Iðnaðarmál - 01.01.1978, Blaðsíða 8

björnsson is of the opinion that lcelandic industry has a lot to
gain through systematic efforts in design and product develop-
ment. Icelandic design ought to become a matter of pride
for the lcelander.
Finnish art in industry and building p. 14
A news item on a Finnish exhibit in the Pompidou museum
to commemorate 100 years of industrial art in Finland.
Innovations in
lcelandic Fishing Gear Industry p. 15
The present issue of Idnadarmál is mainly devoted to the
above subject. The Editor visited recently three companies in
this branch of Industry and reports on their activities. For a
number of years we imported these items from Norway and
now we are even exporting same to Norway.
Hampidjan Ltd. of Reykjavik p. 15
has been active in this branch of industry since 1934 and
produced for a quarter of a century all bottom trawls from
hemp for the lcelandic fishing fleet. But the change in
fishing methods in the last decade showed the company that
it must either completely change its production in order to
meet foreign competition or close down. The company chose
the first alternative. It installed new machinery and changed
the production programme in order to meet the needs of the
modern lcelandic Fishing Fleet. The new production is a
revolution in the Fishing Gear Industry in lceland.
Hampidjan Ltd. produces only the trawl nets. For instance
the firm has been unable to compete with Japanese, South-
Korean and Formosa-Chinese companies in purse seines and
cod gills because of low wages in these countriyes. The com-
pany produces now about 800 tons lines and ropes, some 570
tons of nets and as a sideline some 20 tons of covers besides
some 200 tons of plastic tubes for electrical installations a
year.
It has a good market in the Faroe Islands and Denmark and
by now a new market is opening up in North-America, mainly
on the Eastern Coast of Canada.
Recently, Hampidjan has introduced a novelty which has
become immensely popular with lcelandic fishermen. This is
a bottom rope with inlaid lead weights. It greatly facilitates
the handling of the nets, provides for an even weight dis-
tribution.
The production is evidently dependent on fluctuations in
the fishing industry and for that reason they have tried to
diversify their production. For that reason they have started
production of the electrical tubes and sewer pipes, but they
have not gone into producing fittings for same, since the
market for these articles is too small in lceland, but they
have geared the pipes for standard imported fittings.
In Vélsmidjan Oddi Ltd. in Akureyri p. 19
production has started on bobbins for bottom trawling. These
are considered better and more endurable than bobbins im-
ported from Great Britian and Germany. The bobbins are
made of two half-bowls which are welded together and a
special girdle of a chromium mixture welded to the joints
which has prooved very endurable when trawling on a lawa
bottom. The production has been in the range of 2000 a year
in the beginning.
Export is planned to the Faroe Islands where bottom condi-
tions are similar to those in and around lceland. Oddi Ltd.
also makes a type of spacing bobbins which are casted tube-
like cylinders which fit well to the bottom conditions around
lceland.
Plasteinangrun Ltd. of Akureyri p. 20
started last year production of floating rings for nets. This
production unit is owned by the Cooperative Companies in lce-
land and was founded in 1961. Initially the company produced
only insulating boards of plastics, which last year amountet
to some 6600 cubic meters and in 1966 they started with
production of plastic bags.
This production has proved very good and by now the
produced all floating rings used in lceland. But last year this
company went into the domestic appliance business and
offered this production line to the lcelandic Cooperatives.
This production has prooved very good and by now the
company has obtained all the market in lceland and 50% of
the Norwegian market. The floating rings are also exported to
the Faroe Islands, Denmark, Greenland and to Eastern Canada.
The Invention Office in Denmark p. 22
By Björn Westphal Eriksen.
A description of the activity of the above office and how
it has assisted Danish inventors to have their inventions
patented. The author also evaluates the results of Danish
inventors, who have made use of the office and how many
patent applications have led to success which is about 2-5%
of registered applications, which is a similar result to other
such offices in Europe.
The Danish Invention Office now employs 11 persons and
3 specialists. The office is also assisted by a Data Company
that registers all information and spreads it to interested
parties.
State of Health and Management
Management officers and their State of Health p. 25
By Donald Norfolk.
An article on health conditions of managers and how the
stress of modern life can be met by a sensible diet, regular
motion, neccessary rest, moderation in the habit of living, a
quied view of life and a regular check-up by the Doctor.
(Translated from „Management to-day“ March 1978).
Useful Novelties p. 30
lnbreakab/3 Window-panes from the PPC Industries. (From
the Glass Industry, November 1977).
Cable Insulation of Polyethylen (PEX).
(From ,,Ny Teknik", February 2nd, 1978).
Plastics Welding by Ultra Sonics.
(From Engineering Materials and Design, February 1978).
Flexible Axle-connections.
(From Engineering, April 1978).
Reinforched Plate Connection, called Peramelt.
(From Engineering, December 1977).
MIG/MAG Welding Machine.
(From AJOUR I T, November 1978).