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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Liberty Tire Recycling recently hosted 20 visitors from the Recycling Association of Minnesota for an industry tour of its state operations. Company representatives guided the group through the entire scrap tyre processing cycle, demonstrating how inbound tyres are collected, processed and transformed into finished materials.

Beyond collecting tyres from retailers, auto body shops and transfer stations, Liberty Tire Recycling assists local governments with amnesty drop-off events and illegal dump cleanup initiatives. These efforts protect roadsides, neighbourhoods and natural areas by redirecting discarded tyres into responsible recycling channels. Minnesota generates more than four and a half million end-of-life tyres annually, making robust collection infrastructure essential. Liberty accepts tyres from landfills, transfer centres, and generators such as tyres retailers and auto dealerships.

Despite a strong state framework, illegal dumping persists. Community amnesty events and targeted cleanups provide residents with convenient disposal options and give local governments a proven partner for addressing abandoned tyres piles. Liberty operates two key facilities serving Minnesota: a tyre collection and processing site in Savage and another in St. Martin. Both locations are part of Liberty’s North American network, which processes over 200 million tyres each year into rubber mulch, moulded rubber goods and rubberised asphalt components.

During the Recycling Association of Minnesota tour, visitors observed how end-of-life tyres become crumb rubber, tyre-derived aggregate, rubber mulch and tyre-derived fuel for commercial and residential applications. Through education, direct collection services, local processing, amnesty support and cleanup partnerships, Liberty helps prevent tyres from ending up in ditches or landfills and returns them to productive use.

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The Vredestein Quatrac Pro 2, a new ultra-high-performance all-season tyre, has achieved a category first by securing ‘A’ ratings for both wet grip and exterior noise across its entire size range. Developed in Europe by Apollo Tyres Ltd and set for production at the company’s Hungarian facility, this performance-focused product utilises a distinctive tread pattern that merges longitudinal and directional grooves.

Unlike competing ultra-high-performance all-season tyres, the Quatrac Pro 2 incorporates four longitudinal grooves in every size to maximise aquaplaning resistance and deliver superior wet-weather braking and traction. Directional lateral grooves further enhance water evacuation. While conventional all-season designs often omit such grooves to prioritise snow traction – resulting in higher noise levels – Apollo Tyres’ research team has engineered the Quatrac Pro 2 as a segment-leading wet performer without sacrificing acoustic comfort. The tyre still carries the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake marking for certified winter capability.

Advanced engineering is evident in the shoulder’s three-dimensional interlocking sipes, which feature zig-zagged inner faces on horizontal and vertical planes. Unlike straight-cut conventional sipes, this design limits tread block movement, maintaining structural stability during high-speed cornering while retaining flexibility for snow grip. This unique tread construction ensures a consistent contact patch and predictable handling even under aggressive cornering. A continuous centre rib, rare in all-season tyres, further boosts dry handling, steering precision and braking distances on wet and dry roads.

Building on its predecessor’s acoustic performance, the Quatrac Pro 2 employs an optimised multi-pitch tread block sequence to reduce resonance and noise. The irregular block arrangement, with pitch counts and sequences tailored to each tyre diameter, produces a refined acoustic signature. This balance of characteristics secures the top ‘A’ noise rating for all sizes, confirming that certified winter performance does not compromise comfort or wet-weather capability.

Daniele Lorenzetti, Chief Technology Officer, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “The tread design of the Quatrac Pro 2 reflects a new approach to all-season tyre development. By combining features typically associated with ultra-high-performance summer tyres with carefully engineered elements for traction in wet and winter conditions, we have created a tyre that delivers strong braking response and confident handling year-round.”

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Nokian Tyres has named Rhea County High School graduates Jesus Hernandez-Santiago and Josiah Shibley as the recipients of its 2026 college scholarship. The two students were selected based on their strong academic records, interest in STEM fields and commitment to excelling in extracurricular activities.

Now in its seventh year, the scholarship programme supports the company’s broader goal of preparing skilled professionals for the Southeast Tennessee workforce. Complementary initiatives include a robust apprenticeship programme, a work‑based learning scheme and a summer internship partnership.

Hernandez‑Santiago plans to study mechanical engineering at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, having already taken college‑level math courses since his junior year through a dual enrolment programme. Shibley will attend Tennessee Tech to pursue civil engineering with an environmental concentration, aiming to combine his passion for the outdoors with his interest in construction.

Nokian Tyres also runs an apprenticeship with Cleveland State Community College, where six apprentices complete 8,000 hours of on‑the‑job training and 42 classroom credits. A work‑based learning partnership with Rhea County High School places two to four students annually at its high‑tech factory, while a separate internship with Bryan College offers mentorship and project experience.

Since opening its Dayton Factory in 2019 to serve North American markets, the tyremaker has earned multiple awards and became the world’s first tyre production facility to achieve LEED v4 Silver certification.

Nokian Tyres North America Human Resources Director Blake Markham, who serves as chairman of the Southeast Tennessee Workforce Development Board, said, “We are passionate about fuelling the employment pipeline in Rhea County and beyond. Our region benefits from strong partnerships between businesses, educational institutions and local governments that strengthen companies and change lives.”

Hernandez-Santiago said, “I feel so blessed to receive this scholarship because I have always loved the STEM field. Nokian Tyres has always been involved with the community, so I will do what I can to succeed and impact the community with the opportunity I have been given."

Shibley said, “I’ve lived in Dayton my whole life, and this opportunity has shown me what it looks like when a company invests in its community. This scholarship will help me worry less about money and focus more on school, and it means a lot that it’s coming from a company in my hometown.”

Maintenance Apprentice Emily Goodwin said, “Seeing the things in the classroom that I’ve already worked on has helped a lot. It feels like a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity. This has changed my life.”

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Tyres Europe has formally responded to the European Commission’s consultation on the draft Delegated Regulation amending Annex I of the EU Deforestation Regulation. The association views the proposed text as a constructive and proportionate measure to enhance both operability and legal certainty.

A key focus of the submission is tyre retreading. Tyres Europe endorses the plan to limit the regulation’s scope to tyre treads, the only new rubber component added during retreading, while excluding used casings and finished retreaded tyres. This distinction aligns obligations with actual new rubber introduction, reduces administrative burdens on small and medium-sized enterprise retreaders and supports circular economy goals.

The association also welcomes clarifications on products for testing or analysis, used items and waste. Given ongoing supply chain preparations, Tyres Europe urges the Commission to adopt and publish the Delegated Regulation swiftly before the summer break to ensure legal certainty and implementation readiness.

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