Success Stories

Steelwrist AB

Stefan Stockhaus (CEO), Markus Nilsson (CTO)

The objective of this project was to develop a modern control system that ensures a safe and easy installation process of a tiltrotator without increasing the total cost. The result, XControl G2, is a CAN based modular system that self-tunes critical control parameters and is easy to integrate into an excavator. It also includes a touch display for all settings and ergonomic joysticks for an enhanced user experience. In this project Steelwrist worked very close to its strategic partner SVAB, together with the support from Acreo in terms of industry network and testing strategies.

As a result Steelwrist has clearly strengthened its market position on the Nordic markets but also the position for the Swedish tiltrotator concept on the European market. The XControl G2 was an important factor when Volvo Construction Equipment chose Steelwrist as its supplier when being the first excavator manufacturer to offer a tiltrotator option directly from factory.

UVtech AB

Lars-Erik Lejondahl (CEO)

UVtech AB in Åtvidaberg specializes in developing, manufacturing and marketing UV air purification systems. All their air purification systems work according to the same principle: The UV light produces ozone which turns smelling organic substances and microorganisms into biologically degradable substances which eliminates nuisance odours and germicides from indoor and ventilation air. One of the key applications is the cleaning of cooking fumes from restaurant kitchens.

Through the minST programme UVtech contacted Acreo’s Business Services for an initial discussion which resulted in a need analysis and an idea to improve the current control systems with new and more functions.

The main part of the project has been software design and implementation. Along the project, UVtech staff have continuously received training in Delphi software development environment, system design, registry and documentation methodology.

minST

The objective of the minST programme is to encourage SME’s to use micro- and nanotechnology in their products. The technology step might be large for an SME with no previous experience in the field, the technical staff needs additional education, and specialist support is necessary before and during the implementation phase of a project. The catalogue of educational courses developed within the teknIQ project, with addition of material on micro- and nanotechnology, is available for the minST participants. Acreo’s R&D resources are also available, and Acreo Business Services is represented in the management group of the minST project.

Kunskapslyftet minST är slut - får regional fortsättning (article in Swedish)

INSICT

The objective of INSICT was to encourage and support SME’s to incorporate ICT in their products and processes. The project was directed to SMEs outside the ICT segment, e.g. forestry and wood, the mining and metal segments and subcontractors in the automotive business. INSICT was the result of a cooperative effort between the Swedish Government and the labour market organisations. Acreo was responsible for the management of INSICT during the programme period, from 2006 to 2010.

teknIQ

The purpose of the teknIQ programme was to improve the SME’s capability to take advantage of embedded microprocessor systems in their products. A wide catalogue of educational courses was made available, as well as formats for work-shops for assistance in the business development process. Acreo was an active node in a network with universities, R&D institutes and private consulting firms.

IRC (Innovation Relay Centre)

The IRC program was initiated by the EU Commission in 1995 with the purpose of stimulating technology transfer, cooperation and business contacts between SMEs across the national borders in Europe. Acreo was an active node in the IRC network from the start and scored top positions for productivity and efficiency in the evaluations made by the Commission. Since 2009, the IRC network is assimilated in the Enterprise Europe Network, where Acreo can continue its European networking and extend the range of services available for European SMEs.

INES (Industrial Embedded Systems)

The INES effort was initiated by the EU Commission in order to encourage the use of commercially available systems software (operating systems, software and firmware) in industrial ICT systems. Acreo was the national “Technology Centre of Expertise” in INES.

SIDCOM (Sensing, Identification and data COMmunications)

In the SIDCOM effort, initiated by EU, the objective was to increase the use of passive, wire-less technology for sensing, identification and communication of data (RFID). Acreo had the role of national “Technology Centre of Expertise”.

First User Action (FUSE)

Microelectronics is an essential technology for all SMEs within the electronics sector. The technology step, however, can be large and risky for a company without previous experience. The FUSE programme was initiated by EU with the purpose of reducing the barriers for SME’s to take advantage of microelectronics. The FUSE programme was very successful and, later on, continued with the national “Swedish FUSE” project.