KraussMaffei Extrusion successfully concluded the KraussMaffei TecDays ‘World of Extrusion’ in Laatzen near Hannover, Germany, with a focus on topics such as pipe & profile, recycling and circular economy.

The three-day event was held from 25 to 27 March and was graced by around 300 visitors from 44 countries. The event provided participants with an ideal platform to exchange ideas on innovations and sustainable solutions in the field of extrusion. Apart from high-profile keynote speeches from industry and research partners and live demonstrations at the state-of-the-art Technology Centre, the event saw the world premiere of the new PVC multi-layer pipe head and a new machine concept for upcycling post-consumer plastic waste.

Extrusion of pipes and profiles was the main topic of the event's first section. Prominent keynote addresses from KraussMaffei Extrusion partners and specialists, including Borealis, Baerlocher, Omya, Plastics Europe and Georg Fischer, offered intriguing perspectives on global extrusion industry difficulties and future trends. The business offered cost-effective and environmentally friendly answers to the urgent problems facing the plastics sector. The ‘Smart Factories’ concept was introduced by Kabelwerk Eupen as a vision of the automated and digitally transformed factory of the future.

A live demonstration of the new PVC multi-layer pipe head, which creates three-layer pipes from virgin material and foamed core, was the focus of the first section. Spider wires and other such weak areas are avoided by the creative distribution method. The new pipe head adds to increased sustainability because of its material versatility, which includes processing recycled materials. Visitors also saw live demonstrations of PVC granulation and PE-PA pipe manufacture.

A novel machine design for the regulated upcycling of post-consumer plastic waste into premium automobile compounds was unveiled during the event's second section, which concentrated on recycling and the circular economy. Accurate, repeatable colours were guaranteed by the groundbreaking ColorAdjust technology. Additionally, a live demonstration of the scalable and energy-efficient manufacture of food-grade rPET granulates was conducted.

The TecDays offered in-depth explanations of several recycling procedures in addition to live demonstrations. The most recent advancements in the circular economy were discussed, along with mechanical, solvent-based and chemical approaches. Prominent research institutes including IKV Aachen and IKK Hannover, as well as industry partners PureCycle Technology, Veolia, Lober, Polymetrix and Exxon Mobil, provided insightful presentations on recent advancements and trends. Innovative technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) in compound production, smart sensors for inline quality monitoring and solutions for cable compounds in an electrified future were included to the programme.

A special event was held in the evening for celebrating 100 years of partnership with Kabelwerk Eupen AG.

Leading tyre-retreading machinery maker Marangoni has unveiled a new strategic sustainability strategy for 2025–2027 that reaffirms its social and environmental pledges.

In order to direct and oversee its ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) initiatives during the ensuing three years, the tyre retreading expert has voluntarily created a targeted action framework. The framework is in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN's 2030 Agenda. Marangoni claims that the plan was implemented in accordance with globally accepted standards, such as AccountAbility 1000 and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, and that it is meant to function as a monitoring tool to periodically assess the company's progress as well as a guide for action.

The company has identified 17 specific initiatives as part of this strategy. These were established after a materiality study that took into account input from external stakeholders as well as internal input. Each of the 17 initiatives is built around three core pillars, namely supporting the ecological transition, integrating ESG principles into corporate governance and ensuring a safe, stimulating and inclusive work environment. The result is a ‘balanced approach’ reflecting management’s priorities and stakeholder expectations, said the company.

Trelleborg Group has finalised the purchase of National Gummi AB from the Swedish industrial group National through its Trelleborg Industrial Solutions business unit.

Extruded rubber profiles and gaskets for specialised industrial, automotive and construction applications make up the company offering. Mostly in Northern Europe, sales in 2024 were little over SEK 150 million. The production facility is situated in Halmstad, Sweden. The acquisition is in line with Trelleborg's plan to establish dominant positions in desirable markets. This deal excludes National's activities outside of extruded rubber profiles and gaskets, which will continue to be a part of the National group.

Jean-Paul Mindermann, Business Area President, Trelleborg Industrial Solutions, said, “This is an exciting addition to our portfolio. National has specialist capabilities and knowhow which will allow us to broaden our value-adding offering to customers across Europe.”

BKT has expanded its AGRIMAX range of agricultural tyres with the launch of AGRIMAX SPARGO SB, a new steel-belted version. The new tyre is aimed at row crop, vineyard and orchard operations to meet the specific challenges of farming environments where steep terrain, narrow row spacing and muddy conditions require precision and reliability.

The new tyre, which builds on the AGRIMAX SPARGO row crop tyre, has VF (Very High Flexion) technology, which enables it to bear the same load at lower inflation pressure. This helps to improve handling and comfort while reducing soil compaction. Steel belts improve the tyre's resilience to punctures, lessening the possibility of downtime and damage from sharp objects. At faster speeds, it also enhances riding accuracy. The polyester casing and steel belts work together to distribute stress evenly throughout the tyre, preventing uneven wear and extending tread life. By reducing vibration, a revised sidewall enhances riding comfort even further, which is especially useful for precise spraying operations.

The tread pattern of the AGRIMAX SPARGO SB is more open and higher than that of its predecessor since it has a deeper tread and smaller lugs. With a D-class speed rating that permits travel at up to 65 kmph, this design seeks to enhance road handling. Smoother transitions between field and road are made possible by the tyre's dual-layer mud ejection mechanism, which rapidly removes debris from the tread.

Dilip Vaidya, Senior President & Director Technology, BKT, said, "In the case of the AGRIMAX SPARGO SB, we have paid special attention to the casing design by using a strong polyester structure that offers greater strength, flexibility and durability than traditional materials. This choice enables the tyre to handle heavy loads while keeping deformation under control, improving the footprint and thus traction, stability and handling."

TBC Corporation, a joint venture between Michelin and Sumitomo Corporation, has entered into an agreement to divest its Midas franchise portfolio to Mavis Tire Express Service Corp., which operates a tyre retail chain across the United States.

The deal is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025, subject to the approval of the competent authorities. This deal is a component of TBC's ongoing reorganisation, which intends to concentrate management resources on its core operations.

According to a statement issued by Michelin, “TBC distributes tyres and provides automotive repair and maintenance services in the US, Mexico and Canada. TBC identifies wholesale, distribution and Big O Tires, tyre retail focused franchise portfolio under TBC, as core businesses, leveraging an industry-leading network and scale, whereas Midas activity mostly relies on retail automotive services. The operation will enable TBC to focus on driving accelerated growth and value in its core businesses. It is also an opportunity for Michelin and Mavis to support and reinforce their commercial agreement.”