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.

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Cabot Corporation has once again achieved a platinum rating from EcoVadis, marking the fifth consecutive year it has received this top-tier recognition. This places Cabot in the top one percent of over 150,000 companies evaluated globally, underscoring its strong commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. The recognition highlights Cabot’s progress in promoting sustainability, transparency and ethical practices throughout its operations and supply chain. Notably, the company improved its overall score this year, with significant gains in sustainable procurement, while maintaining ‘outstanding’ scores in both environmental performance and labour & human rights.

EcoVadis assesses companies across four critical areas – environment, labour & human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement – using internationally recognised sustainability standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact and ISO 26000.

In addition to its EcoVadis success, Cabot received its 2024 ratings from CDP, earning a ‘B’ in both climate change and water security. These scores place Cabot among the top-performing carbon black manufacturers reviewed by CDP, a global leader in environmental impact disclosure. Despite increasingly rigorous assessment criteria, Cabot continues to meet the rising standards, reflecting its dedication to advancing sustainability and driving continuous improvement across all facets of its business.

Jennifer Chittick, Senior Vice President, Safety, Health and Environment (SH&E); Chief Sustainability Officer, said, “We are proud to once again be honoured by EcoVadis at the highest distinction for our exceptional sustainability performance. With EcoVadis setting higher standards year after year, this recognition reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to continuous improvement – consistently identifying and implementing opportunities that further advance our sustainability efforts. As we continue our journey towards a more sustainable future, we remain dedicated to leading by example in sustainability and maintaining transparency throughout our value chain.”

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At the midpoint of the 2025 Formula 1 season, the sport returns to its historic roots at Silverstone, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the first World Championship Grand Prix held there on 13 May 1950. Nino Farina won that inaugural race in an Alfa Romeo 158 on Pirelli tyres and went on to become the first Formula 1 World Champion. In honour of this milestone, Pirelli released a special edition Silverstone Podium Cap designed by Denis Dekovic, available via its online store.

This year's race features a notable change in tyre strategy, with compounds C2, C3 and C4 designated as Hard, Medium and Soft, respectively – one step softer than in 2024. The aim is to broaden strategic options and encourage varied race strategies. The relatively quick pit stops (around 20.5 seconds) and moderate overtaking potential support more aggressive tactical planning. In 2024, the C3 was underused as the Soft; this year, it is expected to play a more central role as the Medium.

The 2024 British Grand Prix saw all dry compounds and Intermediates in play, with most drivers starting on Mediums. A brief rain shower prompted a switch to Intermediates, but rapid drying wore them out quickly. Each of the dry compounds proved competitive in the final stint – Lewis Hamilton claimed victory on Softs for Mercedes, Max Verstappen showed strong pace on Hards for Red Bull and Oscar Piastri was competitive on Mediums for McLaren.

Silverstone Circuit, used in 59 Grands Prix, is known for its high-speed corners like the Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel complex. Spanning 5.861 km with 18 turns, it produces high lateral loads and offers good grip from the outset. Despite being a summer event, weather remains notoriously unpredictable, often affecting race outcomes.

This year also marks Pirelli’s 500th Grand Prix, to be celebrated at Monza, just 15 km from its Milan HQ. The British Grand Prix, alongside the Italian Grand Prix, remains one of only two races to appear on every World Championship calendar since 1950.

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According to a new report from Firestone Complete Auto Care, American drivers overspend nearly USD 18.6 billion every year on fuel, largely due to underinflated tyres. The report reveals that almost half of the vehicles on the road are operating with insufficient tyre pressure, significantly impacting fuel efficiency. As the summer travel season ramps up, Firestone estimates that drivers could save enough money for an extra 500-mile road trip each year simply by maintaining proper tyre inflation.

The data was gathered from over 9.7 million vehicles serviced at Firestone’s 1,800+ locations between June 2024 and March 2025. Findings show that underinflated tyres increase rolling resistance, making engines work harder and consume more fuel. Beyond the economic cost, this issue also contributes to faster tyre wear and higher carbon emissions.

The report, ‘How to Get Money from Thin Air: The Hidden Benefits of Proper Tyre Inflation’, revealed that 42 percent of vehicles had underinflated tyres, with an average deficit of 13 PSI below recommended levels. The problem was most prevalent in the District of Columbia, Hawaii and California. In contrast, the Northeast had the lowest rate, with New Hampshire and Rhode Island showing the best maintenance habits. Sports cars and minivans were among the worst offenders.

Firestone advises checking tyre pressure monthly and before long drives or heavy loads. Maintaining the correct pressure improves fuel economy, enhances handling, reduces wear and can significantly lower CO₂ emissions – equivalent to recycling over two million garbage trucks of waste annually.

Melissa Vaglio, Vice President, Bridgestone Retail Operations, said “Paying attention to your tyres saves money, helps the planet and keeps you safer on the road. Proper tyre inflation is one of the simplest ways to keep more money in your wallet. We encourage drivers to lean on us as a trusted neighbour for a free inflation check and air top-off, early and often.”

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Pirelli has introduced the Scorpion All Season SF3, a new all-season tyre specifically engineered for SUVs, building upon the award-winning technology of the Cinturato All Season SF3 while tailoring performance to the demands of larger, heavier vehicles.

Designed for safety and versatility across diverse weather conditions, the tyre has already earned top ratings in independent Dekra tests, excelling in cumulative braking performance. It carries an ‘A’ rating for wet grip on the European tyre label and meets the 3PMSF standard for certified snow traction. Additionally, the Scorpion All Season SF3 prioritises driving comfort, with a ‘B’ rating for external noise and class A/B efficiency in rolling resistance, ensuring long-lasting performance and lower emissions. The compound is engineered for stiffness and high-temperature stability, while new polymer blends and natural-origin resins enhance cold-weather grip without sacrificing wet traction. Pirelli leveraged AI-driven Virtual Compounder technology to refine the material composition, alongside 3D modelling to synchronise tread and compound design for optimal performance.

To enhance SUV handling, Pirelli incorporated reinforced tread blocks with a progressive entry geometry, which gradually increases the contact patch with the road. This design minimises pressure peaks, reducing vibrations and noise while improving stability and grip – particularly beneficial for heavier vehicles. The tread also features an adaptive structure with 3D sipes that evolve from straight lines to a zigzag pattern as the tyre wears, maintaining snow traction even with reduced tread depth. These sipes dynamically adjust under pressure, shifting between a winter-optimised and summer-friendly profile for balanced year-round performance.

The Scorpion All Season SF3 expands Pirelli’s all-season lineup, catering to the rising demand for versatile tyres. Available in 17- to 21-inch sizes, select models include Elect technology for compatibility with electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as the Pirelli Noise Cancelling System (PNCS) to reduce road noise.

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