This year marks the centenary of the first Atlas Copco rock drill, which was designed and manufactured in 1905. The first documented rock drill, Atlas No 16, was a tripod-mounted machine. Furnished with rifle bar rotation, it was technically advanced but too heavy for one-man operation. Consequently, manufacturing was limited to only 11 machines.

As a result, the company changed strategy, focusing on developing light rock drills, either hand held or mounted on tripod, screw pillar and even telescopic feeding. The Cyclop light rock drill, operated by one man, was used in improved versions into the 1930s.
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