Walki Wisa,the reel packaging producer within the UPM-Kymmene group, is taking a leap in protective reel wrap technology by building its widest-ever production line.

Uvex Safety, a leading worldwide supplier of protective eyewear, has introduced a new anti-fog lens coating called uvextreme AF. The company reports that this highly effective coating is the first to combine the properties of both hydrophilic (water absorbing) and hydrophobic (water spreading) technologies.

A variable speed AC microdrive with the functions and communication facilities comparable to larger drives has been launched by ABB. Covering 0.37kW to 2.2kW, 200V to 480V, in single and three phase, the ACS 140 offers Modbus, serial communications, two relay outputs and two analogue inputs. Features include built-in PID control, flying start on a spinning load, seven application macros for fast programming and configuration and dynamic braking for accurate stopping.

Monitor manufacturer Nokia Display Products is just launching the 500Xa, a 15" flat monitor. The screen has an image area of 15.1 ", which is comparable with the active image area of a conventional 17" screen.

Monitor manufacturer Nokia Display Products is launching the 400Xa, another screen using S-TFT LCD technology. The monitor is a follow-up to the 300Xa, which was launched last autumn. The 400Xa has a larger 14.1 " image area but the same physical size as the 300Xa.

A universal construction system integrated in one compact production line. This is the concept behindAcotec Combi, automated machinery for continuous prefabrication of concretewall modules and slabs. The equipment, from Acotec Ltd. in Finland, can be converted within less than 90 minutes to the production of all concrete elements necessary to build a house frame. Only three to four men are required to operate the machinery which has a maximum capacity of 80 m2 concrete elements per hour.

Falling prices and larger screen sizes mean the market for LCD screens is growing. Today it accounts for five per cent of the world display screen market. According to Stanford Resources, that market share will increase by ten per cent over the next four years. Nokia Display Products, which manufactures both CRT and LCD screens, has compared these two types of screen.