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.

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The EU Commission’s proposal to amend the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has been met with sharp criticism from the German rubber industry. While supportive of the goal to reduce bureaucracy, the industry argues that the amendment, presented on 21 October 2025, fundamentally misses the mark. According to Boris Engelhardt, Managing Director of the German Rubber Industry Association (wdk), the changes create new, significant problems rather than solving existing ones. The association is therefore reiterating the introduction of ‘first-touch principle’ to achieve the regulation's goals without crippling businesses.

The core of the issue lies in a new requirement for handling supply chain data. Instead of each company registering its products, the proposal mandates that a single reference number from the first importer must be passed through the entire supply chain. Engelhardt warns that this places an immense technical and administrative burden on companies. Their IT systems, built at great cost for the original EUDR rules, cannot process and forward countless supplier numbers, requiring expensive, time-consuming upgrades that cannot be completed by the 2025/2026 deadline.

Beyond the technical impracticality, the industry identifies a more severe flaw: the compulsory sharing of these reference numbers would force companies to disclose their confidential supplier relationships to all downstream competitors. This is viewed as an unacceptable violation of trade secrets.

As a solution, wdk champions the ‘first-touch principle’. This approach would concentrate all regulatory oversight exclusively on the first economic actor who brings a covered raw material into the EU. All subsequent companies within the EU's single market would be exempt from the EUDR's burdens. The wdk contends that this system would fully meet the deforestation regulation's environmental objectives while instantly resolving the IT system overload and robustly protecting sensitive commercial information for all businesses in the value chain.

Engelhardt concluded, "After two years of tinkering, fixing laws at the last minute with a hasty needle doesn't work. That's not how democratic legislators work. The proposed amendment to the EUDR creates ambiguities and gaps, particularly regarding corporate liability, the consequences of which are unforeseeable. The only solution can be: EUDR with a first-touch principle!”

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The Nokian Tyres Green Step Ligna concept tyre, a collaborative effort with UPM, secured top honours at the 2025 New Wood competition. This prestigious award recognises groundbreaking wood-based bioeconomy solutions that tackle global challenges and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. The jury assessed entries on their societal importance, market potential and innovative use of wood, ultimately selecting a winner seen as a benchmark for the industry.

The concept tyre earned praise for making a concrete advance towards sustainable transport and materials production. It serves as a powerful example of how ecological considerations can be integrated with high performance, offering a blueprint for other companies. Its core innovation involves a significant material substitution in the tyre's sidewall, where conventional fossil-based fillers have been replaced with UPM BioMotion, a renewable filler derived from lignin.

As fillers determine much of a tyre's durability and performance and account for roughly a third of its mass, this shift is particularly impactful. Lignin is a natural compound abundant in wood and is generated as a by-product of pulp manufacturing. The successful application of this bio-based material in a demanding component like a tyre sidewall signals a pivotal shift for the entire industry, marking a substantial leap in the journey toward a future built on renewable resources.

Pauli Aalto-Setälä, a jury member of the New Wood 2025 competition, said, “Sometimes the most powerful innovations don’t alter the product itself, but the materials behind it – transforming it into something truly sustainable.”

Martta Fredrikson, Chair of the New Wood competition jury, said, "This year, the utilisation of industrial side streams was particularly highlighted in the New Wood competition. The lignin-based tyre material that won the competition and the second-placed wood fibre insulation are excellent examples of this.”

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Bridgestone has earned significant acclaim from the German automotive publication Auto Bild, being jointly awarded the 2025 winter tyre 'Manufacturer of the Year' title. This prestigious honour was largely driven by the outstanding performance of the company's premium winter tyre, the Blizzak 6, in the publication's rigorous annual evaluations.

The manufacturer’s success extended beyond winter tyres, with the Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6 also achieving a top podium finish. It secured second place in the all-season category for 'Manufacturer of the Year' and was declared a joint test winner in Auto Bild’s specific SUV All-Season 2025 Tyre Test. The tyre earned an exemplary overall rating after proving to be a strong and balanced all-rounder across a wide range of performance criteria.

Further validating these results, independent testing by TÜV SÜD confirmed the Turanza All Season 6's best-in-class wet braking capabilities, alongside excellent braking in both dry and snowy conditions. The tests also highlighted its exceptional snow traction, cornering and handling. An additional benefit is a 20 percent improvement in mileage over its predecessor, contributing to greater cost efficiency and a reduced environmental footprint.

Similarly, the winter-focused Blizzak 6, launched in 2024 as the successor to a multiple-award-winning model, has demonstrated top-tier performance in TÜV SÜD assessments. It is a top-rated tyre for snow braking and traction and is reported to offer the shortest stopping distances on wet roads. It also boasts a substantial 32 percent improvement in mileage.

A key technological foundation for both of these award-winning tyres is Bridgestone's ENLITEN Technology. This next-generation engineering approach is designed to deliver customised and uncompromised performance while simultaneously advancing sustainability and enhancing electric vehicle readiness across the company's product portfolio.

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The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is poised for its 12th season, with critical pre-season testing scheduled for 27 to 31 October in Valencia, Spain. This event serves as the final proving ground for all teams and the official technology partner, Hankook Tire. During this intensive period, drivers and engineers will work with the GEN3 Evo race car and Hankook's dedicated iON Race tyres to fine-tune vehicle setups and gather essential performance data ahead of the first official race.

This season is particularly significant as it marks Hankook's fourth and final year as the championship's exclusive tyre supplier. The GEN3 Evo iON Race tyre has established a remarkable record of reliability and consistent performance, having supported every race since its introduction without a single failure. This partnership has been pivotal in advancing the series' demanding standards for efficiency and safety.

Alongside the technical preparations, the Valencia test will host important inclusivity initiatives. An expanded Women's Test will provide 20 female drivers from all 10 teams with valuable track time in the current race car. Running concurrently, the Hankook-presented FIA Girls on Track programme will inspire approximately 100 young women through workshops and team interactions, aiming to cultivate the next generation of motorsport talent.

This pre-season activity sets the stage for a dynamic 17-round global championship covering 11 iconic cities, which will kick off in São Paulo on 6 December and conclude in London the following August, showcasing electric racing in eleven iconic cities worldwide.

Maximilian Günther (DS PENSKE) highlighted the tyre's exceptional capabilities, saying, “Following my victory at the Season 10 Tokyo E-Prix, I was able to secure another triumph at the Season 11 Jeddah E-Prix. The GEN3 Evo iON Race tyre consistently demonstrated exceptional performance, delivering remarkable grip and precise handling, even under the most demanding driving conditions. This high level of performance enabled us to maintain stability and competitiveness throughout the entire race. As we will be using the same tyre this season, I am eager to build on this momentum and strive for yet another victory.”

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