Issue 6
Rigshospitalet
Denmark’s Medical SpecialistsAs the flagship hospital for the capital region of Denmark, Rigshospitalet will continue in its efforts to remain the preferred choice for patients in need of highly specialised treatmentWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Eddie ClintonRigshospitalet is perceived as a modern, patient-oriented and state-of-the-art facility, highly specialised in key medical areas. As Denmark’s leading hospital, it is known as the flagship for research and development, innovation and sustainability which are at the heart of the organisation.In close collaboration with other hospitals in the capital region, and with enterprise and knowledge institutions such as MD Anderson Cancer Centre and Copenhagen Science City, Rigshospitalet serves as a power centre for research in healthcare and medical science.Among the 10 best research hospitals in Europe, Rigshospitalet offers education and training programmes at a high level and holds the highest productivity rate among specialised hospitals on the continent. “Competent and dedicated employees who cooperate to provide the best quality for patients is just one of our visions and goals we uphold as part of our vision 2020,” said the hospitalAward-winning patient careBeing one of the region’s largest workplaces, with a good national and international image, Rigshospitalet attracts a wide range of employees and students from around the world, who contribute actively to developing the Copenhagen Science City North, while remaining the preferred choice for patients in need of exceptional specialised treatment.Divided into six treatment centres and two interdisciplinary centres, each centre has a number of clinics and departments, 12 of these key areas have been awarded The Global Excellence award including…
Eureka Pumps A/S
New Service Facility Targets Geographical ExpansionEureka’s safety-critical water pumps and generators provide an end-to-end solution for some of the world’s largest oil & gas playersWriter: Emily JarvisNorwegian pump supplier, Eureka Pumps, has been able to utilise its strong pull in the oil & gas industry to expand geographically in 2015, starting with a brand new service facility in Hammerfest, which opened in April.Supported by an eight-part ‘Decision Gate’, the Company ensures an end-to-end solution is in place to guide contractors through the planning and execution phases of any project, right up to the client take-over.With more than 35 years of experience in the oil & gas sector, Eureka Pumps is a market leader among companies operating on the Norwegian continental shelf. In addition to its head office in Oslo, the Company is able to guarantee timely delivery of safety-critical water pumps and generator sets through strategic placement of branch offices along the Norwegian coast; with additional offices in St. Johns, Houston, Busan, Kuala Lumpur and Perth to grow its international footprint.Proud to have already delivered more than 150 fire water pump systems to the offshore oil & gas industry, the Company is also responsible for the supply and maintenance of each device, and optional upgrading, modification, equipment testing, installation and commissioning services. Eureka Pumps represent well-recognised pump manufacturers in the Norwegian market and the surrounding areas. “In combination with the Eureka and the EPTEC ranges, we are a total pump supplier for the domestic market and cover all pump applications on upstream oil & gas installations,” the…
Starco Group
Managerial Changes Drive Long-Term Business StrategyRecent changes to senior management have dictated STARCO’s focus, in a move to further strengthen both the daily management of the company and its strategic future developmentWriter: Emily Jarvis Family-owned STARCO Group has evolved to become Europe’s largest supplier of tyres, tubes and wheels for both the aftermarket and OEMs.Upholding a passionate and trusting relationship with all of its suppliers, partners and customers, the Group has continued to grow from strength to strength as it enters its 53rd year of business.Working out of five manufacturing units, STARCO is a well-established brand in Europe that is gaining traction around the world as it implements a global strategy to accommodate further market growth in order to gain a significant footprint on the world map. “Our vision is to become the global market leader in special wheels,” the Company added.This year, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and majority shareholder for 25 years, Peer Ejlersgaard, handed over the executive responsibility for the STARCO Group to Richard Todd and Karsten Petersen. Ejlersgaard remains a working part of the senior team, becoming Chairman of the board. He will be joined by a new board of exceptionally-qualified directors in a move to further strengthen both the daily management of the company and its strategic development for the future. “Under the leadership of Peer Ejlersgaard, the board of directors will support and guide the new management and focus on the long-term business strategy of the company,” says the company website.With Todd as CEO and Karsten as Chief Financial Officer at the…
Fredrikstad Energi A/S
Always One Step AheadFredrikstad Energi has more than a century of experience to fall back on as it continues to evolve Norway’s position in powerWriter: Matthew Staff Fredrikstad Energi has been one of the leading lights in Norway’s energy evolution for more than a century and remains as driven as ever to capitalise on the latest trends and technological breakthroughs to develop both the business, and the wider country, to new levels of eco sustainability.The Norwegian power company operates out of Hvaler and Fredrikstad; the latter municipality claiming a 51 percent stake in the company alongside Fortum who own the remaining 49 percent. Since 1986, Fredrikstad Energi has stayed one step ahead of the sector under different names and guises, growing as a consequence of acquisitions and business ventures to culminate in being one of the most industry-significant businesses in Scandinavia.The business model which has proved so successful over the years now results in the Group owning companies within networks spread across several locations in the country. The three main divisions comprise Fredrikstad Energi itself, its distribution subsidiary, Nett and the recently acquired MAIK which has formed the crux of its recent developments.Complemented by a series of acquisitions of privatised power grid operators and power distribution companies including Energi 1, Røyken Energiverk, Askøy Energi, and Hvaler kommunale elverk, the Company is now in as strong a position as it has ever been, but can attribute the rise to prominence to a journey which began in the 1800s.“Fredrikstad Energi has a long and rich history that spans more…
Weiss A/S
Turning Scandinavia GreenWeiss A / S has been one of the continent’s leading pioneers in optimising renewable energies for the best part of a century, bringing the best in efficiency to Denmark and beyond.Writer: Matthew Staff Scandinavia’s leading manufacturer of incineration plants is adapting alongside continuous industry progression and innovation to ensure that it’s offering the very best turnkey energy solutions across an ever-expanding European footprint.Weiss A / S has built a vast amount of experience over the years in optimising companies’ eco status via renewable energy, by streamlining combustion and the usage of each client’s internal utilities; addressing pressing environmental concerns as a consequence.As EU regulations regarding green processes become more stringent on a seemingly annual basis, the pressure on manufacturing and construction enterprises to optimise this area of operations and to become as efficient as possible has led to a big influx in business for companies like Weiss, and with the Company able to leverage its own production facilities and R&D capabilities, it is well set to capitalise on the trend even more substantially in the future.“Weiss A / S is a green profile company, with longstanding experience in environmental efficiency and optimising combustion,” the business confirms. “We specialise in waste and biomass combustion solutions with our history dating back decades.“We deliver all over Europe and often enter into a close dialogue with customers already in the preliminary design phase, so that our long-standing experience finds solutions for the good of their company.”Turnkey solutionsWeiss develops energy and heating solutions across process steam, hot water and heat…
EBD’s Top 10 Places to Visit in Europe
Since 2009, European Best Destinations (EBD) - a European non-profit organisation – has instigated the most important competition in e-tourism. The competition merges together both the continent’s 10 most-visited destinations on the Eurostat database, and those voted in by the public.
Remaining Resilient in Today’s Oil & Gas Market
Global oil & gas companies must evolve their approach to portfolio management to improve return on capital (ROC) and remain resilient in today's increasingly challenging market, according to EY's Portfolio management in oil & gas: building and preserving optionality.The report, the third in EY's oil & gas capital projects series, highlights how the average ROC of the top 10 international oil companies (IOCs) has dropped by 50 percent in the last 10 years. Andy Brogan, EY's global oil & gas transaction advisory services leader, comments: “Over the last few months we've seen stakeholders demand even greater capital discipline amidst ongoing oil price volatility and geopolitical concerns. Companies have responded by divesting non-core assets and postponing riskier and uncertain investments. But active portfolio management alone can fail to improve returns. More than ever before, companies must marry portfolio management with flexible and adaptable operating and financial models.” Improving ROC depends on the speed at which companies can identify and respond to opportunities and threats. Companies that establish a portfolio with built-in flexibility, or optionality, will be better positioned for success. Optionality enhances companies' ability to manage risks and redeploy resources. It also enables companies to reconcile the sector's long-term investment horizon with sudden changes in the market. Brogan adds: “Moving forward, the world is going to be a more volatile and unpredictable place. Companies that have optionality can better manage their stakeholder's requirements and deliver better returns.” The report identifies a variety of approaches to build and preserve optionality given the long-term planning cycle inherent to much of the sector's activity. It…
Golder Associates Appoint New President and CEO
Golder Associates, the global consulting and engineering firm, announces today that it has appointed Dr. Hisham Mahmoud as its President and CEO. Dr. Mahmoud has been appointed to this role after an extensive global search over recent months. He will be based in Atlanta, Georgia. As a global, employee-owned organisation with over 50 years of experience, Golder Associates is driven by its purpose to engineer earth's development while preserving earth's integrity. Dr. Mahmoud will oversee the Company’s future ventures in consulting, design and construction services in its specialist areas of earth, environment and energy going forward. Dr. Mahmoud’s career spans some 27 years, the majority of which has been in diversified global engineering and construction companies. He joins from SNC-Lavalin where he was hired in 2013 as part of the new executive team. There he served in the newly-created role of President of the Infrastructure Group, which included the company’s Infrastructure Concession Investments (ICI), Engineering, Construction, and Operations & Maintenance Businesses. Upon announcing his departure, SNC-Lavalin commended Dr. Mahmoud publicly for his lasting, positive contribution to the company. He was credited with tackling very challenging parts of the business, creating an efficient structure and world-class team, and preparing the groundwork to help the company move forward and reach its goals. This included to the company’s pursuit of some of the largest infrastructure projects in its markets, highlighted by its recent successes. Dr. Mahmoud joined SNC-Lavalin from AMEC, where he last served as Group President, Growth Regions, responsible for the company’s Mining, Oil & Gas, Power, and Environment & Infrastructure business in the Middle…
Gemalto Boosts eGovernment Adoption With New Digital Solution
Digital security company, Gemalto, has announced Coesys mGov, an innovative new mobile strong digital authentication solution that enables people to access online government services using a combination of their contactless national eID card and NFC phone. As a result, it allows authorities to put in place Trusted National Mobile ID schemes. “The federation service provided by Coesys mGov means simplicity and a great user experience: all services can be accessed via just one single sign on authentication process,” said the CompanyCoesys mGov enables citizens to use their phones as an authentication and signature tool with an environment they can trust, opening the door to a rich array of eGov services. These range from social and health provision, such as family, employment or retirement, as well as driver’s license related services and health insurance benefits, to local public services and citizenship including online participation and e-voting with both security and privacy. Additionally, the product helps governments and public authorities to enhance their trusted digital schemes, and deploy a national Mobile ID scheme complementary to identity programmes. “Authorities can meet the needs of modern, digitally connected societies and realise dramatic increases in the uptake of eGov services. “It is also flexible enough to fit perfectly with a government’s existing digital identity and security strategy. For example, the level of authentication can be adapted according to the nature of online services being accessed,” detailed Gemalto in a press release. To further simplify the user experience, when used in conjunction with Gemalto’s LinqUs Mobile ID, Coesys mGov supports the creation of derived secure…
Bernard Matthews’ ‘big green plan’ on course for 2020 target
Bernard Matthews (BM) has broken ground on the next phase of its large-scale carbon cutting exercise which will see 50 percent generation on each of 11 sites via solar energy, cutting the company’s carbon footprint by more than 1,200 tonnes a year.The largest turkey producer in the UK is aiming to have reduced its carbon footprint to zero by 2020; a goal it hopes to achieve in part with the installation of 2.5MW of solar PV across 11 farms in Norfolk on the east coast of the country. The key driver in the decision was ensuring a greener future for the company, but the greatly reduced running costs are a welcome bonus according to Stuart Read, the company’s Procurement Category Manager. He has revealed that BM has opted for solar “as a safe, non-contentious, low maintenance and low intrusion option that suits our specific energy needs. We will benefit from lower operating costs for years to come”.“We are hoping to reduce our carbon footprint by 100 percent by 2020. This project is going a long way to meeting that target”, Read continued.RenEnergy has been contracted to finance, design, supply and install 19 roof and ground mounted arrays, consisting of 10,000 PV panels paired with 110 inverters, generating an estimated 2.3 million kWh of energy a year.“The technical challenges we have encountered are no different than any number of agricultural projects we have completed in the past, but operationally working around the critical timetables of numerous active poultry farms has been tough,” explained Damian Baker, Managing Director…
Engineering Possibilities versus Practical Implementation: Onsite power and Distributed Energy
Roundtable participants: David Porter, Senior Advisor to the Global Energy team, NavigantSimon Hobday, Energy Partner, Osborne ClarkeJacob Klimstra, Energy and Engine Consultant, Jacob Klimstra Consultancy Ulla Pettersson, Managing Consultant and Founder, E for Energy Management 1. Who have been the early adopters of distributed generation technologies, and in what scenarios does it prove an attractive option? Simon Hobday: Generally speaking across Europe, power has been generated through large, centralised plants and distributed through a national or regional grid. This system worked very well where generation was pretty stable, controllable, and predictable. As there has been more focus on the environmental effect of carbon, and growing support for renewable energy from solar and wind which is inherently intermittent, the way that the power networks physically behave and the economics of plant generation has radically altered. The impact of this is that in places like Germany, many fossil fuel plants have been mothballed – even new CCGT – because their operation is no longer economically viable. In contrast, smaller localised plants have grown significantly, driven by renewable subsidy, such as combining the use of heat and power; or greater use of resources, such as waste for energy plants.Ulla Pettersson: Distributed energy generation is most attractive in places where it is expensive to connect to a grid. David Porter: This sector is expected to expand significantly in coming years. Its recent growth is due to public policy support and renewable energy investment, notably in photovoltaics and wind power.Jacob Klimstra: Denmark was an early adopter of these new technologies, and the country has…
Verizon to Purchase AOL for $4.4 Billion
Taking another significant step in building digital and video platforms to drive future growth, Verizon Communications has announced the signing of an agreement to purchase AOL Inc. for $50 per share - an estimated total value of approximately $4.4 billion. Verizon’s acquisition further drives its LTE wireless video and OTT (over-the-top video) strategy. The agreement will also support and connect to Verizon’s IoT (Internet of Things) platforms, creating a growth platform from wireless to IoT for consumers and businesses. AOL is a leader in the digital content and advertising platforms space, and the combination of Verizon and AOL creates a scaled, mobile-first platform offering directly targeted at what eMarketer estimates is a nearly $600 billion global advertising industry. AOL’s key assets include its subscription business; its premium portfolio of global content brands, including The Huffington Post, TechCrunch, Engadget, MAKERS and AOL.com, as well as its millennial-focused OTT, Emmy-nominated original video content; and its programmatic advertising platforms. Lowell McAdam, Verizon chairman and CEO, said: “Verizon’s vision is to provide customers with a premium digital experience based on a global multi-screen network platform. This acquisition supports our strategy to provide a cross-screen connection for consumers, creators and advertisers to deliver that premium customer experience.” He added: “AOL has once again become a digital trailblazer, and we are excited at the prospect of charting a new course together in the digitally connected world. At Verizon, we’ve been strategically investing in emerging technology, including Verizon Digital Media Services and OTT that taps into the market shift to digital content and advertising. AOL’s advertising model aligns…
Kaspersky Lab Announces Opening of First European Research Centre
Cyberattacks are one of the most likely high-impact threats facing both businesses and consumers in the modern world. Every day, billions of people access and share information online. Data moves constantly among businesses, employees, customers and suppliers, all over the world, but as we become increasingly more connected, access to real-time threat intelligence has become imperative. Kaspersky Lab research experts now analyse over 325,000 new malware files each day, an increase of 10,000 per day from 2014. To help customers and partners identify, defend against and eradicate these emerging threats, Kaspersky Lab has announced the opening of its first European Research Centre in London, UK. Based within the company's European Headquarters in Paddington, the research centre will provide both customers and partners with actionable and unique insight from Kaspersky Lab experts, both in the UK and Europe. The opening of the first research centre within Europe further strengthens Kaspersky Lab's fast-growing international footprint, adding to the company's existing network of research hubs in Russia, USA, and China. Strategically positioned at the heart of the UK's business capital, the launch of the new centre ensures that the cybercrime landscape is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, keeping customers informed of the latest threats as early as possible. The new research centre will be a UK home to those on the frontline of the ongoing battle against cyberthreats, including the UK members of Kaspersky Lab's Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT), as well as the wider anti-malware team. Researchers at the European centre will work closely with colleagues in other Kaspersky Lab hubs across…
India Innovation and Industry 4.0 Vision Take Centre Stage at HANNOVER MESSE 2015
After five action-packed days of industrial innovation, dynamic networking and lead generation, HANNOVER MESSE 2015 - held on the 13-17 April - closed after being praised by rave reviews from exhibitors and visitors.The world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology soared to new heights this year, due in part to the “Integrated Industry - Join the Network” keynote theme which struck an inspirational note among exhibitors and attendees from industry, business and government.The show placed major emphasis on the digitisation of manufacturing as well as on human-machine collaboration, innovative subcontracting solutions and intelligent energy systems, all of which are hot topics in the industry. More than 220,000 trade visitors - 70,000 of whom came from outside Germany - found the event invaluable to catch up on the latest technologies and make key investment decisions. “HANNOVER MESSE 2015 has made it unmistakably clear: Industry 4.0 has arrived, and is sweeping every sector of industry. Digital integration is becoming a key aspect of modern manufacturing, and this trend is set to continue at a rapid pace,” commented Dr. Jochen Köckler, member of the Managing Board at Deutsche Messe. “Throughout the course of the event, some 6,500 companies from 70 countries have showcased technologies for tomorrow’s production plants and energy systems. And India has made a real splash as this year’s Partner Country, creating a truly impressive showcase to promote its ‘Make in India’ campaign,” added Köckler. Smart factoriesUnder the motto of ‘Integrated Industry - Join the Network’, HANNOVER MESSE 2015 gave tangible shape to the vision of the ‘intelligent factory’. In…
Advanced Water Purifier is First of its Kind
LifeStraw® Mission is a high-volume gravity-powered water purifier that removes viruses in addition to bacteria and protozoa to make backcountry water safe to drink. The compact, lightweight water purifier incorporates award-winning LifeStraw® technology to transform microbiologically contaminated water into safe water. It is easy to use and maintain, making it ideal for group camping trips, group hikes and expeditions. Backcountry water purified by LifeStraw® Mission can be saved in a canteen or bottle for drinking or used for cooking and other campsite activities. The durable water purifier removes 99.999 percent of viruses including Rotavirus and Hepatitis A. Additionally, LifeStraw® Mission removes 99.9999 percent of bacteria (E.coli, etc.) and 99.99 percent of protozoa (Giardia, Cryptosporidium) and it reduces turbidity (muddiness) up to 0.02 microns. With this comprehensive level of purification, LifeStraw® Mission eliminates the need for iodine or chlorine tablets to purify water and provides the additional protection of virus removal. LifeStraw® Mission is made of a durable waterproof nylon roll bag with an integrated ultrafiltration membrane purifier. It meets the highest quality standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organisation, and will purify up to 18,000 litres or 4,755 gallons of water throughout its long lifetime. Consumers can choose from a 5-litre (1.3 gallon) capacity LifeStraw® Mission purifier or a 12-litre (3.2 gallon) capacity version. With a dry weight of 13 and 15 ounces (5 and 12 litre size, respectively), these purifiers can be rolled up for easy storage in any type of backpack. LifeStraw® Mission is easy to use and maintain. Users simply fill…
Software Solutions Keep Continental On Track
Continental AG is one of the most renowned manufacturers in the global automotive industry with a worldwide presence devoted to adhering to the last industry trends and developments.Complementing its obligation and necessity to keep in line with sector regulations, however, exists a similarly pivotal expectation to actually veer ahead of the industry curve, and to that end, Europe Outlook spoke to the Group’s Head of Automotive Electronics and Advanced Development, Christian Senger about the tyre producer’s latest innovations, commitment to eco-progression and forecasts for the future of the sector on a global scale.Europe Outlook (EO): Firstly, due to the demographic shifts on a global scale where populations and wealth are rising dramatically in some areas but dropping in others, how does Continental AG ensure that it keeps on top of regional trends? Christian Senger (CS): With more than 200,000 colleagues working all around the globe in 53 countries, we have a very good connection in our various target markets. “In the market for the market” is not only a marketing phrase.We are developing our products in Shanghai, Singapore, Auburn Hills, Toulouse, Timişoara, Regensburg, Frankfurt, Hanover, Bangalore, and many other locations. We are also in close contact with our broad range of customers.We are holding top-level management meetings together with our global customers to exchange technology roadmaps and align our development programmes. With local experts in the regions, there is a continuous exchange, combined with knowhow on the basis of our own market studies, such as the Continental Mobility Study.EO: Similarly, in regards to varying economies, how…
Smart Grid Technologies the way Forward in Europe, Finds Frost & Sullivan
Environmental regulations, high carbon emissions, and the need for energy quality and efficiency are expected to boost the demand for smart grids in Europe. Being a front-runner in the enforcement of environmental policies, the region is likely to see utilities increasingly install new smart grids and consumers upgrade existing systems to leverage demand response options. These allow consumers to reduce or shift their electricity usage from peak periods to lower costs and help electric system operators to balance supply and demand.New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Revisiting the European Smart Grid Demand Response (DR) Market, finds that investment activity will grow in the market with the need to replace ageing electric utility infrastructure, which is estimated to be between 70 and 80 years old in most of Europe. The major investors in smart grid projects are IT and networking companies, transmission system operators, manufacturers/contractors, utilities and energy companies, distribution system operators as well as universities, research centres and consultants.“Smart grid technologies provide an excellent option for investors to maximise the use of existing infrastructure through better monitoring and management solutions, while strategically deploying new infrastructure on a sheer requirement basis,” said Frost & Sullivan Industrial Automation & Process Control Industry AnalystDeepak Achuthashankar.Eventually, numerous aggregators will emerge in the European smart grid market due to the need to incentivise DR programmes. In fact, the varying degrees of complexity observed in every European nation's regulatory framework will give rise to a pool of aggregators specific to each country.“Aggregators will act as an intermediary between utilities and end users, playing a balancing act to…