History
GIA Industri AB was founded back in 1884. Initially, GIA sold tools, consumables and other items essential to local mines.
The embryo of today's business was conceived in the early fifties, when GIA began importing and selling heavy locomotives to local mines. They were in great demand and in the sixties the company decided to start producing its own locomotives.
In the seventies and eighties locomotives, consumables and distribution of imported equipment was the base of the business and export sales started to grow. The development of underground equipment continued and the first utility vehicle was introduced. In 1984 the company celebrated its 100th year anniversary.
In the nineties, after a few years with a varying focus the company started to concentrate more on its own production of underground equipment. New product areas were introduced, such as ventilation systems, mining haulage trucks and emergency shower equipment. GIA acquires the company Kiruna Truck and besides mining trucks, a range of smelter- and steelwork products were introduced. GIA got new owners in 1994 when Vätterledens Invest AB acquires all the shares in GIA Industri AB.
In the 2000s GIA has grown steadily with an increasing number of orders and acquisitions of additional products, such as the Häggloader and new vehicles for the steel industry. A rental company has been formed and subsidiaries in China and Australia have been established. Today GIA is represented in every continent and around 90% of sales are exported overseas. The production facility has been expanded in 2010 to cope with the wide range of products and the volume of orders.
December 16, 2011: Atlas Copco AB has agreed to acquire the underground business of GIA Industri AB from Vätterledens Invest AB. With the acquisition, Atlas Copco broadens its offering with products including electric mine trucks, utility vehicles and ventilation systems.
