The successful launch of new products on the ready-cooked food market requires packages to be better designed and more functional. Many consumer groups are attracted by multi-compartment ovenable packages, increased use of colours and different shapes and digital printing. A number of new packaging solutions enabling the range of ready-cooked and frozen products to be considerably expanded have been developed as a result of the joint development work between Huhtamaki Van Leer and Stora Enso.

Machinery and plant design involving compressed air-driven vacuum pumps can be greatly facilitated by the new P3010 vacuum pump, according to the vacuum technology company PIAB, which has introduced a range of pumps with an emphasis on modularity and efficiency.

Very low inhalation and exhalation resistance is one of the advantages that characterise a new full face protective mask, called the SR 200. The mask is light, offers a wide field of view and minimises the risk of contact allergies, according to the Swedish manufacturer, Sundström Safety. This mask is now being launched on several European markets.

It will now be quicker and more efficient for American manufacturers of corrugated board to apply tape directly in the corrugator. This follows from the release by the Swedish company AssiDomän of the Wellpack Taper, its successful tear tape applicator, onto the American market. The unveiling will take place at the industry exposition, SuperCorrExpo 2000, in Atlanta at the end of October.

· FAM Funds to increase exposure in Swedish market through new Government-backed pension scheme· FAM Sweden moves to larger premises to handle increasing business opportunities

Stora Enso's Baienfurt mill is the first European box board producer to gain accreditation by the German RWTÜV for the introduction of stringent risk assessment systems normally applied in the food industry.

When the new high-speed trains on the Arlanda line rush along at over 200 km/h, they get dusty and caked in insects. Cleaning them might seem easy, but the environmental requirements, the more-than-100-metre length of the trains and the operating voltage of 16,000 volts make it a challenge. Kambre AB, a company specialising in various means of cleaning vehicles, has found a solution that provides both better results and a cleaner environment.

The award for quality has been given to Stora Enso by IKEA. It relates to the production of the Swedish furniture group's main catalogue, said to be the world's largest printed matter. Around 110m copies are printed world wide.

The most modern facility in Europe for advanced surgical dressings has been inaugurated in Mikkeli (St. Michael), Finland. Behind this investment of about SEK 200 million and 100 newly created jobs is Mölnlycke Health Care of Sweden. Their leading edge technology in this branch is the patented Safetac line, silicon-coated surgical dressing products which have well-documented patient-friendly and healing characteristics.

The Swedish conveyor belt company Sicon Roulunds has just been awarded a special prize by the trade organisation SCEMMI in its "Scandinavian First Maintenance Service Award" competition.