Prosolvia establishes a Virtual Reality centre in Liège
At the beginning of 1998 Prosolvia Clarus, a subsidiary of the Swedish company Prosolvia and world leader in this field, set up a Virtual Reality centre at the Liège University Science Park. The VR centre focuses on transferring technology and develops interactive visual simulation. The centre is set up in co-operation with Interface, the liaison office of the University of Liège, and is aimed at serving the whole French speaking part of Europe. According to Dan Lejerskär, President of Prosolvia "Liège has been chosen because of its University which has a good reputation in the field of technological research."
Prosolvia Clarus has VR centres in 15 countries worldwide. In 1997 it more than doubled sales and earnings through sharpmarket expansion in interactive visual simulation. Dan Lejerskär states "That the broad goal for 1998 is to secure our leading position in the field of interactive visual simulation and to maintain continued growth with improved profitability. We shall also increase our investment in research and development."
In the beginning of March Prosolvia was selected to supply a training and software application package for NationsBank based on EON(TM), the company's own PC-based virtual reality software. This deal involves a multi-year, multimillion dollar relationship with NationsBank, one of the largest banks in the United States, who has chosen Prosolvia as the lead vendor to develop its new computer-based training course for new bank tellers.
Prosolvia was launched on the Swedish Stock Exchange
in 1997. The Group was founded in 1988 and is based in Gothenburg.
It currently has over 470 employees at offices
in some 20 countries worldwide.
Increasing production at Mölnlycke Health Care in Waremme
Concentration on one manufacture line and automation have resulted in an increased capacity and an improved productivity for Mölnlycke Health Care at Waremme. The production of sterilised disposable products has been more than doubled in 5 years and the value of the products has been raised.
Mölnlycke Health Care's Managing Director, Mr Jacques Dozo, explains "In 1994 the plant at Waremme started to concentrate its production on one manufacture line and to renew its production method. This has contributed to a better tuning into the needs of the market and to an increased production. The expectation for 1998 is that the market for sterilised disposable products will continue expanding."
Mölnlycke Health Care, previously SCA Mölnlycke, has been based at the Industrial Park of Waremme since 1976. It employs 210 workers and exports 93% of the production across all member-states of the European Union.
"The Province of Liège is very interesting from a geographical point of view. Its central position favours exports to all the European countries and 70% of the products we manufacture are exported to countries neighbouring Belgium" explains Mr >Dozo. "The management of the Industrial Park at Waremme is excellent and we have enjoyed a highly successful 22 years at the Park."
Liège Company secures Red Box for British Chancellor
Rhea System, established in1992 and part of the Rhea Group, has provided the access control security for the new electronic high-tech Red Box for all UK Cabinets including the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Rhea Group invented a system called Latches, which is an integrated access control package that provides a host of advanced security features.
Security is obviously a prime requirement for all confidential UK documents and not least for the closely guarded budget. Latches already provides a secure User ID and password protected login, however, this year the UK Cabinet Office wanted more: It wanted biometrics-based strong user authentication using fingerprints.
Jean-Michel Blaise from the Rhea Group explains that "The biometric authentication system is the use of unique physiological characteristics to provide tight security and access restrictions. It differs from standard login procedures in that it ties access to an individual person rather than to knowledge. or possessions, both of which could be lost or stolen. Rhea International has integrated this secure biometrics fingerprint login feature into Latches."
So how do we get into the Chancellor's Red Box? Well, before gaining access to data and applications, the user of the Red Box will need to present the correct and unique hardware access token. Without the token access is denied. For the Cabinet Office, the hardware token is built into a signet ring and worn by the Minister. The user is required to present the correct finger to a fingerprint scanner. If there is no match, access is denied and the attempted access logged. Once logged into the system, the User is under the full control of Latches and can see and do only what has been allowed for that User. According to< Jean-Michel Blaise "20 British secret service agents had been trying for two months to hack the system. They did not succeed, so the British Government does not have to worry."
The Rhea Group has expanded rapidly within the Space Market and has diversified into IT Security and Consultancy. Rhea also supplies to the British army, NATO and the European Commission. Rhea System in Liège can be reached on telephone number: 04/252.22.54.
SME Orientation Network provides guideline for Euro
The SME Orientation Network at Liège has introduced a new service to local companies called the Euro Task Planner. The Planner provides a practical guideline indicating the exact influence of the introduction of the future single European currency on the daily work of SMEs.
The Network, established two years ago, brings together the expertise of 34 partners that are active in the supply of services to companies. Its main objective is simplifying daily management and development problems of businessman and companies by searching for a solution and providing answers.
It aims to improve the visibility of the market and services for companies and to facilitate accessibility. Access to the network is possible through a free telephone number: 0800/20.321. The telephone service centralises questions from businessmen and SMEs, identifies their needs and refers them to one or more competent partners in the Network. The service is operated by SPI+ in Vertbois. Partners in the network meet regularly to improve their service, to follow up projects raised on the 0800 line and to provide answers to the problems of businessmen or SMEs.
