Today, SwanWhite is the most popular MF-type kraft paper used by European bag manufacturers. This has recently been verified in delivery statistics of the business branch organisation Eurokraft. "Our white kraft paper has succeeded in gaining a market share of 40 percent for machine finished (MF) paper qualities," says product manager Henrik Kass at the Wisapaper paper mill in Pietarsaari, Finland.

At Medica 2000 in Düsseldorf, exhibition visitors will be able to witness the launch of a new wireless level alarm that discreetly warns colostomy pouch wearers when it is time to empty or replace their stoma pouches. Swedish medical technology company Crafcare AB, developer of the "Living Free" alarm system, reports that persons who have undergone stomal surgery using the system enjoy greater confidence and increased freedom.

Bakery products are a new area for ovenable board. The low grammages of ovenable boards has been shown to be especially suitable for packing and heating semi-cooked bakery products. The Swedish company Pågen AB has launched a bun pack which utilises Stora Enso's Ensoven board.

A range of reusable plastic transport packaging now being launched can be tailor-made to suit the user. Its thin walls increase the available internal volume, and the packaging can be folded flat using hinges. According to the Swedish manufacturer Nefab RePak AB the design reduces in size by 80% when collapsed, resulting in decreased return costs. In combination with the increased internal volume and greater load capacity, this will provide better overall economy than other plastic-based packaging alternatives.A pallet collar also made of plastic is being launched at the same time, this being a hygienic material that neither generates dust nor other particles. These products are thus suitable for environments with high standards of cleanliness.

Two years ago, Finnish company Manner Castors launched the trolley castor Tango, which proved to be a market success. Now this castor family has been extended by a little brother, diameter 100 mm, and an antistatic castor alternative. As for its big brother, which has an 125 mm diameter, the new castor is specifically designed for trolleys used in rehabilitation centres, institutional kitchens and public premises, for example. Manufactured from glass fibre reinforced nylon, the castor is characterised by low rolling friction, good corrosion resistance, silent running, and an attractive design.

Using the dietary fibre Fibrex in bread and other baked goods has many benefits. This view from the company behind the fibre, Danisco Sugar AB, is now supported by the German food technology institute BILB (the Bremerhaven Institute of Food Technology and Bioprocessing) which confirms the positive influence of Fibrex in a new report after extensive testing in frozen doughs. According to the study, dough and bread tolerate freezing much better with the addition of Fibrex.

Can butter be packed in anything other than aluminium laminated paper or a plastic tub? The supermarket chain Carrefour has turned its board-based butter tub into a successful product. The design of the board-based container and the consumer-friendly packaging concept are the result of years of product development work.

Swedish camera manufacturer Victor Hasselblad AB today announced at Photokina 2000 that they have combined efforts with Silicon Valley-based Foveon, Inc. to create the Hasselblad DFinity, a digital camera developed through the cooperation of two companies who are leaders in their fields. The new camera will be the embodiment of Hasselblad's tradition of developing highest image quality camera solutions for the professionals with the ability of Foveon to develop unique image capture technology.

Global telecom and broadband operators will be given new business opportunities by offering customers IP-based extended services such as Video-on-Demand, e-commerce, on-line gambling, etc. The Kreatel broadband service gateway called Tornado/K5 is currently undergoing practical tests and will be ready for shipping during the fourth quarter.