Manufacturing
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Up the tubes
Email made pneumatic tubes seem obsolete, but logistics firm Swisslog saw potential in healthcare. Now, new hospitals use its networks to transport drugs and samples, marking a technological renaissance.
Bowled over
In a remote part of South Korea, 84-year-old Lee Bong-ju is reviving the tradition of making beautiful, unique Korean bronzeware, from elegant cutlery to white-gold dishes that have served presidents and royalty.
Sugar rush
Started in 1983, Royce' is one of Japan’s most beloved chocolatiers. In a sweet market all about tiny details, it has charmed its way around Asia and now has its sights on Europe.
Beurre necessity
The Echiré cooperative has churned out butter for over a century. Some of the world’s best restaurants won’t use anything else. Monocle looks at what makes Echiré a better butter.
Braking the mould
Mitsuoka makes models based on classic cars, handmade in its Toyama workshop. This unique approach gives it an edge in an industry that is lifting itself out of the doldrums.
Expo 31: Road to salvation
In Trollhättan, the loyalty to Saab is palpable. But with the carmaker’s future in the balance, the town is attracting technology start-ups and transforming itself into a hub for Sweden’s film industry.
Raining supreme
For our series investigating the secrets of success, Monocle visits Austrian company Doppler, Europe’s biggest manufacturer of quality umbrellas. Its top product has been handcrafted in the same way since the 1940s.
Open and shut case
Founded by a diver, Pelican Products now makes indestructible cases for everyone from the military to the iPhone user. It has expanded into ingenious lighting systems and is making a healthy profit.
Warm front
Røros-Tweed has been weaving Norwegian lambswool products since 1939, building on a local tradition that goes back centuries. Rescued from bankruptcy in 1968, it is now supplying some of the world’s top designers.
Blue-sky thinking
A small parts manufacturer from British Columbia, Viking Air had never thought about building aeroplanes. But acquiring licences for de Havilland’s beloved planes led to overwhelming global demand the firm couldn’t ignore.
