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LIMBURG STRIKES GOLD
[EDIT: Eijsden, August 12]
The following is a translation of a letter from Limburg’s new governor, Léon Frissen, to Rens Blom (28) from Sittard, men’s pole-vault gold medal winner at the Athletics World Championships in Helsinki. His jump of 5.80 meters made...[more]
Top
BULLET-PROOF LIMOS FOR SAUDIS
[BIZ: Liège, August 15]
A major delegation of dignitaries from Saudi Arabia is visiting Liège to place an order for a large number of luxury armored limousines vehicles from the Liège specialist Carat Duchatelet - which also, incidentally, has an office in Moscow....[more]
CROSS-BORDER ACQUISITIONS
[BIZ: Maastricht, August 12]
Cross-border acquisitions need a special skill and a new Maastricht-based company called Avida is exploring the market. It can now look back on a successful first year, which has involved acquisitions of family-owned businesses in...[more]
SOPTIM REVENUES UP
[BIZ: Aachen, August 12]
The Aachen software company Soptim AG showed a clear rise in revenues last year. The company’s turnover was EUR 10.2m, 9.8% more than the previous year. Soptim employs 120 in Aachen and Essen....[more]
BUSINESS ANGELS IN EUPEN
[BIZ: Eupen, August 11]
On September 20, the next EuBAn Matching Forum for new business will take pace in Eupen. Young innovative businesses from Meuse-Rhine will have the opportunity to present their projects to potential investors. Business selection is made...[more]
EUROPE SPLIT OVER FREE MARKET
[BIZ: London, August 10]
The future market for wireless broadband services in the European Union will be thrown open to question in October when member states vote on whether to introduce a technology-neutral approach to the spectrum previously earmarked for...[more]
MSM MBA RANKED 5 IN CHINA
[BIZ/EDU: Maastricht, August 10]
The Ranking for the Most Influential Sino-foreign Joint MBAs recorded on April 22 puts the Maastricht School of Management in fifth position.The ranking was organized by the World Executive Weekly and sponsored by China Business ...[more]
AMB GENERALI STRONGER GROWTH
[BIZ: Aachen, August 10]
With its above-average and profitable growth, the AMB Generali Group continues to steer a successful course. It recorded profitable growth for H1, 2005: net profit went up to EUR 148m (as against EUR 92m the previous year). There was...[more]
WIEL ARETS’ BRUSSELSE POORT
[BIZ: Maastricht, August 9]
Servatius has commissioned the Maastricht architect Wiel Arets to draw up plans for the expansion of the Brusselse Poort shopping center and for the construction of 138 apartments in the old GAK office building. At the Brusselse ...[more]
HEIDELBERG CEMENT
[BIZ: Heidelberg, August 9]
Heidelberg Cement, owners of the ENCI in Maastricht and a plant in Lixhe, saw its revenues and profits rise as a result of good business in North America and Eastern European in Q2, 2005. The company is Europe’s second biggest cement...[more]
SUEZ TO BUY ELECTRABEL
[BIZ: Brussels, August 9]
The French power utility Suez wants to buy Electrabel. It already holds a majority of the shares but wants to buy the remaining 49.93%. The take-over is a combination of sale and exchange of shares. Suez is offering EUR 410 per...[more]
BERRIES ARE GOOD FOR YOU
[BIZ: Borgloon, August 9]
Fruit growers in the Hesbaye area are satisfied with the results this year. Blueberries have produced 10% more in revenues, while blackberries brought in 40% more than last year. Raspberries didn’t do quite so well and the redcurrants...[more]
ZEBRACINEMA DOING WELL
[BIZ: Hasselt, August 9]
Zebracinema, the alternative film circuit of the Limburg (B) Provincial Government, was able to attract 22,000 visitors in the September 2004 to May 2005 season, 10% more than the previous season. From September 1 other cinemas will ...[more]
TRIANEL EWMR PORTFOLIO
[BIZ: Aachen, August 9]
EWMR, the energy and water supply company for the central Ruhrgebiet (the city works of Bochum, Witten, and Herne), has completed an agreement on its gas portfolio management for a further three years with Trianel European Energy Trading...[more]
AMOS SATELLITE SIMULATOR
[BIZ/SCI-TECH: Liège, August 8]
A vast cylindrical testing chamber, 10m long and 7.5m in external diameter, one of the biggest of its type in the world, is being shipped in five parts by Amos SA (Advanced Mechanical and Optical Systems) from Renory rail terminal...[more]
UPIGNAC TAKEOVER
[BIZ: Brussels, August 8]
Upignac, Belgium’s market leader in Foie Gras, has taken over its Schaarbeek competitor Les Foies Gras de Strasbourg. The group wants to improve its sales and hopes to start exporting its produce — they are looking at the Japanese market...[more]
TEKCORE AIXTRON ORDERS
[BIZ: Aachen/Nantou, Taiwan, August 8]
Aixtron AG, a leading provider of equipment for compound semiconductor epitaxy, has recently received further multiple orders for a package of three Thomas Swan CCS MOCVD reactors by Tekcore Co. Ltd. Established in 2000...[more]
BELGIAN BIZ EXPORTS 40%
[BIZ: Brussels, August 8]
Businesses quoted on the Euronext Brussels exchange in 2004 achieved 40% of their revenues outside of Europe. The American continent was good for 30% of total revenues as revealed by data supplier TijdBeursmedia. The revenue figures...[more]
LIEGE-JAPAN FOLLOW-UP
[BIZ: Liège, August 8]
Reading the names of the companies that participated in the Spi+ mission to Japan and their related activities on The Walloon Automobile Cluster website has convinced us that we should list them here.The mission, accompanied by His...[more]
ZENTIS INTEREST IN NUDOSSI
[BIZ: Aachen, August 7]
Zentis, the major Aachen-based confectionery company, is planning to take over the East German Radebeul-based company Nudossi, which specializes in nuts and nougat. This would strengthen Zentis in the nuts and nougat market segment. Zentis’...[more]
IRIS TAKES OVER JEEVES
[BIZ: Liège, August 6]
IRIS, a Walloon company and a leader in multi-lingual OCR and document management, has taken over Jeeves Systems Group from Vilvoorde. The transaction was worth EUR 4m; IRIS is paying a third with shares and the rest in cash. Jeeves ...[more]
INBEV SELLS 12% IN DAMM
[BIZ: Jupille, August 6]
The Belgian/Brazilian brewer Inbev, which is one of the largest brewers worldwide and includes Jupille among its brands, has sold its 12% stake in the Spanish brewery Damm to a number of private investors for EUR 176m. Inbev has attributed...[more]
ÖBB BUYS 60 BOMBARDIER TRAINS
[BIZ: Aachen/Montreal, August 5]
Bombardier Transportation and its consortium partner Elin EBG Traction have received an order from the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) for 60 additional four-car Bombardier Talent electric multiple units (EMUs), to be used on...[more]
WEIHER CASINO PROJECT
[BIZ: Kelmis, August 5]
As a challenge to the final year of the legislature, the Mayor of Kelmis, Mathieu Grosch, has given the Weiher Casino project priority. Discussions have been carried on as to how to develop tourism around the Eyneburg without causing...[more]
HALLSCHLAG MUNITIONS SITE
[BIZ/INFRA: Hallschlag, August 5]
The clear up of the old munitions factory site in Hallschlag is almost complete. Thus far, the specialists on the site have dug up around 6,000 grenades, some of which were filled with poison gas. During an explosion 85 years...[more]
WALLOONS GO DUTCH
[BIZ/LEI: Brussels, August 5]
The Walloon region is going to use additional funds to promote the region among the Flemings and the Dutch - the most important visitors to the region. The Walloon country wants to see more of them and the government is hoping that...[more]
CROMBACH AT AVANTIS
[BIZ: Aachen/Heerlen, August 5]
The cross-border European Science and Business Park at Avantis, situated between Germany and The Netherlands, has welcomed a new business on board. This is HJ Crombach, a Dutch company from Voerendaal, specializing in heating...[more]
TIME WARNER JACKPOT FOR ABP
[BIZ: Heerlen/New York, August 4]
Time Warner Inc. reported its Q2, 2005 financial results (ended June 30) on August 3. It prefaced the report by announcing it had reached an agreement in principle to resolve its primary securities class action litigation and...[more]
WESTEND AACHEN VOIP
[BIZ: Aachen, August 4]
The Aachen internet provider Westend has started a VOIP (Voice Over IP) internet telephony service. Conversations via a DSL link will be possible without a ‘normal’ telephone connection. The service is being introduced in Aachen and Würselen...[more]
CARROT BEER
[BIZ: Waremme, August 4]
A new beer made from carrots from the Hesbaye has been developed in Waremme (in the province of Liège). It has been developed by the Graindorge brewery and it was at the request of the Confrérie des Honorables Amis des Saveurs Espiègles...[more]
SPHINX: BOSCHSTRAAT IN 2006
[BIZ: Maastricht, August 4]
The Sphinx sanitary ware plant on the Boschstraat in Maastricht will be closed on December 31, 2006, bringing an end to 170 years of earthenware production at the site. Sphinx will be winding down production at the factory over the...[more]
MAASTRICHT@HOME HACKED
[BIZ: Maastricht, August 4]
The Maastricht@home broadband Internet provider was attacked recently and put out of action by a virus originating in the US. The hacker sent 1.5 million messages per minute to the @home network and as a result, 17,500 clients had...[more]
AIXTRON CAUGHT SHORT
[BIZ: Aachen, August 4]
Demand at Aixtron was under pressure in the last two quarters, according to Aixtron’s Chairman of the Board, Paul Hyland. Aixtron is the leading provider of equipment for compound semiconductor epitaxy. The company saw its revenues increase...[more]
ESSENT: CLAUS EXPANSION
[BIZ/INFRA: Maasbracht, August 3]
The power utility Essent is investigating the options for a major expansion of production capacity at the Claus Power Station in Maasbracht, with the intention of extending the plant’s life by another 20 years. The go/no-go...[more]
CONTI SLOWER IN US
[BIZ: Hanover/Aachen, August 2]
The automotive supplier and tire manufacturer Continental, which has a major plant in Aachen, has not been able to move ahead as quickly as planned with the restructuring of its loss-making US tire company.Continental does...[more]
HEINSBERG AHEAD OF THE GAME
[BIZ: Düsseldorf, August 2]
There has been a good deal of regional differentiation in economic development in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia since 2003, according to a recently revealed publication of regional economic data of the State Statistical Office...[more]
IJSBOERKE TAKES OVER MIO
[BIZ: Liège, August 2]
The Liège ice cream manufacturer Mio has been taken over by the Flemish group Ijsboerke, which had 16% of the ice cream market in Belgium last year, coming second only to Ola. The Flemish company has bought all the shares in the Liège...[more]
100% BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC
[BIZ: Orlando, Florida, August 1]
Stanelco Inc., the American subsidiary of British-based Stanelco Group, has received a conditional commitment from joint venture partner SP Metal to buy 10,000 metric tons of its new biodegradable resin material, Starpol 2000,...[more]
CONCERN ABOUT SKILL STATUS
[BIZ/EDU: Aachen, August 1]
In recent years, there has been major debate in Germany about the qualifications required to start a business involving a skilled trade or craft. Traditionally, such business was only open to those who had achieved their master’s...[more]
FEV: NEW SITES AND CAPABILITIES
[BIZ: Aachen/Auburn Hills, Michigan, August 1]
FEV Engine Technology has expanded its Detroit-area facilities with the addition of two new powertrain test sites at the company’s North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The two test areas bring...[more]
SMART PROBLEMS
[BIZ: Frankfurt/Born, August 1]
Mercedes Car Group's loss-making Smart could be under threat following with the appointment of Dieter Zetsche. The Smart was a pet project of outgoing Daimler CEO Juergen Schrempp; however, the unit has been losing money from...[more]
MULTIMEDIA TILING MARKETING
[BIZ: Heusden-Zolder, August 1]
September will see an innovative marketing project for the tiling business called ‘Modula’, which uses a range of modules and is designed to facilitate the whole tiling process — from ordering through to the laying of the tiles...[more]
EUROREGIONAL PAVILION
[BIZ: Maastricht, August 1]
The Euroregional Pavilion is at the Business Contact Fair, October 11 and 12, at the MECC in Maastricht. It covers the following sectors: Services/businesses; IT; Industry and production; Marketing and communication; Transport, Warehousing...[more]
MAA RENOVATES RUNWAY
[BIZ: Maastricht, August 1]
The runway at Maastricht Aachen Airport is to receive a new layer of blacktop and the runway lighting is to be completely renovated. This will be the first time in 22 years that this has happened. The airport will be closed during...[more]
JUMBO MAINTENANCE FROM NUTH
[BIZ: Nuth, August 1]
The Dutch-based wide body line maintenance specialists Direct Maintenance in Nuth has received approval from the Civil Aviation Authorities of The Netherlands to expand its European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part-145 approval with the...[more]
Top| Logistics and Infrastructure |
SELF-ORGANIZING FREIGHT CARS
[LOG: Aachen, August 12]
Aachen’s Institute of Rail Vehicles and Materials Handling Technology has developed self-organizing goods traffic (SOG). This is a system of rail freight cars that can travel on rails without a locomotive. Tests have been carried out...[more]
ESSERS 10,000 M² IN COURCELLES
[LOG: Genk, August 11]
Essers Distribution et Logistique, a subsidiary of Essers Genk, has constructed a new 10,000 m² logistical center to double its capacity in Courcelles. The building will be 10 meters high with racks and 8 storage levels. It will have a...[more]
TGV BRIDGE
[LOG: Eupen, August 10]
Eupen station will be closed for five days from August 12 because there is to be a new bridge on the Eupen-Welkenraedt line. The 4,500-ton bridge will be slid under the existing lines and in future the TGV will pass beneath the Eupen-Welkenraedt...[more]
DIGITAL TACHOGRAPH
[LOG: Brussels, August 6]
From August 6, new trucks over 3.5 tons and buses designed to carry more than nine persons must be equipped with a digital tachograph. A tachograph registers the driving and rest times of the driver and the distances covered. This is...[more]
NO OVERTAKING BY TRUCKS
[LOG: Hasselt, August 4]
A ban on trucks overtaking during rush hours on Belgium Limburg’s highways, for longer stretches than had previously been the case, has been introduced. Gijs Moors of the Limburg organization ‘Roads and Traffic’ says that the ban on...[more]
MALAYSIA AIRLINES TO MAA
[LOG: Maastricht, August 4]
Malaysia Airlines is coming to Maastricht Aachen Airport (MAA) from September 3, providing a regular service to China and Southeast Asia. They will be flying three cargo flights per week to the airport from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia...[more]
KANNE BRIDGE OPEN
[INFRA: Kanne (Riemst), August 4]
The new bridge over the Albert Canal in Riemst has now opened — a year after construction started. The old bridge has been dismantled. The new bridge cost EUR 12m and will not only be used by motor vehicles and bicycles; facilities...[more]
ACTIVITY AT LIEGE AIRPORT
[LOG: Liège, August 1]
Since June, Cielos del Peru has been carrying out two flights per week between Liège, Lagos and Nairobi. The flight frequency has doubled since November. Emirates is planning five flights a week from September between Dubai, Istanbul and...[more]
RUE LEOPOLD CLOSED AUGUST
[INFRA: Liège, August 1]
As frequent visitors probably already know, there are major road works on the rue Léopold that links Outremeuse to downtown Liège. These will continue through to August 31 and block access via this route....[more]
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STOLBERG EUREGIONALE
[GOV: Stolberg, August 10]
Hans Baum and Sebastian Wenzler have submitted their 20-page proposal for the ‘Forum Zinkhütter Hof’ Euregionale 2008 project. It would appear to have a good chance...[more]
INTER-NED NEWS
[GOV: Düsseldorf, August 9]
The Dutch-North-Rhine Westphalian Competence Network newsletter for August includes five topics. The first deals with credit for German pension funds at the end of 2005. It is pointed out that German pension funds will require additional...[more]
DG AND TYROL
[GOV: Eupen, August 8]
Belgium’s German-speaking Community (DG) and the Austrian State of Tyrol are keen to develop their existing collaboration. This was made clear in discussions between DG’s Prime Minister Karl-Heinz Lambertz and the Governor of Tyrol, Dr...[more]
LIMBURG BUMPER STICKER
[GOV: Hasselt, August 5]
A Dutch politician wants to introduce a bumper sticker for the provinces of Limburg that lie in both Belgium and The Netherlands. This proposal has been made by Hein Tilborghs, a member of the Limburg provincial parliament in The Netherlands...[more]
AACHEN’S GREEN CAMPUS
[EDU: Aachen, August 5]
Aachen University (RWTH) has spent more than EUR 100m since 2002 on new buildings at its Melaten campus: a new institute and workshops for physics, chemistry, and biology, as well as engineering, have been developed close to the university...[more]
DUESSELDORF BACKS EUREGIONALE
[GOV: Monschau/Düsseldorf, August 3]
On a recent visit to Monschau, Oliver Wittke, Minister for Construction and Infrastructure in NRW’s new state government in Düsseldorf, let it be known that he was sticking to the state’s commitment on ‘Euregionale 2008’....[more]
CROSS-BORDER DISASTERS
[GOV: Aachen, August 3]
A cross-border exchange for voluntary services has been active in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion for a year, run by the Red Cross in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. The Disaster Protection Group of the Red Cross organizations from...[more]
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AT SCHOOL
[EDU: Cologne, August 2]
The North-Rhine Westphalia Catholic College (KFHNW Applied Science U) has started monitoring alcohol and drug misuse in schools in Cologne - the KFHNW also has a branch in Aachen. The project is to last through 2007 and will be funded...[more]
ECONOMICS AT HASSELT U
[EDU: Hasselt, August 2]
New students registering at the University of Hasselt (renamed) and the Transnational University of Limburg are going in for economics in a big way. Registrations are up 17% — in applied economics, in particular, with 35 new first-year...[more]
NO SUPPORT FOR LIEGE
[GOV: Liège, August 2]
Leading politicians and interested parties from Liège have complained to the Walloon Regional Government about the lack of support that Liège received in its attempt to become the Cultural Capital of Europe for 2005.Essentially, it...[more]
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DASGIP GETS DESIGN PRIZE
[LIFE-SCI: Jülich, August 11]
The cellferm-pro® product by the Jülich Dasgip AG company has won the world’s most hotly-contested design prize, the International Red Dot Design Award for Demanding and Innovative Design. This quality seal is awarded every year...[more]
MARIA HOSPITAL IN OVERPELT
[HEALTH: Overpelt, August 4]
A new Mariaziekenhuis hospital with 340 beds will open in Overpelt On October 1. It has taken 3.5 years to build and represents an investment of EUR 65m. During September 26 through 29, the patients and equipment will be transferred...[more]
ACAMBIS FLU VACCINE
[LIFE-SCI: Cambridge, UK/ Massachusetts, August 4]
Acambis plc has commenced the development of a potentially breakthrough of new influenza vaccine that could offer permanent protection against influenza and may also offer protection against influenza pandemics....[more]
SCHROEDINGER PRIZE TO JUELICH
[LIFE-SCI: Jülich, August 2]
Professor Peter Tass of the Jülich Research Center and Professor Volker Sturm of the University of Cologne have been awarded the Erwin-Schrödinger prize worth EUR 50,000 for their work on a ‘brain pacemaker’ for the treatment of...[more]
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FUEL CELLS FOR PLANES
[SCI-TECH: Jülich, August 9]
As part of the collaborative project Advanced Power and Water Generating Systems (APAWAGS) supported by the German Ministry for Economics and Work, that runs through June 2007, interest is now being focused on hydrogen in combination...[more]
AACHEN: ‘SCIENCE CITY’
[SCI-TECH: Aachen, August 9]
Aachen wants to be Germany’s ‘Science City’ in 2007. A campaign is being put together with the universities, including the Jülich Research Center and the universities of Maastricht and Liège. Currently, Jülich boss Professor Joachim...[more]
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FÊTE DE STE MARIE IN LIÈGE
[LEI: Liège, August 15]
Today is the fête de Marie in Liège, the city’s favorite holiday. In English, it is known as the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is always a pleasant time to wander around Outremeuse and drink the odd glass of Pequet,...[more]
LIEGE - THE FILM
[LEI: Maastricht, August 15]
On Friday September 2, at the Lumière Film Theater in Maastricht, there will be a premier of the film: ‘Luik, de dans en de arbeid, het vuur en zijn schoonheid’ by Math and Maxime van Even. This is film that gives a contemporary...[more]
AACHEN CHIO
[LEI: Aachen, August 14]
Aachen Soers' major equestrian event, August 23-28, will welcome 140 riders from all around the world. The prize money for the showjumping, dressage and four-in-hand driving amounts to EUR 140m and the buget has reached a total of EUR...[more]
PICTURES FROM DUESSELDORF
[LEI: Eupen, August 14]
A presentation of work by the new Düsseldorf School of Painting will be given at Ikob, the museum of contemporary art in Eupen, from August 28 through October 30. The Düsseldorf School, which has already made a name for itself, is characterized...[more]
JEWELS FROM MEUSE-RHINE
[LEI: Hasselt, August 11]
Smuk Herkenrode is a review exhibition of contemporary jewelry from Meuse-Rhine. Fifty jewelers from the area will be showing their wares from August 2 through October 30 in the beautifully restored tithe barn of the former Cistercian...[more]
NEW AACHEN THEATER SEASON
[LEI: Aachen, August 11]
The show ‘Stories from the 1001 Nights’ is selling fast at the Spielraum Theater in Aachen, so phone for reservations as quickly as possible. The theatre is putting on ten performances of the 1001 Nights show. You can get free tickets...[more]
RIDING AND COACHING NETWORK
[LEI: Hasselt, August 9]
Among the new attractions on the Belgian Limburg tourist scene, are a riding and coaching network and a cycling paradise. Check out the website for further details...[more]
RAYMOND ROSSIUS
[LEI: Liège, August 5]
Raymond Rossius, the former director of the Royal Walloon Opera, has passed away at the age of 79. Rossius ran the Liège Opera House for 25 years through 1992. Mr Rossius began his career in Liège as a baritone and after working on television...[more]
EAST BELGIUM AT SUMMER’S END
[LEI: St. Vith, August 4]
There are a great many events in East Belgium throughout the summer, including:August 15 — the Giant Omelet in Malmedy (4.5m diameter with 12,000 eggs)
August 21 — the Euroregional Mountain biking Cup in Bütgenbach
August ...[more]
INDUSTRION BY NIGHT
[LEI: Kerkrade, August 4]
The Industrion Museum in Kerkrade has organized some fantastic summer events to be held on Friday August 19 and Saturday August 20. The ‘Watt??’ show will open and run from 21:00 to 24:00hrs. Other shows include ‘The Invisible Force’...[more]
BLEGNY AND AQUARIUM TOPS
[LEI: Liège, August 3]
The figures for the month of July have shown that the coal-mining museum at Blegny and the Liège Aquarium have continued to pull the crowds, despite the fact that other attractions have suffered....[more]
GRATIA DEI A SUCCESS
[LEI: Liège, August 2]
The Gratia Dei exhibition closed its doors on July 31 at the Church of Saint-Antoine in Liège. More than 1,000 history enthusiasts came to visit the exhibition on the last day, and it attracted a total of 40,000 visitors during its stay...[more]
AACHEN-EIFEL GASTRONOMY
[LEI: Aachen, August 1]
The publishers of ‘Freizeit Kompass’, M-A-D GmbH in Aachen, are participating in a major online magazine and search engine, covering the world of gastronomy in the Aachen-Eifel region (the link is given below) and elsewhere in Germany....[more]
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