KraussMaffei Hosts Successful TechCenter Days 2025 Customer Event

KraussMaffei Hosts Successful TechCenter Days 2025 Customer Event

KraussMaffei has concluded its three-day TechCenter Days 2025 event, drawing approximately 350 international customers to its headquarters in Parsdorf.

The customer event, held from March 31 to April 2 under the motto “Innovation meets technology,” featured expert presentations, plant tours, and demonstrations of injection moulding technologies, automation systems, and additive manufacturing solutions.

Visitors experienced 15 technology exhibits showcasing innovations in sustainable manufacturing, including the company’s ColorForm, FiberForm, and SilcoSet technologies, alongside the newly introduced LRXplus robot and large-format PowerPoint 3D printer.

“We took a lot of positive ideas with us and are looking forward to collaborative projects. The event was perfectly organised, and the catering was fantastic; we will be happy to come back,” said Stefan Meßner, Head of Strategic Procurement at GIWA GmbH.

Fernando Moniz, Advanced Engineering Director at GLN Advanced Solutions S.A., added: “On behalf of GLN, I would like to thank you all for the wonderful TechCenter Days at your premises. The TechCenter Days exceeded my expectations, and my only regret is that the time flew by.”

Company officials reported particularly positive feedback from returning international customers, who noted significant improvements compared to previous editions of the event.

Tegeta Green Planet Marks Earth Day With Interactive Waste Management Workshop At Batumi School

Tegeta Green Planet Marks Earth Day With Interactive Waste Management Workshop At Batumi School

Tegeta Green Planet recently visited the Georgian-American School in Batumi to mark Earth Day, where a presentation on specific waste management was held for fifth and sixth grade students. The meeting was conducted in an interactive format and included a variety of activities, enabling students to better understand environmental responsibility and the importance of proper waste handling.

Students actively participated in discussions, answered questions and engaged in practical tasks, gaining knowledge they can apply in everyday life about treating the environment responsibly and transforming waste into a resource. At the end of the activity, participants received certificates and symbolic gifts for their engagement, which further boosted their motivation and positive experience.

Established under the corporate social responsibility framework of Tegeta Holding, Tegeta Green Planet aims to raise environmental awareness in society and encourage sustainable behaviour. The organisation’s team actively collaborates with educational institutions by visiting schools and delivering informative presentations, interactive activities and engaging games that help students understand environmental protection through practical examples.

The main goal of the initiative is to raise environmental awareness among the younger generation and develop skills that will help them become more responsible citizens in the future. This activity is part of a broader educational campaign through which Tegeta Green Planet will gradually visit schools across different regions of Georgia.

ATMA Urges Government To Expand Duty Relief Amid West Asia Crisis

ATMA Urges Government To Expand Duty Relief Amid West Asia Crisis

The Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) has called on the Government of India to introduce customs duty relief on critical raw materials due to supply chain instability from the West Asia crisis. ATMA acknowledged the government’s temporary duty exemption on synthetic rubber and certain resins until June 2026 as a constructive step.

Despite this, ATMA noted that inputs like tyre cord fabric, bead wire, steel cord, carbon black, processing oils and petrochemical chemicals still attract high import duties during price volatility and supply constraints. Crude-linked inputs account for up to 70 percent of raw material costs, with volatile crude prices and stressed shipping routes raising costs, delaying shipments and increasing freight and insurance premiums.

ATMA also highlighted bead wire shortages caused by domestic industrial gas and LPG issues, requesting a temporary waiver from Quality Control Order requirements for imports. The association sought sulphur supplies for tyre manufacturers and urged refineries to sustain process oils while shifting towards high-value materials like Neodymium Polybutadiene Rubber.

ATMA warned that raw material disruptions could affect farm and logistics tyre supplies. The association reaffirmed support for Make in India and self-reliance, stressing continued government-industry dialogue to protect original equipment manufacturers, transporters, farmers and consumers.

Arun Mammen, Chairman, ATMA, said, "We appreciate the Government’s timely support. However, given continued global uncertainties, extending duty relief to other critical raw materials is essential to maintain production stability and cost competitiveness."

Formula 1 And Mumbai Falcons Launch India’s First Official Sim Racing Championship

Formula 1 And Mumbai Falcons Launch India’s First Official Sim Racing Championship

Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited have unveiled India’s first official F1 Sim Racing Championship, marking a milestone for motorsport in the country. Under an agreement granting Mumbai Falcons rights to host an F1 sanctioned virtual competition, the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026 establishes a national platform for emerging talent. The championship creates a structured transition from simulated to professional motorsport, offering young drivers a credible entry point. This marks the first time Formula 1 has introduced such a program exclusively for India.

The announcement arrives amid growing momentum to bring Formula 1 back to India and rising fan engagement. With esports now recognised under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act of 2025, the championship connects the country to Formula 1’s global driver pathway, tapping into an expanding motorsport ecosystem.

The competition will be conducted on F1 25, the official game of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, featuring identical circuits, formats, and liveries as the global series. Registrations open 30 April 2026 on the MFRL App. Participants can compete via PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox. Online qualifiers will lead to city-based simulator rounds, culminating in a national final in Mumbai in November.

Mumbai Falcons has previously supported the early careers of drivers who reached motorsport’s pinnacle, including Jehan Daruvala, Kush Maini, Arthur Leclerc, Dino Beganovic, Sebastian Montoya, Rafael Camara, James Wharton, Freddie Slater, Kean Nakamura Berta, Oleksandr Bondarev, Kimi Antonelli, Arvid Lindblad and Oliver Bearman. This proven foundation positions Mumbai Falcons to deliver India’s first scalable motorsport pipeline.

Narain Karthikeyan, India's first Formula 1 Driver, said, “India has long been central to global growth story of Formula 1. With 78.8 million fans and a generation raised on F1 gaming, the time is right to introduce an official, competitive Sim Racing Championship here. Mumbai Falcons are the ideal partner, having invested years in building India’s motorsport pipeline. This initiative is unique, globally exclusive and will set a new benchmark for talent development.”

Ameet Gadhoke, Managing Director, Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited, said, “When we founded Mumbai Falcons in 2019, our ambition was to place India firmly on the global motorsport map and build a pipeline for world-class talent. Mumbai Falcons became the first Indian team to win an FIA-accredited international racing Championship. We have also supported the early careers of future Formula 1 stars. Partnering with Formula 1 to bring the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026 to life is yet another significant initiative in that direction.”

AKIN Solutions Brings Biotechnological Expertise To AZuR

AKIN Solutions Brings Biotechnological Expertise To AZuR

The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) has gained a new technology partner, AKIN Solutions, which is pioneering advanced material recycling methods for end-of-life tyres through its developing platform known as Rubber BioRefine. This biotechnology-driven system applies enzymatic processes originally refined in the plastics industry to rubber recycling for the first time, marking a significant step forward in the tyre circular economy. The central innovation focuses on converting previously hard-to-recycle tyre components into high-quality raw materials that match the quality of primary resources, thereby addressing a long-standing challenge in waste tire management.

At the core of the Rubber BioRefine approach is the selective cleavage of rubber polymer chains at the molecular level, which produces defined polymer fragments while preserving their structural integrity. Unlike conventional mechanical recycling methods that typically lead to a reduction in material value, this enzymatic technique enables a much higher grade of material reuse. It opens new possibilities for demanding rubber applications. The technology is specifically designed to integrate with existing recycling systems, particularly in combination with devulcanisation processes.

Another essential element of the platform is high-resolution molecular imaging using MALDI-MSI, a technique that allows AKIN Solutions to analyse the composition of rubber samples and create precise spatial maps of the compounds present. For the first time, this provides detailed insights into which substances exist in specific areas and at what concentrations, enabling more targeted assessment of material flows. Such precision is a key prerequisite for significantly more efficient recycling processes and for achieving high-quality circular economy management.

The technology remains in the development phase, with the ultimate goal of achieving industrial scalability and enabling large-scale economic application. Through this innovative combination of precise molecular analysis and enzymatic recovery, AKIN Solutions aims to fundamentally improve the material recycling of scrap tyres, reduce waste and emissions and help close material cycles. The partnership with AZuR is expected to strengthen the creation of future-proof, sustainable solutions for the entire tyre recycling value chain.