Stora Enso, together with Scandinavian partners, has developed a board-based müsli cereal package that eliminates the need for an additional inside air-tight bag. It is a product concept that guarantees air-tight qualities for such packages. One of the first commercial applications for the new concept has been launched by BioDoc of Sweden for its Magiform Müsli range.

Sweden, with a historic tradition as the place for major biomedical innovations such as chromatography and electrophoresis, has been the birthplace of a number of world-leading companies. An important driving force has been the founding scientific research performed at Swedish universities, with Stockholm-based and Nobel Prize-related Karolinska Institutet at the forefront with its 300 professors, 900 other researchers and 2,000 students. On average, this institution alone sees a new and innovative spin-off biomedical company every second month. Which isn't too surprising considering the starting point of the annual 10,000 research projects and 4,000 scientific reports originating here.Equally broad hopes are now being placed on dynamic fields such as protein and stem cell research and miniaturisation within biotechnology. With this year's industrial line-up at Medica 2002 in Dusseldorf, Sweden wants to strengthen its image as a country of innovation and dynamic development. This venture will comprise 15 or so companies that will present their new products and their latest advances in development work. The aim is to create contacts and business opportunities, as well as to simulate strategic alliances and international collaborations."There's an unbroken dynamism and future faith in the Swedish biomedical and medicotechnical sector. Turnover among the sector's research companies - both small and medium-sized - has increased by 64% during the last three years, to about SEK 8 billion, at the same time as the number of employees has increased by 30%," says David Ernstsson, project manager for the overall state venture 'The Swedish Bioscience Programme', which also supports the Swedish Pavilion at Medica.The Swedish biotech industry is estimated to involve about 300 R&D companies, of which about 50 are specifically focused on biopharmaceutics. According to a recent report, international success has been achieved in particular among the relatively large number of companies that have invested in developing techniques and tools/equipment for improving working methods within the research sphere.

Sura Magnets, the leading Scandinavian manufacturer of polymer-bonded permanent magnets, is to strengthen its development resources and customer service. This is to be achieved by acquiring the competitor company Euromag Sweden, which has a very similar product line. Through this acquisition, Sura Magnets, which is well established within the automotive industry and medical sector in Germany, France and Switzerland, will gain increased market coverage in the U.K. and other locations.

SWE-DISH Satellite Systems - the world-leading supplier of mobile satellite communications equipment - has appointed Lars Jehrlander as new CEO. Mr. Jehrlander joins SWE-DISH Satellite Systems from the 1st of November.

Managing packaging can turn out to be a costly business for a company. The installation of a reusable packaging system often proves to be profitable in less than a year. Nevertheless, ineffectual management of the reusable packaging runs the risk of reducing investment calculations to nothing.Nefab Logistics, the Swedish packaging company, is today launching in Europe a new tracking system for reusable packaging - Track Your Pack.Track Your Pack allows companies to even further optimise management efficiency whilst at the same time reducing costs.

Laitosjalkine Oy, a Finnish company specialising in the manufacture of work shoes, has developed a new type of winter footwear that efficiently prevents accidents caused by slipping and falling. Each sole of the Laja Icego footwear incorporates a permanent anti-slip device that is easy to engage or disengage with the tip of the other shoe. The new footwear will be launched during winter 2002/2003.

The Swedish company Comtax has developed PC-based tax planning software that uses mathematical calculations and information about tax regulations in different countries to suggest the most suitable strategies for handling cross-border taxation.The software is aimed at multinational companies with subsidiaries in several countries, and at international tax consultants, lawyers, auditors and banks. 

Copper smelting operations at major Chilean plant, currently owned by a subsidiary of the oil company, Exxon, are able to run smoothly thanks to the use of Rammer hammers. The hammers, supplied by Sandvik Tamrock, prevent the Chilean furnaces becoming clogged with molten copper so halting operations.

Ormond Building Products Ltd has invested in PCE Engineering Oy's Acotec building technology for the production of extruded lightweight concrete wall panels. The company is trying to address the high demand for construction in Ireland with time and labour saving solutions.

Cramo is intensifying its strategic relationship with Caterpillar and introducing the worldwide 'Cat Rental Store' concept in the Group starting this autumn. The aim is to be able to satisfy the rapidly growing rental market's demands even more efficiently, with an expanded product range for the rental market and a higher level of additional services, according to Cramo's CEO. Cramo, which is already one of Europe's largest rental companies, is consequently becoming a key player in a pan-European trend. The agreement is not linked to any change in ownership.