ABB have unveiled its first employee cyber cafe. Installed at the company’s electricity manufacturing and power transmission and distribution projects facility in Stone, Staffordshire, it will enable all employees - from executives to factory line workers - to have free Internet and company Intranet access.

Speaking at the ABB Interactive Cafe launch, UK Chief Executive Eric Drewery said: "Prime Minister Tony Blair says he wants everyone to have Internet access by 2005. We want all our 8000 UK employees to have access now.

"We want our employees to be able to pull off company information as and when they need it and we want to make it easier for them to organise their work and home lives by enabling them to do their grocery shopping online or book a holiday during the lunch break," Drewery added.

The Interactive Cafe concept is the latest step in ABB’s overall e-Commerce, knowledge management and life-long learning programme. The Swiss-Swedish group is trying to transform itself from an oil-to-electrical equipment manufacturer into a high-tech, knowledge-based company.

Anna Lagerkvist