The established plastic CD container used by music business has got a major challenger. The Swiss company PAWI Verpackungen has introduced a packaging solution called DataPac. Made from board, it is designed for CDs and DVDs used in the software and music industries. Lower weight and good printing surface are reported to be the product´s main properties. In Europe, for example, AOL and BlueWin (Swisscom) have already adopted this packaging innovation. The cases are manufactured using Stora Enso's Performa and Ensogloss board.

The Inside Story of Drug Safety for the General and Specialist Reader: Viewpoint, Part 1 - Watching for safer medicines

To be exhibited at the Hanover Fair 2002, 15-20 AprilHall: 017Stand: A53A "seeing" robot with a 3D vision system shall make it possible to automate picking, loading, and removing components directly from pallets for machine processing. It shall also be able to replace space-consuming and expensive portal robots, which require that the operator place the components on pallets and fixtures. The concept has been developed by Svensk Industriautomation and it shall make production more effective and less expensive by reducing adjustment time and eliminating operator time. The robot, called PalletPicker, orients itself using an optic sensor that measures the pallets' surfaces in three dimensions and therefore requires no programming.

Computer-operated vacuum and blow systems are said to make the printing process more efficient. Ultra Litho in Johannesburg has therefore commissioned the German press manufacturer KBA to install such a system in its new press, a 32 metre long Rapida 105.The system, called Piab Vacuum & Blow System, has been developed by the Swedish engineering company Piab and can be operated both from a PC on the printer's console as well as manually at the feeder and the delivery unit. According to the company, it is possible to reduce the make-ready time significantly by saving previous settings, thereby resulting in increased productivity.

High-end performance in a small, lightweight machine that is easy to use and inexpensive to run. This, says the manufacturers AB Ph. Nederman & Co, will make their new machine, the P300, a success in many markets.

A specially designed point extractor improves the working environment in car workshops. Dangerous isocyanate fumes are extracted using Nederman's specially designed extractor and workshops no longer need to build special, enclosed spaces for dangerous substance management.

The Finnish Junttan is Europe's leading manufacturer of hydraulic pile driving rigs and also a major supplier of drilling rigs. The latest model, the PM 18-30, is a medium sized drilling rig combining heavy duty performance with ease of transportation and high flexibility in handling.

A new winder and wire section are currently being installed at Holmen Paper's Hallsta Paper Mill plant in Hallstavik, some 100 km north of Stockholm. With this the company will have come approximately halfway in an investment which, in terms of infrastructure, is the largest made at the mill for almost 30 years and financially speaking is the largest since its establishment in 1915. With the investment in a totally new PM 11 and the extensive modernisation of paper machine 12, Holmen Paper will have invested almost SEK 4 billion over a five year period. The result will be one of the world's most modern plants for high quality newsprint and machine-finished magazine paper. The company is aiming at the more demanding end of the consumer market. The investment will also be a magnificent example of an advanced and complex building project. In February-March, 650-850 fitters will be working alongside the mill's 1,000 permanent employees during a 70 day long shutdown in order to be ready in time for a test run in April. The formal inauguration will take place in September 2002.

It should be possible to move vehicles weighing up to 5 tonnes in a simple and environmentally friendly way, e.g. indoors in design departments, production areas and workshops. This is the opinion of Famek AB, which is now launching the battery-operated Stringo 550 vehicle mover. The vehicle is ready for transportation within a five second loading time.

Stora Enso has seen a strong increase in the demand for ovenable board in Europe. The baking sector is taking advantage of ovenable board´s benefits such as its versatile heating options, excellent printing properties and recyclability, the company states.