Reductions in costs and the environmental burden are the cornerstones of MicroLiners, Stora Gruvön's new raw material for the packaging industry. Amongother things, this means the product has low grammage, reducing packaging weight,and is optimised. Characteristics suchas printability and strength are important overall cost factors. "We have achieved this by combiningour own competence and close co-operation with our clients, machinerymanufacturers and others," says Johan Seevers, Sales Director. Suitable application areas for the new product include for example food productand gift packaging, and display stands.

According to Swedish company Vänerply, plywood in large sheets brings functional and financial benefits compared with the usual, smaller standard formats. By way of example they mention flexibility, efficient handling, greater strength, lower energy losses and reduced or zero material wastage. This is of particular interest when using large components in the building industry, for roofs, walls and floors, but also for the production of export packaging. The company claims to be the only one in the world producing structural-grade plywood of spruce in a press which allows lengths of up until 12.5 metres.

More and more stores request that their coffee orders be shipped with four different roasts on one pallet. In order to meet this demand Löfbergs Lila (the second largest roasting house in Sweden, with an annual production of more than 15,000 metric tons) have installed a robot in its packaging department. The robot has made it possible to rapidly palletize different types of coffee according to customer orders. Additional benefits have been an improved working environment and a reduction in the amount of investment tied up in storage.

As the characteristics of electronic equipment continue to evolve towardhigher current requirements, design engineers are facing power handling issues similar to those in the electrical industry.Anderson Power Products, a U. S. company which has been manufacturing electrical connectors for over 100 years, is responding to this need with an expanding line of products for use in electronic equipment. The newest offering is a 60-amp genderless power connector for normal and hot-plug use.

RFSU Rehab is launching Beauty, a range of body-care products developed specially for functionally impaired people and others who have difficulty reaching. The aids are simple to use and attractively designed.

For Swedish Match, taking part in the Whitbread Round the World Race is more than a just a yacht race.  At the turn of the year the group's five companies came together under the Swedish Match name. At the same time as the name change a new organization was introduced. Taking part in the Whitbread race means using this global sporting event to familiarise all employees world-wide with the new organization and to increase awareness of the new company.

Contracts worth more than US $4m have been won by Channelmatic/LIMT for its digital television automation products. The orders reflect the growing demand by broadcasters for the ability to provide local advertising within national and regional programming schedules. 

Aspiring young professionals from South East Asian commerce and industry can boost their career prospects by applying for the 1998 Junior Executive Scholarship Programme.  Established in 1995 by Finland’s President, Martti Ahtisaari, the Programme enables scholarship holders from Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia to spend up to six months in a Finnish host company learning about new technology through study and work experience. With next year’s programme due to begin in April 1998, all applications should be received no later than 17 October 1997.

Robotics systems can offer a flexible and cost-effective solution to the complex palletising demands within the consumer goods industry.  ABB Flexible Automation has launched a palletising package that allows tailored solutions which keep pace with the ever changing demands of this sector.