BUILDINGS

Water is a necessity for life on Earth. To secure water quality and maintain continuous access to water will be one of society’s great challenges in the future. Water-resource issues are complex to manage, and water treatment and distribution require high-cost investments in infrastructure. To less developed countries, supplying the population with clean water is an arduous task in...

Additive manufacturing is all the thing now, and enthusiasts are convinced the technology will prove to be a game changer in many sectors. ”Additive manufacturing, free form fabrication and 3D printing are different names for the same thing: a machine printing objects layer by layer, based on a digital drawing”, says Marlene Johansson, director at Sliperiet, Umeå university. ”One...

The MAX IV particle accelerator or synchrotron is due to start operations in the summer of 2015 in the university town of Lund. This unique facility, for the scientific community, will also foster opportunities in the form of new businesses, innovation and the spread of technological know-how. “A large research facility, MAX IV will examine really small things with...

“With the help of our patented building technology we can build insulating and load-bearing walls where the main components are made of wood and air. There is no need for mineral wool insulation or a plastic vapor barrier,” says Mikael Östling, CEO of Iso Timber. “The system is easy and tight. Insulation performance comes from trapped air in the...

Keeping a painted facade free from algae, mold and other growth is a major problem in the Nordic climate – which can be characterized as having a combination of sun, wind, rain, snow and extreme temperature changes. Add to this dirt particles carried by rain and winds. “You don’t have to be an expert to understand that a durable...

During school biology classes, one learns that parasites get their nutrients from another living organism – a host – without killing it. In most cases the host survives but the parasite can cause a lot of discomfort. A predator on the other hand quickly kills its victim. Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) are on the borderline between being a true parasite...

    “In the world of sawmills, the Waren effect has been shown to provide up to 25 percent reduction in energy use in dryer boiler circuits. We have achieved similar savings in boiler plants, power plants and in flue-gas condensation plants,” says Anders Larsson, CEO of tech company Waren International AB. “It is important to achieve the Waren...

A regular shower should only take five minutes. Not counting teenage use, showering can use up to 70 liters of water. Water consumption for personal hygiene is extremely high in Europe averaging 160 liters per person per day. Increased prosperity and urbanization creates significant challenges in terms of water usage and sustainable development. Mehrdad Mahdjoubi, a young entrepreneur, created...

Building small wooden houses – churches and homes – is a long-standing tradition in Sweden dating back several hundred years. But multi-storey wooden structures have not been so common. In North America, 80 to 90 percent of all multi-storey buildings are constructed of wood and can have up to seven floors. One reason for the difference is that Sweden...