ProcessIT: an important factor for the whole of Europe

ProcessIT Innovations Annual Report 2009

ProcessIT Innovations Annual Report 2009 shows that collaboration between basic industry, researchers, and IT companies has been reinforced in ProcessIT Innovations during 2009. This means that the results of research can more often be transferred to the region’s IT-companies to be converted into profitable products and services. 

Projects valued at almost SEK 100 million

Currently, there is almost SEK 100 million invested in various ProcessIT Innovations projects. Some 80 different companies and a similar number of researchers have taken part in direct co-operation, activities, and support for ProcessIT Innovation’s growth. But further financing is necessary, thinks Anders OE Johansson, CEO of ProcessIT. 

Remote-controlled driverless tracked loader developed by researchers

In ten minutes, the temperature in the cab of a tracked loader can rise by 70ºC when it is handling hot slag at a temperature of around a thousand degrees generated when remelting steel scrap at the Ovako steelworks in Smedjebacken. A remote-controlled driverless tracked loader has been tested in order to release drivers from having to work in such a hazardous environment. 

Electrotech works with researchers to create new simulation tool

In spring 2009, Electrotech installed antennae on the conveyors at the ore port of Narvik in Norway in order to follow the flow of pellets from LKAB’s process plant in Kiruna, Sweden. Now the company has gone on to train LKAB’s designers in the operation of a simulation tool that facilitates installations using the system. 

Corrvision provides a globally-unique way of controlling the flatness of corrugated cardboard

“Using our monitoring system, we can now for the first time in world history ensure automatic control of the flatness of corrugated cardboard inline in the corrugator,” says Christer Söremark, part-owner of Corrvision Technology, a company set up in partnership with ProcessIT Innovations. 

Mining company increases collaboration with ProcessIT

ProcessIT Innovations new mining industry programme, GRAM, will become a forum for projects run by ProcessIT around the mining industry. Not least, mining companies themselves have expressed a wish for a common programme to give greater collaboration and better co-ordination and dissemination of individual projects and preliminary studies relevant to the mining industry.
 

The border is no barrier

The efforts to enhance the process industry in northern part of Finland and Sweden have made the process industry, the SME:s and the researchers in the region come together.  

Unique collaboration in northern Europe

Thanks to funding from EU two highly technical projects are up and running in an interregional collaboration between northern Finland and Sweden. One is a unique solution for inspection of industrial oils. The other is a Vision System Platform for industrial applications. 

Using research to find new solutions for companies

Committed researchers who contribute to new practical solutions among the companies of the region – that is the vision of one of ProcessIT’s research managers, Professor Jonny Holmström. To fine-tune the work, he gets help Atlanta, USA, where one of his most successful colleagues in process innovation works. 

Creative environment will generate new optical measurement systems

There is a very great need for new optical measurement systems in Norrland industrial companies. ProcessIT Innovations is involved, and is investing money in a development laboratory, Adopticum, in Skellefteå. This is an initiative that will give the region an even stronger industrial base. 

Development work across frontiers

In Kemi, Finland, is Digipolis, a technology centre with a working method similar to that of ProcessIT Innovations. They work together to create new products and services for basic industry. 

ProcessIT day encourages new project ideas

ProcessIT Innovation’s annual information day, which was held this year on 11 March in Skellefteå, brought together around 80 researchers and representatives from basic industry and IT companies for a day of dialogue and discussions on joint projects.  

Brännströms objective is to make campanies grow

New Chairman Thomas Brännström sees a great future for Process IT Innovations. The objective is, within ten years, to move from being regarded as a subsidised region on the outskirts of the EU to become one of the EU’s successful regions. 

Two new ProcessIT projects receive funding of 14.5 MSEK

INTERREG IVA Nord approved two new ProcessIT projects on the 28th of January 2009. The projects (VSP – Vision Systems research Platform and Innovative e-Maintenance services for primary Industries and SMEs) are the result of many years of work between ProcessIT Innovations, Digipolis in Kemi, and their partners and total 14.5 MSEK with 7.3 MSEK earmarked for Luleå University of Technology (LTU).
 

Grant of SEK 21 million to project for innovation-driven growth

Project TUUDI (Growth Through University-Driven Innovation) will be able to implement and improve commercialisation opportunities in the region with a larger number of preliminary studies, requirement inventories, and R&D projects. 

EU finance for project to measure particles in oil

The aim of the project is to develop an on-line sensor to facilitate the measurement of the size, shape, and composition of particles in oil. The project is financed via the EU programme INTEREG IVA to a total of SEK 8 million, of which SEK 5 million is based in Sweden. 

Latest news

[100811] ProcessIT: an important factor for the whole of Europe

[091116] Projects valued at almost SEK 100 million

[091113] Electrotech works with researchers to create new simulation tool

[091112] Corrvision provides a globally-unique way of controlling the flatness of corrugated cardboard

[091110] Remote-controlled driverless tracked loader developed by researchers

[081017] Brännströms objective is to make campanies grow