AkzoNobel's Specialty Chemicals business has completed the expansion of a Chemical Island in Brazil to support a major project for Brazilian forestry company Fibria. The world's leading producer of eucalyptus pulp from planted forests, Fibria has invested $2.2 billion to more than double pulp capacity at its mill in Três Lagoas to 3.25 million tons per year.

The expansion of the Chemical Island (a concept developed by AkzoNobel) includes the installation of a second chlorine dioxide plant, as well as increased space for storage and logistics. The Chemical Island concept provides pulp mill customers with a sustainable and cost-effective solution

for the production and supply of bleaching chemicals as well as services for other chemical processes.

"We are a dedicated partner with Fibria and have now supplied five of their six chlorine dioxide units, including the two at Três Lagoas," explains Antonio Carlos Francisco, General Manager of Bleaching Chemicals South America for AkzoNobel's Pulp and Performance Chemicals business.

"The close proximity to our customer provides important sustainability benefits by reducing transportation, and we also reduce our carbon footprint by operating the Chemical Island with 100% bio-energy from biomass that derives from the pulp mill."

The new production line in Três Lagoas (Mato Grosso do Sul state) is now the largest single pulp line in the world and strengthens Fibria's leading market position.  The new Chemical Island is also the largest of the four being operated by AkzoNobel to serve the Brazilian pulp industry.

"We are proud to have a well-established and sustainable footprint for the pulp industry in Brazil," says Niek Stapel, Managing Director of AkzoNobel's Pulp and Performance Chemicals business. "It emphasizes our long-term strategic commitment to growing with our customers and also to this increasingly important market."

Click here for the video about Chemical Islands.

About AkzoNobel

AkzoNobel creates everyday essentials to make people's lives more liveable and inspiring. As a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals, we supply essential ingredients, essential protection and essential color to industries and consumers worldwide. Backed by a pioneering heritage, our innovative products and sustainable technologies are designed to meet the growing demands of our fast-changing planet, while making life easier. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we have approximately 46,000 people in around 80 countries, while our portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International, Interpon and Eka. Consistently ranked as a leader in sustainability, we are dedicated to energizing cities and communities while creating a protected, colorful world where life is improved by what we do. 

About Fibria

The world leader in eucalyptus pulp production, Fibria strives to meet - in a sustainable manner - the growing global demand for products from planted forests. With annual pulp production capacity of 7.25 million tons, the company has industrial units located in Aracruz (Espírito Santo state), Jacareí (São Paulo state) and Três Lagoas (Mato Grosso do Sul state), as well as in Eunápolis (Bahia state), where it operates Veracel in a joint operation with Stora Enso. Fibria has 1,056,000 hectares of forests, which include 633,000 hectares of planted forests, 364,000 hectares earmarked for environmental preservation and conservation, and 59,000 hectares allocated for other uses. The pulp produced by Fibria is exported to more than 35 countries and is the raw material for educational, health, hygiene and cleaning products. For more information please visit www.fibria.com

At the 6th edition of this event, the company was awarded for its outstanding commitment to improve paper recycling technology

The Natural project has enabled Lucart to receive an important European award. For the innovative nature of its project and for the challenges faced by the Group in implementing it, the company was chosen as the winner by a committee of excellence: Lisa Kretschmann, Managing Director of the European Federation of Envelope Manufacturers, Simona Bonafè, Italian Member of the European Parliament, Inés Ayala Sender, Spanish Member of the European Parliament, Ferran Rosa, Policy Officer at Zero Waste Europe, and Rudi Bressa, environmental journalist.

The project that Lucart has been developing in partnership with Tetra Pak® since 2010 has introduced a complete circular economy model for paper, thanks to an innovative technology that separates the cellulose fibres in beverage cartons from polyethylene and aluminium parts, without the use of substances that are harmful to humans or the environment. In this way, two new high-quality raw materials are produced. Fiberpack®, the paper used for the hygiene products in Lucart's Natural lines, is obtained from cellulose fibres. The company has also obtained a material called AL.PE.® from polyethylene and aluminium. This raw material is used to produce innovative systems for the dispensing of tissue products but also for pallets, mooring poles in Venice and floating platforms for wheelchair access and other commonly used items, which are all recycled and recyclable when they reach the end of their life cycle.

Lucart has invested approximately 10 million euros in resources and in the development of two of the Group’s plants – in Diecimo, in the province of Lucca, and in Laval sur Vologne, France – to develop industrial systems that are suitable for the treatment of Tetra Pak® beverage cartons while maintaining an ongoing dialogue with all relevant stakeholders.

“It was truly a great pleasure for us to have received this award at the European Parliament,” Tommaso De Luca, Lucart's Communications Manager, commented. “The Fiberpack® project best represents the two core values of our company: sustainability and innovation. In the last few years, we have worked extremely hard and we will continue to do so in view of the increasingly stringent European environmental requirements, in order to offer solutions and projects that are respectful of the environment and of people's well-being,” De Luca concluded. “Our circular business model involves citizens as product users, but also as promoters of good practices through separate waste collection. Hopefully, this award will be a good omen for the important decisions that must be taken at European level to facilitate the transition to a Circular Economy.”

Any future projects? Lucart will continue to promote a transparent, practical and viable circular economy model in Europe. Thanks to the Fiberpack® project, Lucart can now offer consumers a recycled paper product, which is carried on a recycled pallet and used through a recycled plastic dispenser, obtained by recycling the various components of beverage cartons. This product development model is in line with circular economy principles, starting with waste management through proper disposal. Waste is then sent for treatment to be re-processed into secondary raw materials, ready to be reused and placed on the market.

Lucart's commitment, which resulted in this prestigious award, is quantifiable and measurable in terms of environmental performance.

From 2013 to 2016, Lucart has contributed to achieving great results:

• more than 2.8 billion 1-litre beverage cartons have been recycled, which, if lined up one after the other, would cover a distance equal to the circumvention of the Earth 16 times over
• more than 1.2 million trees have been saved thanks to this initiative, equal to a surface area of more than 4,200 football fields
• more than 73,000 tonnes of CO2 have been avoided, equal to the emissions produced by more than 578,000 Rome-Milan trips by car

Lucart 
Lucart, a multinational Italian industrial group founded in 1953 by the initiative of Pasquini’s family, is leader in Europe of mono-glazed paper, tissue products (paper articles intended for daily consumption, such as toilet paper, kitchen paper, napkins, tablecloths, handkerchiefs, etc.) and airlaid products. The company's production activities are distributed over 3 Business Units (Business to Business, Away from Home and Consumer) operating in the development and sales of various products with distinctive brands such as Tenderly, Tutto, Grazie Natural and Smile (Consumer area), Lucart Professional, Tenderly Professional, Fato and Velo (Away from Home area). Lucart's production capacity is more than 300,000 tons of paper/year, split over 10 continuous machines and 58 converting lines. The consolidated turnover is equal to about € 400 million, with a total workforce of 1,300 employees, 7 production plants (5 in Italy, 1 in France and 1 in Hungary). For further information, please visit the website: www.lucartgroup.com

Appleton Coated LLC, a manufacturer of coated, uncoated, and specialty papers, as well as containerboard medium, liner, white top and coated white top has been sold to Industrial Assets Corp., a California-based corporation specializing in the acquisition and subsequent resale and or leasing of distressed manufacturing companies in their entirety. IA Corp., is now seeking to sell or lease the facilities and equipment to a single buyer or co-operators. Appleton produced over $300M in annual sales and has recently entered the brown paper and coated board marketplace.

Steven Mattes, CEO of Industrial Assets Corp., states the site has over a billion USD of investment capital put into the infrastructure and equipment at the site. The workforce is determined to keep the mill in operation with a high level of technical knowledge and work ethic. Industrial Assets and its partner, Maynards Industries, are uniquely suited to find the perfect strategic buyer, most likely in the growing packaging grade sector. This mill’s infrastructure is very desirable, featuring a 50 MW Cogeneration system, which will provide low cost energy, the site includes rail service, all permits in place for an immediate restart for a domestic or foreign buyer.  This 55-acre site with 1.2 million sq. ft. is ideal for running containerboard grades. The (3) paper machines have trim widths ideal to serve the corrugator converters with a customer base ready to enter into production output agreements.  The Jagenberg off-machine coater laminator provides the distinct advantage to produce linerboard to the growing demand of the high end graphics segment of commodity packaging. 

Taso Sofikitis, CEO/President of Maynards “We have a combined ability to provide direct financing and leasing program for all size companies to take advantage of this very unique opportunity.“ 

“We are pleased that the sale process has concluded and we have a clear direction,” said Doug Osterberg, President and CEO of Appleton Coated LLC.  “We are working closely with Industrial Assets and their partners to secure a strategic buyer or co operators for this mill and to reemploy as many people in Combined Locks as possible, as we have for almost 130 years.” 

Olle Dahlin, Managing Director of Rottneros Mill and member of Group Management for Rottneros AB, is leaving his position. Olle will stay and assist with the handover until 30 November, at the longest.

We thank Olle for his years at Rottneros AB and his contribution to Rottneros Mill. The mill has undergone a substantial modernization under Olle’s leadership and is today well positioned for the future.

The recruitment process for his successor starts immediately. During this process, Lennart Eberleh will be acting Managing Director for Rottneros Mill.

For further information, please contact:
Lennart Eberleh, President and CEO Rottneros AB, +46 270 622 65

DS Smith Plc (the Group) is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement to acquire EcoPack and EcoPaper, (collectively “the Business”) for an enterprise value of circa €208 million.

The Business is a leading integrated packaging and paper group in Romania; family owned for many years. It will significantly enhance our capacity to serve customers in this high growth region as well as supporting our wider substantial Eastern European presence. The Business includes both high quality packaging assets as well as a new paper machine, built in 2017, that specialises in high quality, light-weight paper, which is particularly well-suited to supporting our performance packaging solutions.

The Business has grown strongly over many years and is primarily focused on serving the local FMCG market. It is very complementary to our customer and asset base providing an excellent opportunity for further growth as well as significant cost synergies.

The acquisition consideration and repayment of debt, together totalling €208 million, will be satisfied from existing cash and debt facilities, and from €35 million of DS Smith shares to be issued to the vendor. The acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing immediately, is consistent with the Group’s medium term financial targets and equates to a post synergy multiple of c. 5 – 6x EBITDA. Completion is expected within our third fiscal quarter, following Romanian Competition Authority approval and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

http://www.dssmith.com

Exhibitors and vistors discovered valuable business prospects through themed zones and dedicated areas

Seminars and expert dialogue unveiled the development trends of stationery retail and cultural products

The latest edition of Paperworld China ended on a bright note this year, with 23,368 visitors (2016: 22,932) from around the world gathering at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in China. The top 10 visiting countries and regions were Japan, the US, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, India, Germany, France, Thailand and the UK. From 21 – 23 September, the fair hosted 548 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions and showcased the most comprehensive product portfolio ranging from office supplies, stationery, hobby and craft products, as well as cultural products with oriental features.

Commenting on the fair, Ms Judy Cheung, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd, said: “The 2017 fair has achieved unanimous praise from exhibitors and visitors for its business effectiveness and comprehensiveness. Our various themed zones and dedicated areas were especially popular throughout the three day fair, and draw significant amount of visitors. These special areas, including Small yet Beautiful, Oriental Sense, Creative Pavilion and the debuting Shanghai Journal Show, not only facilitate effective sourcing, but also reveal the latest trends of each sector.”

“Small yet Beautiful” exposed the changing trends of stationery retail industry

“Small yet Beautiful” was a mock retail shop and featured over 100 global leading brands such as 3M, Comix, Mind Wave, Pilot, Uni and more. The area showcased a whole range of products such as stationery, gift and lifestyle products. It aimed to present the most effective business model and product display that help stationery retailers to draw more customers. During the course of the fair, the area was consistently packed with visitors.

Japanese brand Mind Wave exhibited at Paperworld China for the first time. Mr Cheng Chun Xiao, Manager of Mind Wave (Official Agent in China) said: “The setup of Small yet Beautiful is ingenious and has been a big success. Many visitors saw our products from the showcase and visited our booth to further discuss cooperation opportunities with us.” Mind Wave manufactures and sells journals, stickers and other stationery products.

Mr Zhang Chao Yong is the purchasing manager from Da Qing Zhi Sheng Stationery Office Equipment Co Ltd. He also shared: “The visit to Small yet Beautiful was eye-opening. We are in the retailing business and it is important for us to evolve with the market trends. I learnt a lot from the showcase such as the most popular product design and display that I can apply in our business.”

Another special highlight of Paperworld China was the Hong Kong Graphic Arts Pavilion, which displayed innovate printing arts and products. Mr Graham Yung, Project Officer and Management Consultant at Hong Kong Productivity Council, said: “We would like to show to our target customers that Hong Kong printing arts are not only traditional printings, we incorporate innovative or eco-friendly elements to add value to the products. The show brought serious buyers to our pavilion exhibitors who are exactly looking for high-end print products and premiums. ”

The Shanghai Journal Show, a special area that converged a strong number of designers and outstanding designed products such as journals, stickers and tapes, also gained tremendous success this year. The event opened on the last day of the fair and draw numerous buyers, some of which queued up whole night to wait for its opening.

Mr Zhou Rong Tang visited the event to purchase stickers in floral and vintage patterns for his personal journals. He noted: “I found the products here very beautiful and crafty and I hope to see a larger scale next year. I think journals are becoming more popular in China and spreading across different generations. ”

Oriental Sense promoted cultural designed products

As an integral part of Paperworld China, this year’s Oriental Sense Zone converged nearly 70 renowned museums, emerging designers, design brands and quality manufacturers. Together, they displayed a whole range of products that combined with oriental elements or traditional craftsmanship, such as a notebook that highlighted the beauty of “Hanzi” (written Chinese characters), and a scarf that used traditional ink painting patterns, for example.

For the 2017 edition, in cooperation with the Nanjing Museum Administration, fair organisers launched a 2017-2018 cultural products development programme, and invited around 100 emerging designers to create their own cultural products inspired by Nanjing's famed "Porcelain Tower".

Ms He Xiang, Director of Culture development Department at the Nanjing Museum Administration, said: “The programme gathered so many talented designers and their creations are extraordinary. Over the last three years cooperating with Messe Frankfurt, I’ve witnessed that the product quality and the business results are improving, and we will continue this partnership.”

Ms Li Yue Ping, Purchasing Manager at Beijing Xinyilede Commercial and Trade Co Ltd, visited the zone to source gift products with original and cultural designs. She said: “I like the atmosphere of the zone and the diversified range of products integrated with strong oriental elements, such as pens, tea cups, scarfs. I believe these kind of products will become more and more popular in the market in the future.”

Apart from the dedicated zones and areas, the fair also welcomed pavilions from Chinese regions including Yiwu, Wenzhou, Qingyuan, Ningbo, Fujian and others. Together, they demonstrated the latest industry developments and trendy stationery products from their respective regions.

Mr Sumir Kumar, a representative from Smiththerm Pvt Ltd, an India based trading company, shared: “I am here to source innovative, good for value stationery that I can export to Canada, India and Mexico. I was truly impressed by the product quality and inventive design. I have visited around 20 companies and will consider placing orders with some of them. This is a great platform to meet with direct stationery manufacturers. I will definitely come back next year.”

Seminars and expert dialogue unveiled the development trends of stationery retail and cultural products

Running alongside with the fair were a series of fringe events, which provided a range of forward-thinking ideas for the industry. One of such event was the “2017 YinLing Brand China Stationery & Book Industry Forum”. Mr Jiang Zheting, Marketing Director of ODS Design, was one of the speakers at the forum. He noted: “Nowadays, a conventional bookstore or stationery shop needs to evolve and provide a whole offerings of stationery, books, cultural products and leisure activities. We are here to share our thoughts and successful business models with the audience. The forum was packed and we were satisfied with the outcome.”

Another worth mentioning forum was the “Seminar on Enhancing Design and Marketing for Chinese Museums’ Creative Products”. Discussing this event in particular, Mr Shiro Aoki, Senior Consultant and former Executive Director COO of Japan Institute of Design Promotion, commented: “The attending audience were all outstanding in their own field. It is a good platform to promote cooperation from different sectors and stimulate new ideas. This will help boost the development of the culture industry.”

Meanwhile, to provide opportunities for the industry to connect with new generations, the fair organisers also arranged a “TEDxKids” talk, which allowed adults and children to share their views and thoughts. Chen Bo Ting was seven years old and attended the talk with his parents. He said: “I like the event. It provided the chance for the children to get inspired by the speeches and about the nature of the topics covered.”

Paperworld China is jointly organised by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd, the China Chamber of Commerce for I/E of Light Industrial Products & Arts-Crafts, and Guangzhou Foreign Trade South China Exhibition Corp Ltd.

For more information about the show, please visit www.paperworldchina.com or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Other shows under the Paperworld brand include:

• Hong Kong International Stationery Fair
  8 – 11 January 2018, Hong Kong
• Paperworld
  27 – 30 January 2018, Frankfurt am Main
• Paperworld Middle East / Playworld Middle East
  27 February – 1 March 2018, Dubai

For more details about these fairs, please visit www.global.paperworld.messefrankfurt.com

Each year since 1960, the third week in October has been proclaimed National Forest Products Week in the U.S. It is a time to recognize the essential role that forests play in the country’s history, culture, environment and economy. Our forests are a source of clean air and water, are home to a diversity of fish and wildlife, a place to enjoy, provide us with many products made from wood and are a source of employment for people who work in and manage the forests.

From houses to paper to packaging to fuel to furniture to railways, wood products are an irreplaceable part of our daily lives. But those are just the traditional uses of forest products! What about all the surprising everyday items that contain products from wood? Wood cellulose, released when wood is processed into pulp, is used to make ping pong balls, sports helmets, nail polish and synthetic fibres, which are made into clothes and towels – just to name a few. 

The forest products industry directly employed over 900,000 people in 2017 in the U.S. and provided 2.4 million supporting jobs in 45 states across the country.  The industry generates 4% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP and wood products are a globally-traded commodity that supports U.S. economic growth. The U.S. is one of the world's most diverse exporters of sustainable forest products.

One of the great qualities of forest products made in North America, is that they come from a renewable and sustainable resource: trees! And not only are wood products durable and energy efficient; healthy, growing forests are an important part of our culture as well as playing a key role in absorbing carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen and storing carbon over time. For more information on the renewable energy use and carbon footprint of making paper see this Two Sides Fact Sheet.

Our forest products, including pulp and paper, are being produced from sustainable forestry in the U. S. where forest area increased from over 302 million ha in 1990 to almost 309 million ha in 2010 and about 310 million ha in 2015, a total increase of almost 8 million ha (UNFAO, 2016).

So, look around you this week and count up the many ways that forest products are important in your life.

James Cropper 3D Products is set to join the debate on responsible packaging solutions at this year’s Sustainability in Packaging Europe conference, which takes place from 24 to 26 October in Barcelona.

The company’s business director, Matthew Miller, will be on the panel for the conference’s Packaging Design Q&A session, where he will be discussing the use of paper-based products and the interface between creativity and sustainability. He will join speakers including Coca Cola’s director of sustainability, Ulrike Sapiro, and Mars’ Europe public affairs manager, Juan Manuel Banez Romero.

Sustainability in Packaging Europe is the only European packaging event designed to offer a 360 degree perspective on the key challenges and solutions the supply chain is faced with to evolve towards sustainable practices for packaging and a circular economy.

James Cropper 3D Products, a subsidiary of James Cropper PLC, is the innovator behind COLOURFORM™, a sustainable coloured moulded fibre packaging solution. The product is made from 100 per cent renewable, natural wood fibre from well managed forests and is fully recyclable with household paper. It is also naturally biodegradable, leaving no trace if it does end up in landfill.

Every product is custom-designed and made specifically to customer requirements, and can be manufactured to match any colour with guaranteed consistency and a quality, tactile finish.

Matthew Miller, business director at James Cropper 3D Products, said: “Sustainability is one of the most important factors in packaging at the moment and will continue to be so, with brands putting ever more emphasis on their green credentials. With our background in paper and experience of creating innovative solutions to long-lasting environmental issues, such as overuse of plastic and disposal issues, we’re looking forward to taking part in such an important debate.

“With COLOURFORM™, we’re drawing on over 170 years of world-leading innovation in coloured paper and fibre products to provide a viable solution for the packaging industry that’s not only sustainable, but fully customisable and creative too. We’re sure it will be well received at the conference.”

The Packaging Design Q&A session takes place at 11:35am on 25 October at NH Collection Barcelona Tower.

For more information about COLOURFORM™, visit www.colourformpackaging.com

• James Cropper 3D Products (JC3DP), a subsidiary of James Cropper PLC, is the innovator behind COLOURFORM™, the next generation of sustainable moulded fibre packaging
• COLOURFORM™ is made using 100 per cent renewable wood fibre from well managed forests, is fully recyclable with household paper and is naturally biodegradable
• It can be manufactured in any colour or shape, with guaranteed consistency and a quality, tactile finish
• COLOURFORM™ is helping global brands to enhance brand identity, product value and packaging integrity, while reducing environmental impact.
• More information on colourformpackaging.com

Efficient and cost-effective cleaning

Effective cleaning is critical to product integrity, productivity and profitability in all hygienic industries. By choosing the right cleaning equipment, you can reduce water, chemicals and energy costs as well as decrease cleaning time between production cycles.

Now also retrofitting through small tank openings

As part of the market’s most consistent portfolio of rotary jet head tank cleaning machines, we recently added three Alfa Laval rotary jet heads, GJ A2, GJ A6 and GJ PF FT.

This gives you the opportunity of easy installation of rotary jet head technology in small size tank openings like 3" or 4", where static spray ball and rotary spray heads are normally mounted in today. By retrofitting with one of the three small GJ jet heads, you avoid reworking the tank to accommodate upgrading tank cleaning equipment, meaning low installation cost.

Easy to upgrade from static spray balls

When higher cleaning efficiency is required, it is easy to upgrade your static spray balls to the Alfa Laval GJ Rotary Jet Head technology. Simply unclip the static spray ball and replace it with a new clip-on GJ rotary jet head, that uses a cleaning pattern ensuring dynamic and effective distribution of water to the inner tank surfaces. The high mechanical force generated by the strong jet impingement, efficiently removes remaining products and residues to provide the best conditions required for hygienic production. 

Rotary jet heads clean tanks 70% faster than the static spray ball technology. Because of faster cleaning, it uses less water and chemicals - and thereby reducing operating costs by up to 80%. Rotary jet heads provide exceptional cleanability, better and safer end-product quality and greater overall output for all hygienic applications.

By using Alfa Laval tank cleaning machines, you get...

• Faster cleaning = More production uptime
• More efficient cleaning = Minimizing risk of product lost due to contamination
• Impact cleaning = Reducing the use of water and chemicals
• Automated cleaning = Validated process ensuring high product quality
• Fast payback = Often less than 1 year, due to low operating cost

About Alfa Laval
Alfa Laval is a leading global provider of specialized products and engineering solutions based on its key technologies of heat transfer, separation and fluid handling.

The company’s equipment, systems and services are dedicated to assisting customers in optimizing the performance of their processes. The solutions help them to heat, cool, separate and transport products in industries that produce food and beverages, chemicals and petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, starch, sugar and ethanol.

Alfa Laval’s products are also used in power plants, aboard ships, oil and gas exploration, in the mechanical engineering industry, in the mining industry and for wastewater treatment, as well as for comfort climate and refrigeration applications.

Alfa Laval’s worldwide organization works closely with customers in nearly 100 countries to help them stay ahead in the global arena.

Alfa Laval is listed on Nasdaq OMX, and, in 2016, posted annual sales of about SEK 35.6 billion approx. 3.72 billion Euros. The company has about 17 300 employees.

www.alfalaval.com

With the acquisition, ÅF becomes the largest actor in service design and user experience in Sweden and will have sales of more than SEK 200 million. The acquisition is a part of ÅF’s strategic initiative in digitalization and design.

inUse’s clients include AstraZeneca, Ikea, SL and Panasonic. In addition to digital design solutions, inUse also conducts training activities and arranges Scandinavia’s largest conference in service design and user experience, “From Business to Buttons”.

ÅF has a strong base in architecture, landscape architecture, light and industrial design and is now Sweden’s largest player in service design and user experience. With the acquisition of inUse, ÅF has a total of around 600 employees in design and architecture.

­­­­– User experience and the interaction between people and technology are increasingly important, including in the development of smart cities and digitalization of industry. The market is growing fast. By combining ÅF’s expertise in industry and infrastructure with inUse’s expertise in service design and user experience, we create a unique offering, says Jonas Gustavsson, President and CEO of ÅF.

inUse will keep its name and brand and, together with ÅF’s operations in design, will form a new business area in ÅF’s Technology division (Digital Solutions division as of 1 January 2018).

­– Together with ÅF, we are able to offer our clients a broader and more complete range of solutions and services. For our employees, this further entails an opportunity to work in more projects of interest with a wide scope, says Kjell Persson, CEO of inUse.

inUse has 100 employees based in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Denver, USA. The company has annual sales of around SEK 90 million. inUse will be consolidated by ÅF as of the month of November 2017.

For further information, please contact:
Ann Granberg, Market area manager ÅF +46 70 826 19 04
Kjell Persson, CEO of inUse +46 76 136 37 45

ÅF is an engineering and design company for the energy, industrial and infrastructure markets, creating progress for our clients since 1895. By connecting technologies, we provide profitable, innovative and sustainable solutions to shape the future and improve people's lives.  Building on our strong base in Europe, our business and clients are found all over the world.

 www.afconsult.com