started building hydraulic Boomers, Simbas, Boltecs, etc. These activities expanded so rapidly that, in 1976, it was necessary to create a separate mining (CMT) manufacturing unit in Pointe Claire, Quebec, known as Montreal Works where literally hundreds of rigs were produced for the North American market over the next several years.

In 1990, Atlas Copco Compressors relocated to Dollard des Ormeaux, Quebec and in 1992, Atlas Copco CMT closed the Kirkland facility (Montreal Works) and moved manufacturing to Orebro, Sweden.

In 1996, Atlas Copco Tools moved to Mississauga, and in 1998 Atlas Copco CMT moved its head office from Dorval, Quebec to Sudbury with a large remanufacturing facility.

In 1998, JKS Boyles was acquired and this became Atlas Copco Exploration products today.
 

In 1999, Rental Services began operating in Canada.

In 2001, and 2002, respectively, the North American operations were separated into Canadian and US companies, and the Canadian Corporate Office moved to Ville Lasalle, Quebec.

Since then, several acquisitions occurred including Hobic and Layne Christensen (which together with JKS Boyles form Atlas Copco Exploration today), Ingersol Rand Canada Inc. (ADS) in 2004, Baker Hughes Canada (2004), Thiessen and Dynapac (2006) and Greenfield Canada (2007).

In 2010, Atlas Copco CMT Canada moved its head office and inventory from Sudbury, Ontario to Mississauga, Ontario and opened regional hubs and branches across Canada to be closer to their customers. Dynapac and Atlas Copco Tools also joined CMT in Mississauga, Ontario.

In 2011, Atlas Copco CMT Canada was renamed Mining and Rock Excavation Technique Canada, and Dynapac became part of the new Business Area, Atlas Copco Construction Equipment.