Industry
Page 20
Sleeper sell
Europe's top rail operator is betting that improved sleeper trains can win back business travellers. For a world rediscovering the benefits of slow food, the next discovery just might be slow trains.
Rupert Marine
Rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) are tough, sea-worthy and flexible. Spotting their business potential, Thomas Rönnberg set up the first Swedish RIB company, Rupert Marine, and is now preparing for the European market.
Air to a fortune
Denmark is a pioneer in wind energy: some days the entire country is powered by it. Now LM Glasfiber, Danish maker of vast turbine blades, is helping convert the rest of the world.
Step ahead
September’s footwear fair in Milan drew a record number of visitors. But while Italy exported 250 million pairs of shoes in 2006, output has fallen by 30 per cent since.
Timber land
As ‘biomass’ becomes a buzzword, lumberjacks are at the forefront of the climate debate. Monocle visits one of Europe's largest forestry fairs to find out why wood is good for the environment.
Power dressing
High-profile security lapses have damaged Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency. To fix its PR, it launched a hunt for Miss Atom. But can a beauty contest overturn an ugly reputation?
Future classics
Menswear sales are recovering from a 2005 dip. This season’s Pitti Uomo drew 21,000 buyers, with significant growth in new markets. Its fashions were similarly forward looking, pointing to future classics.
Fishy business
At the heart of the €10bn international trade in ornamental fish is the Aquarama trade fair in Singapore – the industry's largest international trade and consumer event.
