Atlas Copco creates a Vacuum Solutions division and appoints Geert Follens as its division president

Atlas Copco Compressor Technique has established a new division: Vacuum Solutions. It will be responsible for Atlas Copco’s current vacuum business and, after the acquisition has been completed, for Edwards Group Ltd. Geert Follens, currently in charge of Industrial Air, has been appointed its division president.

Geert Follens

“We have defined vacuum as a strategic growth area for Atlas Copco and with this new division we have created a good structure from which to successfully develop the business after the Edwards acquisition,” said Stephan Kuhn, President of the Compressor Technique business area. "I am pleased to have Geert Follens, who has a proven record in running different businesses with different challenges, on board as division president. He has been leading the Edwards acquisition team and has already a solid knowledge of the vacuum business.”

The Vacuum Solutions division will initially be in charge of Atlas Copco’s current vacuum business; for the whole value chain from product development, sourcing, and production, to sales and service. When the acquisition of Edwards is completed, the company will be included in the new division. Vacuum Solutions will be based in Crawley (GB).

Geert Follens joined Atlas Copco in 1995 as purchasing manager in the Industrial Air division. His responsibilities were later extended to include production in the capacity of flow manager. In 2000 he became general manager of the customer centre Atlas Copco Compressors Ltd., Great Britain. In 2004 he was appointed division president for the Portable Energy division and in 2012 he became division president for the Industrial Air division. Both divisions are based in Belgium. Geert Follens holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Power Generation from the University of Leuven, Belgium.