Atomic Skis

Atomic (officially Atomic Austria GmbH) is an Austrian company that manufactures and sells skiing equipment (skis, ski boots, bindings, helmets, ski poles, goggles and protective equipment) under different brand names. Atomic is also a well-known manufacturer of alpine skis.

Background

Alois Rohrmoser founded Atomic in 1955. Rohrmoser initially employed four members of staff, and the company produced around 40 pairs of skis a year. Annual production grew to 5,000 by the beginning of the 1960s, and industrial ski production began with the expansion of the Wagrain site in 1966. In 1967, the company produced approximately 17,000 pairs of skis, rising to 36,000 in the following year and 72,000 in 1969. In 1971, the company increased its production capacity by building a second factory in Altenmarkt im Pongau, where the majority of their ski production still takes place. In 1981, Atomic started production in the Bulgarian city of Chepelare, becoming the first west-block company to open a plant in the eastern-block countries. Atomic continued to expanded its range, and in 1989, it became the first one-stop supplier for skis, bindings, boots and poles. Ski production peaked at 831,000 pairs in 1991 and 1992.