Continental has introduced the Conti Coach HA 5, the inaugural tyre in its new Conti Coach Generation 5 line, specifically engineered for the coach and bus sector across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. This all-axle product is designed to address the complex challenges of long-distance and intercity travel by offering a balanced performance profile that prioritises longevity, fuel efficiency and all-weather safety.

A key achievement of the Conti Coach HA 5 is its best-in-class rolling resistance, a result of an optimised casing and a specially formulated tread compound that minimises heat generation. This engineering focus directly translates to lower fuel consumption and reduced CO₂ emissions for fleets. The tyre’s environmental and efficiency credentials are confirmed by its EU label ratings, which show a B grade for both rolling resistance and wet grip, demonstrating a strong combination of energy savings and safety.

Durability is another central feature, achieved through an advanced tread cap compound that provides superior wear resistance. This ensures the tyre can withstand high loads and varied road conditions, effectively extending service life and reducing operational costs. Complementing this durability is a commitment to passenger safety. The tyre’s pattern design incorporates features like pocket sipes that enhance grip in wet conditions, providing dependable all-weather performance and bolstering driver confidence.

Beyond its physical attributes, the Conti Coach HA 5 is offered as an intelligent tyre. An integrated sensor enables digital monitoring, allowing for real-time fleet management. This capability helps operators track tyre performance, optimise maintenance schedules, extend service intervals and minimise vehicle downtime. By maximising tyre lifespan and operational efficiency, this intelligent system significantly lowers the total cost of ownership.

Now available for both original equipment and the replacement market in a size 295/80 R 22.5, the Conti Coach HA 5 is ideally suited for long-haul and intercity bus fleets. With sensors included as standard for new vehicles and available on request for replacements, this tyre represents a comprehensive solution. It empowers fleets to achieve greater year-round dependability while simultaneously reducing their operating expenses and environmental impact.

Hinnerk Kaiser, Head of Product Development at Continental Truck Tyres EMEA, said, “The Conti Coach HA 5 is the most advanced coach tyre we have ever developed. By combining state-of-the-art tread compounds with an optimised casing design, the new tyre is independent of weather conditions. It delivers outstanding 20 percent higher mileage, 10 percent lower rolling resistance and reliable safety thanks to its high grip, compared to the predecessor tyre. This means that fleets can cover more miles over the entire life of the tyre, consume less fuel and produce fewer CO₂ emissions. Our goal was to create a tyre that doesn’t force fleet operators to choose between cost efficiency and environmental responsibility. The Conti Coach HA 5 directly supports operators’ climate targets by lowering fuel usage and emissions, while its durability and retreadability reduce raw material consumption. It’s a solution designed for both operational performance and measurable environmental benefits.”

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Bridgestone has confirmed a January 2026 launch for its new premium sports motorcycle tyre, the BATTLAX RACING STREET RS12, in North America. Developed under the concept ‘From Circuit to Street,’ this road-legal tyre is engineered to deliver the highest level of dry grip within the BATTLAX lineup by directly incorporating technologies refined in competitive racing.

The RS12 features a specialised compound derived from race tyre development, which works in concert with a newly designed tread pattern. This pattern’s optimised groove ratio enhances overall tyre rigidity and increases the contact area during cornering for superior grip. A significant innovation for the front tyre is the introduction of the HE-MS BELT structure, a technology previously reserved for top-tier global motorcycle races. This flexible belt system equalises contact pressure to provide a further boost in traction.

By integrating these endurance-racing technologies, the RS12 achieves comprehensive performance improvements on the circuit, with a primary focus on dry conditions. The result is a notable reduction in lap times compared to its predecessor, the RS11. Furthermore, the synergistic combination of its compound, pattern and structure ensures that the high grip level is consistently maintained over multiple laps, resisting performance degradation. This gives riders confidence and a more engaging experience across diverse riding scenarios, from aggressive sport riding on dry pavement to tackling winding roads and dedicated track days.

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 India's Rubber Board has donated floor cleaning equipment valued at Rs 10 lakh to Kottayam Medical College as part of the Central Government's cleanliness initiative.

The equipment, comprising a scrubber dryer floor cleaning machine and a vacuum cleaner, was handed over at a ceremony held at the medical college on Sunday.

M Vasanthagesan IRS, Executive Director of the Rubber Board, presented the equipment at a meeting presided over by V N Vasavan, Kerala's Minister for Co-operation, Ports and Devaswom.

The event, conducted under the Centre's 'Swachhata Action Plan', also recognised cleaning workers at the medical college.

Dr Varghese Punnoose, Principal of Kottayam Medical College, Dr T K Jayakumar, Superintendent of the institution, and Dr Binoi K Kurien, Secretary in-charge of the Rubber Board, addressed the gathering.

The Rubber Board, a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, oversees development and regulation of India's rubber industry.

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Apollo Tyres’ Chennai Plant has formalised a multi-institutional partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with five esteemed engineering colleges from Kerala, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. This strategic alliance is designed to fortify the nexus between industry and academia, with a focused objective of developing a robust, industry-ready talent pool to meet future sector demands. The collaboration represents a significant investment in the human capital pipeline, directly linking academic output with corporate needs.

The collaborating institutions in this forward-looking initiative are SASTRA University, SRM TRP Engineering College, JJ College Of Engineering & Technology, Ma'din Academy and Nilachal Polytechnic. The partnership’s framework encompasses a comprehensive suite of initiatives aimed at mutual development. For students, it provides a structured pathway to employment, including placement assurances during their final year and enhanced campus hiring opportunities. To bridge theoretical knowledge with practical application, the programme will facilitate organised industry visits to Apollo’s manufacturing facility, offering students firsthand exposure to modern production processes. Complementing this, a series of expert-led sessions, technical lectures and seminars will be delivered by in-house professionals from Apollo Tyres, ensuring the curriculum remains aligned with evolving industry practices.

This symbiotic engagement yields significant strategic benefits for all stakeholders. Students gain invaluable industry awareness and confidence, while academic institutions enhance their curriculum's practical relevance. For Apollo Tyres, the initiative enables the early identification and nurturing of prospective talent, effectively streamlining recruitment and fostering a positive perception of manufacturing careers.

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German chemicals group Wacker Chemie lowered its full-year outlook after third-quarter profit fell by nearly a quarter, hit by weak demand and intense competition from China.

The Munich-based company, which makes silicones and polysilicon for semiconductors and solar panels, reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 112 million euros ($121.6 million) for the July-September period, down 23 percent from 145 million euros a year earlier.

Sales fell 6 percent to 1.34 billion euros from 1.43 billion euros, weighed down by lower prices and unfavourable currency effects.

The results were broadly in line with analyst expectations, which had forecast sales of 1.37 billion euros and EBITDA of 101 million euros, according to Vara Research.

Wacker swung to an operating loss of 20 million euros in the quarter, from a profit of 30 million euros a year ago, whilst net income turned negative to 82 million euros, compared with a profit of 34 million euros.

“The chemical industry is under pressure – worldwide, but in Europe in particular. The economic situation is tense, and market demand is weak. At the same time, the market environment is changing, and competitive pressure is high – especially from China. And this is something that we are experiencing at WACKER as well,” Chief Executive Christian Hartel said.

“Like many other companies, we had to lower our full-year forecast in the middle of this year. Even though we closed Q3 in line with market expectations, sales and earnings were again down year on year in almost all business divisions,” he said.

Wacker launched a comprehensive cost-cutting programme in October aimed at achieving significant savings in production and administration, with implementation planned to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

The company now expects full-year sales at the lower end of its previously forecast range of 5.5 billion to 5.9 billion euros, with EBITDA in the lower half of its 500 million to 700 million euro range. It also anticipates a negative net result for the year, significantly below the previous year.

The company’s silicones division, its most significant business, saw sales decline 7 percent to 673 million euros, whilst EBITDA fell 19 percent to 86 million euros. The polysilicon unit, which serves both solar and semiconductor markets, reported a 40 percent drop in EBITDA to 18 million euros, as low prices and exchange-rate effects offset strong hyperpure polysilicon performance in semiconductors.

Wacker’s workforce declined to 16,616 employees at the end of September from 16,724 three months earlier.

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