Founder Knut Jacobsson Number of employees around 1000 Founded 1958 | Area served 47 countries Website atlet.com Headquarters Mölnlycke | |
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Finalist nr 2 2004 atlet ab ergo st staplare
Atlet is a company that manufactures and markets indoor and outdoor trucks. The company also provides services related to trucks and material handling, such as logistics analysis, training and service. The head office, manufacturing and training premises are located in Mölnlycke, just outside Göteborg, Sweden.
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Atlet is a part of Nissan Forklift Co. Ltd., with subsidiaries in Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK and Germany. There are retailers in a further 36 countries.
History
Knut Jacobsson started Elitmaskiner in Göteborg in 1958. At the time the company only made trucks for indoor use. Elitmaskiner changed its name to Atlet in 1966.
The company started by making hand pallet trucks. Around 1960 powered stackers and telereach trucks dominated the market. Knut Jacobsson then invented the pedestrian stacker that had a lifting capacity comparable with the telereach trucks, but could be used in narrower aisles, thanks to its patented side stabilizers.
Atlet started providing training for truck operators in the 70s. Technical developments continued with computerized simulations of warehouse management solutions, automatic trucks and mobile terminal systems, and between 1988 and 1994 Atlet took part in a development project in collaboration with doctors and occupational therapists. This resulted in Tergo, a telereach truck with ergonomic solutions such as the mini steering wheel and floating armrest.
Nissan Forklift, a subsidiary of the Nissan Motor Company, bought Atlet AB in 2007. Nissan Motor Company spin-off its Industrial Machinery Division and establish a new company, “Nissan Forklift Co., Ltd.”, effective from October 1, 2010.