Orion S.A. is preparing to demonstrate the role of its speciality carbon blacks in advancing sustainability, high-jet performance and electrical conductivity within coatings systems. The global speciality chemicals company will make these presentations at the 2026 American Coatings Show + Conference, scheduled for 5–7 May in Indianapolis.

Visitors to Orion’s Booth 1466 will be directed to three key product lines. The first is ECOLAR 50 POWDER, a bio-circular feedstock-based carbon black that has previously won industry awards. The company is also featuring COLOUR BLACK FW 310 and COLOUR BLACK FW 255, two grades recognised for their exceptional jetness in both waterborne and solvent-borne formulations. Beyond product displays, Orion will offer technical guidance on achieving effective dispersion of speciality carbon blacks in electrically conductive coating systems.

ECOLAR 50 POWDER functions as a low to medium furnace black, delivering medium jetness in mass tone applications alongside reliable tinting strength. Meanwhile, the FW 310 and FW 255 grades rank among the deepest black pigments available for automotive coatings, producing a clean and elegant finish. FW 310 achieves Orion’s highest jetness levels with a deep blue undertone, making it suitable for automotive OEM basecoats, refinish coatings and premium industrial uses. FW 255 is engineered for automotive OEM and refinish systems, providing very high jetness and a similar blue undertone in both solvent-borne and waterborne environments. An additional after-treatment step enhances its wetting and dispersion properties.

A technical presentation by Orion’s Jaelene Matos, North American Technical Marketing Manager for Coatings Systems, is scheduled for 9 a.m. on 6 May. Her talk will examine how the dispersion process influences the final conductive properties of new specialty conductive carbon blacks in waterborne and solvent-borne coating systems. The discussion will cover the fundamental role of carbon black in conductive coatings, as well as the effects of dispersion method, processing time and dosage on conductive performance. Matos will also compare the conductive behaviour of medium and high conductive carbon black grades across different coating system types.

Zack Hays, Marketing Manager for Coatings and Printing Systems in North America, Orion, said, “The colouristic properties of ECOLAR 50 POWDER compare favourably with traditional specialty carbon blacks across a broad range of coatings systems and applications, with the added benefit that it contains 100 percent biogenic raw material per 14C analysis. Since we officially launched ECOLAR 50 POWDER last year, industry response has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re very proud of introducing an industry-leading?  100 percent bio-based carbon black, and we look forward to helping our customers produce truly sustainable products, contribute to a healthier planet and promote a more circular economy.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

TIP Group has signed a new agreement with Verdis to supply modern, environmentally efficient waste-collection vehicles for the company’s expanding operations in Malmö. The deal includes 16 garbage trucks, featuring 12 NTM Quatro four‑compartment bodies and four NTM KG‑HL single‑compartment bodies, all mounted on Scania CNG L340 6x2 chassis.

The collaboration provides Verdis with a future‑ready fleet without major upfront investment, ensuring predictable costs and financial flexibility. TIP will deliver full‑service fleet support, managing all maintenance and lifecycle performance to guarantee strong uptime and efficient operations. This marks the beginning of a reliable partnership for waste management solutions across Sweden.

By combining modern equipment with comprehensive lifecycle care, TIP reinforces its growing role as a trusted partner in the Nordic waste management sector. The agreement allows Verdis to focus entirely on delivering high‑quality collection services while scaling capacity as operational needs change.

Christian Petersen, VP & Managing Director, Nordic at TIP Group, said, “We are proud to support Verdis with a future-proof, environmentally conscious fleet solution. This agreement highlights our capability within waste management equipment and reflects TIP’s broader role as a strong partner for heavy transport equipment across many sectors.”

Per-Eric Bjurenborg, VD from Verdis, said, “For us, the partnership with TIP Group brings real stability and efficiency to our daily operations. Their comprehensive support package reduces administrative complexity and gives us peace of mind in a sector where reliability is critical. This allows us to stay focused on providing the best possible service to the municipalities we serve.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Kia India has introduced Digital Passport, a new customer-centric feature aimed at improving vehicle ownership transparency. Available through the Kia Connect app under the ‘New Services’ tab, the digital tool provides a secure, data-driven vehicle health report that covers a vehicle’s complete lifecycle. Priced at INR 399 plus applicable taxes, the service is offered as a three-month subscription.

As customers increasingly seek transparency and trust in vehicle management, the automaker designed Digital Passport to solve the problem of fragmented vehicle data spread across multiple platforms. The feature consolidates essential information into a single, verified report that includes a clear health summary and an easy-to-understand vehicle health score, offering a reliable view of the vehicle’s overall condition. Key data points covered are service history, accident and repair records, driving insights and warranty status.

By bringing all essential vehicle information onto one platform, Digital Passport provides a verified, data-backed picture of a vehicle’s true state, enhancing confidence in its value. The feature strengthens engagement with the Kia Connect ecosystem while delivering convenience and peace of mind throughout the ownership journey.

Atul Sood, Senior – Vice President Marketing & Sales, Kia India, said, "At Kia India, we continuously strive to enhance the ownership experience through meaningful digital innovations. Digital Passport brings greater transparency and reliability to vehicle information, reinforcing customer confidence and trust. This initiative reflects our commitment to delivering technology-led solutions that simplify ownership and strengthen long-term relationships with our customers."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has reported a twenty-fold surge in granted patents over the past decade, rising from just 56 patents accumulated since its inception through fiscal year 2016 to 1,334 by fiscal year 2026. The Indian automotive and farm equipment major attributed this leap to sustained investment in research and development, alongside a firm backing of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. As of March 2026, the company’s total patent applications reached 2,728, underscoring a systematic drive toward technological innovation and engineering excellence.

An analysis of the 1,334 granted patents reveals that 60 percent are linked to the automotive business, while the remaining 40 percent belong to the farm equipment division. The company’s application-to-patent conversion ratio has improved dramatically from just eight percent in fiscal 2016 to over 65 percent for applications filed in the last 10 years. This patent portfolio also includes filings from M&M’s subsidiary, Mahindra Electric Automobile Ltd, reflecting a broadening scope of intellectual property development.

Beyond the numerical growth in patents, M&M’s expanded research capabilities have enabled more immersive technological experiences for customers. The company has also garnered multiple prestigious accolades in the past year alone, including the CII IP Award for Best Patent Portfolio, recognition as one of India’s Top 50 Innovative Companies 2025, the CII National Award for Industry-Academia Partnership, the Questel IP Excellence Award and honours at the CMO Asia Awards 2025.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Venttup, a Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) company,  has announced the appointment of Prashanth R. Menon as strategic advisor. He will work on the company’s strategy, expansion plans and growth roadmap, with a focus on profitability.

The company seeks to connect industries with manufacturing solutions from India and focuses on innovation to alter the manufacturing sector by aligning efficiency with the demand for sustainability.

Menon has experience in strategy, operations and business transformation. He previously served as Director – India at Tesla, where he managed the strategy for the company's entry into India and established its operations. He also served as Chairman of the Board for Tesla India.

Sandeep Nair, Co-Founder & CEO, Venttup, said, “We are excited to welcome Prashanth R. Menon to Venttup. His deep global experience in strategy and transformation, combined with his leadership in scaling global organisations, will help us accelerate our journey towards building a world-class manufacturing startup from India. We are focused on localisation and rapid development of critical components to support the growing deep-tech ecosystem."

Prior to his role in India, Menon was Director – Advisory at Tesla US, where he led teams focused on revenue, productivity and cost. Earlier in his career, he worked with EY, advising on corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain management and working capital.

Prashanth R. Menon, said, “I am impressed by the outlook and the energy of the Venttup leadership team, and their vision to build a sustainable and local supply chain to fulfill global needs. Venttup has a promising business model, and it is aligned with the Government of India’s “Make in India” initiative. I am looking forward to guiding the team in achieving their growth and operational goals.”

Menon will work with the founders and leadership team to shape the growth roadmap, drive expansion and manage scalability. He will also support investor engagement and partnerships.

Bhaskar Majumdar, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures, added, “A warm welcome to Mr Menon to the Venttup Advisory team. His deep industry experience, decades of global exposure in the US, strong understanding of evolving global supply chain dynamics, and keen interest in contributing to India’s manufacturing deep-tech ecosystem will significantly strengthen Venttup’s scale-up strategy and growth journey."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!