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Highly competitive markets and depressed prices are not generally regarded as conducive to successful business endeavours. In the Czech Republic, however, it is these factors precisely that have allowed new players to gain a foothold in the energy market. In 2004, the Czech Republic adopted an innovative energy policy that made it one of a handful of countries in the world to offer a competitive market for electricity and natural gas, where customers are free to change providers at will. This, coupled with low energy prices on both spot and futures markets, has been key to the success of new energy companies like Centropol Energy, a.s., headquartered in the city of Ústí nad Labem.

Leasing is a well-established financing alternative which allows the lessee to use a car, a computer or any other lease object against payment of a fee. It is particularly popular with small and medium-sized businesses as it gives them more financial freedom, given that the equipment is procured and financed by the lessor. One of the leading German leasing companies focused on the small and medium-sized firm sector is ALBIS Leasing AG. The group offers customised leasing solutions for everything from single trucks to complete workshop installations that are especially competitive – thanks to its own bank that covers all refinancing requirements.

Today, Warsaw is one of the most important traffic, economy and trade hubs in Central and Eastern Europe. In addition to this, the capital city of Poland also boasts several universities, theatres, museums, historical monuments and other tourist sights. Located right in the heart of Warsaw’s thriving business district, the Hilton Warsaw Hotel and Convention Centre is both the ideal venue to do business and to relax after a stressful day. The hotel and convention centre is owned by the Atlas Group, a dynamic investment company focusing on real estate investments in Central Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, and is managed by the Hilton Group. The Atlas Group owns and manages several prestigious properties in Warsaw of which the Hilton Warsaw Hotel and Convention Centre is just one highlight.

Biological and chemical warfare are outlawed by the Geneva Convention but the danger posed by terrorists, who recognise no such international laws, is one that must be addressed. So-called CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) detection systems provide early warning of such attacks and are a vital tool in national governments’ response to terrorist threats. Finnish company Environics Oy specialises in industrial gas detection and CBRN monitoring solutions that can be adapted and scaled to requirements. Founded in 1987, Environics is today the supplier of choice for industrial, government and military organisations worldwide.

Low-emission combustion and sustainable drive technology concepts to cut fuel costs are prerequisites for future vehicle technology. Scientists and car manufacturers alike are focusing strongly on the development of new, alternative solutions which bring forward new, environmentally friendly ideas. One company in particular has been standing out in this process and has contributed significantly to the implementation of alternative drive concepts for cars and trucks. For the past six years, ZEICOM GmbH from Regensburg has been working hard on the introduction of a new system that enables diesel-fuelled vehicles to run on LPG and CNG.

Pacemakers have become a standard part of medicine toady. Without the tiny technical devices, countless lives would have been lost since the first one was successfully implanted in 1958. Back in 1977, Prof. Peter Osypka had the idea to develop unbreakable electrodes for implantable pacemakers. That was the foundation of Osypka AG. The company, today with 180 employees, continues making medical progress with a new facility for pediatric research, a field with infinite possibilities.

It affixes products together, conceals unsightly cords, marks important spots and keeps paints and colours from bleeding into one another. It is often overlooked until someone finds him or herself in a sticky situation which could be easily remedied with a simple piece of tape. Whether at home or at work, when there is none, people frantically scream, ‘I need tape, now!’ The Bavarian business JaBand understands this need for the multifunctional sticky ribbon. The company knows how it eases workplace tasks and aids productivity. Therefore, JaBand has dedicated itself to developing adhesive tapes that hold industries, from aerospace to automotives, together.

Whoever buys a brand new car wants it to be actually brand new and not a used one, buyers want to start at 0 km. Cars therefore are transported by special car transporters from the manufacturer to the dealer. But what about heavy duty vehicles? That’s where the Italian company Graglia S.r.l. comes in. Based in Turin in Northern Italy, Graglia ranks with the major players in Europe for the road transport of all type of heavy duty vehicles and mobile machinery.

Lightweight, durable, versatile – there are many reasons why manufacturers are replacing their steel components with aluminium products, but they all add up to a quality material whose use can speed up production and whose cost-performance ratio can transform manufacturing processes. That is why manufacturers are increasingly turning to stable partnerships with Europe’s largest aluminium profile manufacturer, Hungary-based Sapa Profiles Kft.

Prices of medication are always a topic of hot debate. Many find them too high and actively search for lower-priced alternatives. One option for medication and medical products for less is the reimport market. An expert in this field is ACA Müller ADAG Pharma AG. Headquartered in Gottmadingen, Germany, the pharmaceuticals firm purchases medication to be sold elsewhere in europe.

Establishing a new company within a niche can be slow and challenging. This challenge only motivated the owners of TB Logisztik Kft., a logistics company founded in Szeged, Hungary. In just a few years, TB Logisztik has already established itself as a trusted warehouse logistics supplier for the food industry.

Long gone are those times when people used to contract all their insurances with the same provider. Now that the states are constantly cutting down on national provisions and services, consumers have become very performance-oriented and compare prices and provisions. In order to get a market overview and to find the best provider, most of them trust their insurance and finance affairs to a neutral broker. In Germany, Fonds Finanz Maklerservice GmbH from Munich is one of the leading broker teams. The bbg study published in a renowned German finance magazine even voted Fonds Finanz Maklerservice “The best broker pool in Germany.”

A car is only as good as its parts, and no one knows that better than Saint-Gobain Sekurit Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG. Located in Herzogenrath, Germany, this glass specialist produces front, side and rear windows for motor vehicles, serving a number of the world’s biggest car manufacturers.

We often take for granted the impact the invention of the incandescent bulb, most often credited to Thomas Edison, has had on society as it spread around the globe. The groundbreaking technology touched every aspect of life, improving the safety of city streets, allowing companies to operate around the clock and extending the evening in homes. Little wonder that the invention spread like wildfire, spawning new companies. In Sweden, for example, in order to meet the growing demand for high quality lighting solutions, a company called Lumalampan was founded to produce the technology in 1930. Fifty years later, in 1980, the same company realised it would benefit its customers best by developing long-lasting lightbulbs. With this change of focus came a change of name, and Aura Light International AB was established. Under the ownership of Aura Group AB, Aura Light continues to operate out of its headquarters in Solna, near Stockholm, providing the highest quality lighting possible to its customers.

The property market continues to offer strong returns for investors and represents a secure investment over the long term. Even in times of depressed property prices, a property asset that on paper may seem to be depreciating in value can still generate satisfactory rental revenues to tide the owner over. Palladium France is part of the Dutch-owned Palladium Group, which operates a portfolio of broadly diversified activities in the European and US real estate markets. This diversification has ensured its continued growth and success over the past century.

For some entrepreneurs designing, producing and selling a product is not just a way of life, it is a mission. This has certainly been the case for the Basso brothers. For over 30 years, they have had the “mission” to design, produce and sell machines and systems related to sheet metal coils. In 1980, the brothers founded Camu S.r.l. in Bressanvido, Italy, where it remains today. Over the years, the company has adapted to increased technology, but precision, accuracy and care have been company essentials from the beginning.

A transmission or gearbox is a vital part in any motor vehicle as it transmits mechanical power and adapts the output of the engine to the drive wheels. Most transmissions have multiple gears, with the ability to switch between them as speed varies. This switching may be done manually, semi-automatically or automatically. One of the leading experts in this high-tech sector is GIF – Gesellschaft für Industrieforschung mbH. The successful German company is an engineering firm that works for major car makers across the globe, helping them to enhance the environmental friendliness, safety, comfort and economy of their products – a pledge that is underlined by the slogan ‘Gears go GIF’.

Germany is well known for its strong and relatively stable real estate market offering numerous opportunities for investors. As a result, the US-based real estate private equity company Madison International Realty selected Germany as the springboard for its European activities. Today, its German subsidiary Madison Real Estate is well established in the market as the leading liquidity provider in secondary market closed-end real estate funds.

People in different countries are divided by the way they speak, the way they behave and, of course, geographical location. The keys to clearing these obstacles are education and travel. This philosophy forms the basis of EF Education First Ltd., the world leader in international education. Striving to break down the barriers of language, culture and geography that divide us, the globally operating group offers programmes for all ages, from language learning and cultural exchange programmes to academic and university preparation programmes.

Paper is a versatile material which lends itself to a variety of applications. Paper converters manufacture special paper with clearly defined characteristics tailored to customers’ requirements. Specialised in paper converting for medical and hygiene applications, the Italian company ERREBI Paper s.r.l. ranks with the leading brands in its field today.