European Business Briefs: technical alliance, new websites and a products book

A new database offers companies tips on using economic instruments for environmental protection and natural resource management. The database, constructed by the OECD and European agencies, covers 42 countries and focuses on environmental taxes and charges. Accessible via the OECD website, it will be extended later to environmentally motivated subsidies, tradable emission permit systems, deposit-refund systems, and voluntary approaches such as negotiated agreements.

Powder discharge and metering company Sodimate has updated its own website, which can now be viewed in German as well as French, English and Spanish. The company hopes the addition of the fourth language will benefit the expanding Eastern European market. Sodimate has also improved the navigation and graphics features of its site, and has added a demonstration video of its work.

Camfil Farr Turbomachinery division has signed a Technical Alliance Agreement with KAEFER-RACO Engineering. Both companies are active in gas turbine inlet air filtration, acoustic and exhaust systems. Camfil Farr will provide KAEFER-RACO with expertise in inlet air filtration, cooling and anti-icing, while the latter will provide Camfil Farr with technology in hot-end exhaust and damper systems. The companies will develop a joint filter house design which will be offered to the gas turbine market.

The Danish environmental protection agency has published a booklet on the experiences of 14 Danish companies to develop, produce and sell cleaner products. The book offers ten tips concerning products, the market and environmental performance, and covers environmental requirements to suppliers, cooperation in the production chain and ecolabelling