Cutting costs by rationalising and optimising the operations of the plant is a common target among production companies. Elettric 80’s scalable Freeway system provides the ideal solution through custom-designed automation for fast-moving consumer-goods plants, especially those with two-shift operations, or more. The system can either automate the whole end-of-line process of the production plant at once or, focussing on an ideal future solution, be limited to chosen parts of it, in which case it can be extended and complemented at any time without significant extra cost or trouble. Furthermore, the systems can be implemented with minimal disruption, often while production is still up and running. However, important decisions that would result in great advantages and a competitive edge, are sometimes postponed as they seem too complicated or radical. Questions arise; how large an investment does the budget allow; which is the best solution for the whole plant and will it still be sufficient some years from now?

Scottish Water, the fourth largest water and wastewater services provider in the UK, has teamed up with engineering, consulting and construction company Black & Veatch and piping solutions providers KWH Pipe to employ an innovative concept of mobile pipe production that will reduce costs and environmental impact in a project to upgrade Edinburgh’s water treatment facilities.

- the durable and sustainable first choice that does not fade Customers demand longevity in their thermal receipt paper! It is a necessary and indispensable part of our daily transactions in the long-term, which provides the essential fiscal and warranty information needed. Ultimately, the end consumers for thermal receipts are customers who require these slips of paper for proof of purchase and other vital end use information.

* protects substations in utility and process industry power distribution networks  * uniquely-fast messaging boosts busbar protection speed to maximise safety and minimise damage and downtime   ABB introduces a new high-speed substation busbar protection system for utility and industrial power systems. The busbar protection application is based on the company's novel REF615 feeder protection relay with native support for the IEC 61850 standard “Communication networks and systems in substations” and its GOOSE services. This smart grid-enabled relay offers a platform to advance the performance, reliability and cost effectiveness of the power systems of tomorrow and beyond.  

The 2008 Millennium Technology Prize was presented to Professor Robert Langer today in Helsinki for developing innovative biomaterials for controlled drug release. The world’s largest technology prize is awarded by Technology Academy Finland for a technological innovation that significantly improves quality of human life and promotes sustainable development. President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen handed Professor Langer the prize of EUR 800,000 and ”Peak”, the prize trophy, at the Grand Award Ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.

Application-specific hoists and cranes are helping Sandvik Hard Materials to boost production efficiency at its plant in Epinouze, which produces a wide range of cemented-carbide tools and components for automotive, aerospace, paper and other industrial sectors. Konecranes recently upgraded the lifting systems at this plant, providing a total of 25 new cranes and hoists.

During autumn 2009 almost all waste and wastewater from the biggest private slaughterhouse in Norway will be treated in an integrated waste solution of a new kind that integrates biogas, composting and wastewater treatment plants. Only a small amount of risk class 1 and 2 waste must be treated elsewhere.

The finalists for the 2008 Millennium Technology Prize have been announced by the Technology Academy Finland. Those competing for the world’s largest technology prize are: Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys Professor, Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, UK “For his invention of DNA fingerprinting used in identification of criminal suspects and in paternity and immigration disputes. No other development in modern genetics has had such a profound impact worldwide on the lives of many millions of people.” Professor Robert Langer Institute Professor, MIT, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, USA “For his inventions and development of innovative biomaterials for controlled drug release and tissue regeneration that have saved and improved the lives of millions of people.” Dr. Andrew J. Viterbi President, Viterbi Group LLC, Professor Emeritus, University of Southern California, USA “For the invention of the Viterbi algorithm, the key building element in modern wireless and digital communications systems, touching lives of people everywhere.” Professor Emmanuel Desurvire Director, Physics Research Group, Thales Corporate Research & Technology, France Dr.Randy Giles Director, Optical Networks, Bell Laboratories, Alcatel-Lucent, New Jersey, USA Professor David N. Payne Director, Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, UK “For their outstanding contributions to telecommunications through the invention of the erbium-doped fibre amplifier (EDFA) which made possible the global high-capacity optical fibre network, serving as a backbone of the global information superhighway.”

“For his invention of DNA fingerprinting, used in the identification of criminal suspects and in paternity and immigration disputes, making him one of the most significant figures in modern genetics.”

“For the invention of the Viterbi algorithm, the key building element in modern wireless and digital communications systems, touching the lives of people everywhere."