A range of new and innovative products has been introduced by Swedish-based vacuum equipment manufacturer, Piab AB. Compact pumps, electronically switched valves and suction cups made from a new kind of plastic are just some of the latest additions to the company's line up providing increased flexibility for process industries which use vacuum technology. 

New aM fuses from ABB Control is said to meet the latest regulations for motor protection more economically and conveniently than general purpose fuse links and circuit breakers.In the new IEC 947-4-1 standard for motor starters, co-ordination categories are defined for protection.

Raisio Chemicals Ltd., Raisio, Finland and Emsland-Stärke GmbH, Emlichheim, Germany, have decided to form a Joint Venture to sell and market the parent companies’ chemicals and starch products to the paper industry in Germany, Austria and Netherlands. "The result of this merger offers customers an advantage, as the strength´s of Raisio´s know how and Technology Centers and Emslands strength as a quality starch producer are made available to customers through new highly qualified sales and technical service organization," says Mr Günter Herms, Chairman of the Board at Emsland-Stärke.

Easier communication and seamlessdata interchange for project partnersin the construction and buildingindustry is the aim of thepartnership between EPM Technology (EPMT) and concad GmbH. The two companies are now teaming up, integrating their suites ofsoftware tools for development andstandardized data modelling.

Short-run colour printing is now faster, less expensive, and more flexible, thanks to RIP (raster image processing) servers, which allow printing on colour photocopiers direct from the computer. The Swedish company Visutech will present its new short-run print solutions for both professional and untrained users at the CeBIT 97 exhibition at Hanover, Germany. They claim to have the best price and performance in the market, plus the possibility of printing and distributing colour material through global networks like the Internet.

Electric sliding windows in glass and aluminium are claimed to provide a high level of safety for personnel via features such as automatic locking.  Research carried out by the Swedish Industrial Health Service has also shown that the risk of personal injury is reduced when windows are electrically, rather than manually, powered. The windows, which open either horizontally or vertically, can be used in locations such as banks, post offices, ice-cream parlours, or reception areas.

Replacing secondary battery systems with DC/DC converters can lead to considerable installation, operation and maintenance savings. The PU 1000 launched by Polyamp AB is the latest and largest of the company's range of DC/DC converters that combines reliability with such savings.

A new generation of saunas and steam rooms is now entering the Japanese market. The manufacturer, Tylö AB in Sweden, believes that its compact range will appeal, in particular, to the specific requirements of Japanese homes, where space is always at a premium.The installations also come in a wide range of designs and finishes.