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  • RASHTA Expo 2024 and 10th India Construction Festival (ICF) receive grand reception from infrastructure industry
  • 10th India Construction Festival 2024 awards over 75 companies from infrastructure industry
  • At the 14th RAHSTA Expo – India’s first indoor trade fair for the construction equipment technology – more than 100 companies showcase their latest technologies, products and solutions for building a strong infrastructure
  • A M Naik, Chairman Emeritus of L&T, and Mofatraj Munot, Group Founder, Promoter and Chairman of Kalpataru Group, were bestowed with Construction World (CW) Lifetime Achievement Awards
  • Dineshchandra Agrawal, CMD, Dineshchandra R Agrawal Infracon Pvt Ltd (DRAIPL) was honoured with the CW Person of the Year (Private Sector) award
  • Jaideep Shekhar, MD, Terex India, was recognised as the “Equipment India Person of the Year 2024”
  • More than 50 speakers discussed innovative technologies, sustainable practices, and funding opportunities for the roads sector at 14th India RAHSTA (Roads) Conference

Mumbai, 10 October 2024

The 10th Edition of India Construction Festival (2024) – comprising 14th RAHSTA Expo, 14th India RAHSTA (Roads) Conference, 12th Equipment India Awards and 22nd Construction World Global Awards – received a big thumps up from industry leaders of the construction and infrastructure industry for recognising the industry’s contribution to the nation building by awarding & celebrating its success.

Held on October 9-10, 2024, at Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai and hosted by infrastructure think-tank FIRST Construction Council in partnership with Construction World (CW) and Equipment India (EI) magazines, India Construction Festival 2024 honoured over 75 companies in the infrastructure and construction equipment sectors with awards under various categories.

The 14th RAHSTA Expo – India’s first indoor trade fair for the construction equipment technology – provided a platform to more than 100 companies for showcasing their latest technologies, products and solutions that are crucial for the development of a strong infrastructure. The RASHTA Expo and conference united all stakeholders in the infrastructure sector, including policymakers, industry professionals, and supporting industries such as financial institutions and technology providers. This gathering aimed to showcase integrated solutions for challenges within the construction industry and establish best practices for efficiency.

Sanjay Bhatia, Upa-Lokayukta, Government of Maharashtra along with Vipin Sondhi, Chairman, RAHSTA Expo Committee, inaugurated the RAHSTA Expo. Speaking at the inaugural session, Sanjay Bhatia, who has been instrumental in projects like Atal Setu, NAINA region, Mumbai East Coast Marina, Sagarmala during his stints leading CIDCO, Mumbai Port Trust etc., expressed his delight at the huge display of construction technology at the expo, “The RAHSTA expo has put the construction industry on an international standard. India is experiencing nation building at a robust pace and I am truly impressed with the work being now done by our youth with their start-ups many of which are showcasing their innovation here at this expo.”

Launching his to-be-released book ‘Tarmac to Towers – India’s infrastructure story’, Pratap Padode, Founder, FIRST Construction Council stated, “RAHSTA Expo is a paradigm shift in exhibition presentation for the construction industry. It has drawn 4000 quality business visitors who have had fruitful discussions with material manufacturers and OEMs of equipment and technology. The RAHSTA Expo has brought together road contractors, developers, financiers, material manufacturers, equipment OEMs, government authorities and engineering firms on the same platform to share from each other.”

Speaking at the inauguration, Pam Mcfarland, Senior Editor, Engineering News – Record (ENR), said, “India and the USA deals with a lot of similar issues such as flooding, hurricane, etc. Billions of dollars are being poured into construction, roads, and variety of transportation which has climate and environmental resilience focus. In India, pace of road construction has increased manifold. I am looking forward to learn more about what’s going on in India and particularly resilient materials in roads and bridge construction.”

Vipin Sondhi, Chairman, RAHSTA Committee, and former MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland & JCB, said, “This occasion is not just a gathering but reflects our collective strides in shaping the future of India’s highway sector. This sector is not only critical for economic growth but is the backbone of physical connectivity that binds our nation together. The union budget reflected the priority of the sector and allocated Rs 2.7 trillion for Ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH). India’s road network is the second largest and it moves not only goods, people but drives opportunities of inclusivity and development. National highway construction has seen a remarkable upward trajectory, growing at 9 per cent CAGR from FY2016 to FY2024.”

The 14th India RAHSTA Conference (IRC) convened policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to explore innovative technologies, sustainable practices, and funding opportunities aimed at transforming the road construction landscape in India.

Padode stated, “India has the distinction of the second largest road network in the world. In the last 10 years, the speed of road development has increased manifold, and today we are building roads at the rate of 30-37 km per day. But, we need to build roads and bridges of the best quality that can last for 100 plus years. With rising environment and climate change concerns, India need to promote climate and disaster resilience in the infrastructure development process. RASHTA conference provides an ideal forum to discuss, debate and form strategies for building more sustainable, resilient infrastructure projects.”

During the conference Ashish Kumar Singh, Chief General Manager – Finance, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has asked FIRST Construction Council to submit policy recommendations based on deliberations and discussions at the RAHSTA conference and expo.

The two days of RAHSTA Conference paved the way for fruitful engagement and informed participants about novel technologies, strategies and processes required to build a resilient infrastructure.

With over 50 speakers, participants gained valuable insights through engaging panel discussions, thought-provoking keynotes, and displays of cutting-edge innovations at IRC 2024. The event enhanced understanding of industry trends and facilitated important partnerships, contributing significantly to the development of safer, greener, and more efficient road networks.

On the occasion, seven RASHTA Awards were presented in various categories such as Award for best in Road Engineering & Construction, Bridge Engineering, Road Financier, technology in road building, project management, project execution, etc.

CW Global Awards presented to 50 construction industry leaders

The awards were presented at a dazzling ceremony attended by leading figures from the construction industry, including V Chandrashekar, MD & CEO, GMMCO; Sarat Chandak, CEO, H&R Johnson; Srikrishna Subramanian, Director & Sr. VP – HR, GA & ICT, Komatsu India; R K Bansal, Executive VP & Head – Roads, Larsen & Toubro; Anil Kumar Singh, MD, APCO Infratech; Ashish Kataria, Ashoka Buildcon, Director; Rajeev Mishra, CFO, H G Infra Engineering; Sudhir Hoshing, CEO Execution, IRB Infrastructure Developers; Nalin Gupta, MD, J Kumar Infraprojects; Suhas Eklahare, Director, NCC; Kavita Shirvaikar, MD, Patel Engineering; Yancharla Rathnakara Nagaraja, MD, Ramky infrastructure; Sandeep Garg, CEO & MD, Welspun Enterprises; B R Parthasarathy, Sr VP & Head-Infrastructure Cluster, Tata Consulting Engineers; Shammi Khurana, VP – Execution, Civil, KEC International; and Puneet Singh Narula, CEO & Director, Ceigall, among others.

The 22nd Construction World Global Awards brought together top construction industry leaders, experts and policymakers. CW Global Awards were presented to 50 companies such as Berger Paints, Century Plyboards India, GMMCO, H&R Johnson, Komatsu India, Larsen & Toubro, Afcons Infrastructure, APCO Infratech, Ashoka Buildcon, DRAIPL, H G Infra Engineering, IRB Infrastructure Developers, ITD Cementation India, J Kumar Infraprojects, NCC, Patel Engineering, PNC Infratech, Ramky Infrastructure; Welspun Enterprises; Shapoorji and Pallonji, Tata Consulting Engineers, KEC International, and Kalpataru Projects International, among others in different categories. The CW Global Awards and ENR Awards offered a platform to acknowledge and celebrate the innovation, dedication, and outstanding accomplishments of individuals and companies in the construction industry, raising the standard for future endeavors.

A M Naik, Chairman Emeritus of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), and Mofatraj Munot, Group Founder, Promoter and Chairman of Kalpataru Group, were bestowed with CW Lifetime Achievement Awards, for their incredible contribution to the growth of not just their companies, but also of the industry.

A M Naik commented, “I would like to extend my gratitude to the jury of the 22nd Construction World Global Awards and to the entire team at First Construction Council and Construction World magazine for this honour. To be recognised in this way, for contributing to a sector that has been a passion of mine for decades is a moment of great pride. Not just for me but for all those who have been a part of this journey. I have been fortunate to work with some of the brightest minds and most committed professionals, and I share this award with them. It is through their dedication and innovation that we have been able to achieve so much and propel both our company and the industry forward. Over the years, we have seen immense transformation in technology processes and practices, and it is heartening to witness how this industry continues adapting to new challenges while always looking to build better and smarter. This recognition from Construction World serves as a powerful reminder that our efforts to drive progress, innovation, and sustainability have been noticed.”

While accepting the award, Mofatraj Munot said, “A project can progress successfully only with the support of right equipment. Timely and quality completion depends on having reliable machinery at the site. I vividly remember, back in 1980s, I used to visit Bauma in Germany to see the latest machines because, at that time, India lacked a platform to showcase innovative equipment. Today, thanks to efforts like those of Construction World, we have access to all these machines right here in India. I want to express my gratitude to Construction World for the award.”

Dineshchandra Agrawal, CMD, Dineshchandra R Agrawal Infracon Pvt Ltd (DRAIPL) honoured with the prestigious Construction World Person of the Year (Private Sector) award.

Expressing deep gratitude to the Jury and Construction World for selecting him for the award, Dineshchandra Agrawal said, “This field is my passion, and I believe we are contributing to nation-building by generating employment and fostering growth. Also, it is important to mention that the construction equipment industry has been playing a key role as an enabler to build a strong, sustainable India. With the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision, I hope we become a developed country where businesses thrive, and government policies support fair and transparent contracts. I dedicate this award to all the individuals and organisations that have been part of my journey and supported me throughout. It is because of their encouragement that I am receiving this recognition today.”

Equipment India awards 22 industry leaders

The eagerly awaited 12th Equipment India Awards 2024, presented by BKT, brought together industry leaders, top construction equipment manufacturers, and components & accessory suppliers to recognise and celebrate excellence and innovation in the construction equipment sector. Some of winning companies included Schwing Stetter India, Sany Heavy Industry India, Ammann India, Schwing Stetter India, Caterpillar India, JCB India, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery, Action Construction Equipment (ACE); BEML Limited, Doosan Bobcat India, LiuGong India, AJAX Engineering, Case Construction India, etc.

A key highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Equipment India Person of the Year 2024, awarded to Jaideep Shekhar, MD of Terex India. The jury recognized Terex India’s impressive growth under Shekhar’s strong leadership.

Jaideep Shekhar said, “I’m deeply grateful to the Jury and Equipment India for this remarkable honour. This award reflects not only my contributions but also the dedication and hard work of my team. I have been associated with the industry for more than 25 years, and this award motivates me to keep pushing boundaries and to lead the growth with integrity.”

Equipment India and Smart Manufacturing & Enterprises (SME) also hosted a CE Panel Discussion – titled RAHSTA (Road) Ahead for CE Industry – to deliberate on opportunities and future trends in the construction equipment (CE) industry. Panelists of the panel discussion – moderated by Ranjan Sharma, Senior Director – Large Corporate Ratings, CareEdge Ratings – included Dimitrov Krishnan, MD, Volvo CE India Pvt Ltd; Sandeep Singh, MD, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Pvt Ltd; Shalabh Chaturvedi, MD for India & SAARC region, CASE Construction Equipment; SP Rajan, VP and Head Plant & Machinery, L&T Construction; Sanjay Koul, President – India and SE Asia and MD – India, The Timken Company; and Sitaram Ganeshan, President, Wipro Hydraulics.

Partnership galore

The industry’s overwhelming support was evident from the numerous partnerships it was able to garner as below:

  • 22nd Construction World Global Awards: Powered by BKT, Varindera Construction as the Platinum Partner, ITD Cementation, Gmmco, and Dinesh Chandra R. Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd. as Gold Partners, Liugong as the Silver Partner, TATA Hitachi as the Equipment Partner, LivSYT as the Technology Partner, and Shyam Steel and Action Construction Equipment as Association Partners.
  • 12th Annual Equipment India Awards: Presented by BKT, Timken as the Platinum Partner, TATA Hitachi as the Equipment Partner, and Schwing Stetter and Action Construction Equipment as Association Partners.
  • India RAHSTA Conference: Presented by BKT, Timken as the Gold Partner, Liugong and Nemetschek India as Silver Partners, TATA Hitachi as the Equipment Partner, LivSYT as the Technology Partner, and Action Construction Equipment as the Association Partner.
  • RAHSTA Expo: Hosted by MSRDC as the Host State Partner, Birla Pivot as the Powered By Partner, AF Star as the Platinum Partner, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India as the Gold Partner, NPL Bluesky Automotive as the Silver Partner, Mahindra Construction Equipment, Terex, Shyam Steel, and PNC Infratech as Associate Partners, TATA Hitachi as the Equipment Partner, Volvo as the Badge Partner, SANY as the Lanyard Partner, Steel Authority of India as the VIP Lounge Partner, and Automark Industries as the Bag Partner.
  • 10th India Construction Festival: Larsen & Toubro as the Gold Partner, TATA Hitachi as the Equipment Partner, and Action Construction Equipment as the Associate Partner.

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Contact:

For exhibitor enquiries (for RAHSTA Expo 2025), contact Sujoy Gomes on Mob: +91 86577 95881, or Email:sujoy.g@asappinfoglobal.com Office: 022-3103 3000

Concrete

Adani’s Strategic Emergence in India’s Cement Landscape

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Milind Khangan, Marketing Head, Vertex Market Research, sheds light on Adani’s rapid cement consolidation under its ‘One Business, One Company’ strategy while positioning it to rival UltraTech, and thus, shaping a potential duopoly in India’s booming cement market.

India is the second-largest cement-producing country in the world, following China. This expansion is being driven by tremendous public investment in the housing and infrastructure sectors. The industry is accelerating, with a boost from schemes such as PM Gati Shakti, Bharatmala, and the Vande Bharat corridors. An upsurge in affordable housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) further supports this expansion. In May 2025, local cement production increased about 9 per cent from last year to about 40 million metric tonnes for the month. The combined cement capacity in India was recorded at 670 million metric tonnes in the 2025 fiscal year, according to the Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA). For the financial year 2026, this is set to grow by another 9 per cent.
In spite of the growing demand, the Indian cement industry is highly competitive. UltraTech Cement (Aditya Birla Group) is still the market leader with domestic installed capacity of more than 186 MTPA as on 2025. It is targeted to achieve 200 MTPA. Adani Cement recently became a major player and is now India’s second-largest cement company. It did this through aggressive consolidation, operational synergies, and scale efficiencies. Indian players in the cement industry are increasingly valuing operational efficiency and sustainability. Some of the strategies with high impact are alternative fuels and materials (AFR) adoption, green cement expansion, and digital technology investments to offset changing regulatory pressure and increasing energy prices.

Building Adani Cement brand
Vertex Market Research explains that the Adani Group is executing a comprehensive reorganisation and consolidation of its cement business under the ‘One Business, One Company’ strategy. The plan is to integrate its diversified holdings into one consolidated corporate entity named Adani Cement. The focus is on operating integration, governance streamlining, and cost reduction in its expanding cement business.
Integration roadmap and key milestones:

  • September 2022: The consolidation process started with the $6.4 billion buyout of Holcim’s majority stakes in Ambuja Cements and ACC, with Ambuja becoming the focal point of the consolidation.
  • December 2023: Bought Sanghi Industries to strengthen the firm’s presence in western India.
  • August 2024: Added Penna Cement to the portfolio, improving penetration of the southern market of India.
  • April 2025: Further holding addition in Orient Cement to 46.66 per cent by purchasing the same from CK Birla Group, becoming the promoter with control.
  • Ambuja Cements amalgamated with Adani Cement: This was sanctioned by the NCLT on 18th July 2025 with effect from April 1, 2024. This amalgamation brings in limestone reserves and fresh assets into Ambuja.
  • Subject to Sanghi and Penna merger with Ambuja: Board approvals in December 2024 with the aim to finish between September to December 2025.
  • Ambuja-ACC future integration: The latter is being contemplated as the final step towards consolidation.
  • Orient Cement: It would serve as a principal manufacturing facility following the merger.

Scale, capacity expansion and market position
In financial year-2025, Adani Cement, including Ambuja, surpassed 100 MTPA. This makes it one of the world’s top ten cement companies. Along with ACC’s operations, it is now firmly placed as India’s second-largest cement company. In FY25, the Adani group’s sales volume per annum clocked 65 million metric tonnes. Adani Group claims that it now supplies close to 30 per cent of the cement consumed in India’s homes and infrastructure as of June 2025.
The organisation is pursuing aggressive brownfield expansion:

  • By FY 2026: Reach 118 MTPA
  • By FY 2028: Target 140 MTPA

These goals will be driven by commissioning new clinker and grinding units at key sites, with civil and mechanical works underway.
As of 2024, Adani Cement had its market share pegged at around 14 to 15 per cent, with an ambition to scale this up to 20 per cent by FY?2028, emerging as a potent competitor to UltraTech’s 192?MTPA capacity (186 domestic and overseas).

Strategic advantages and competitive benefits
The consolidation simplifies decision-making by reducing legal entities, centralising oversight, and removing redundant functions. This drives compliance efficiency and transparent reporting. Using procurement power for raw materials and energy lowers costs per ton. Integrated logistics with Adani Ports and freight infrastructure has resulted in an estimated 6 per cent savings in logistics. The group aims for additional savings of INR 500 to 550 per tonne by FY 2028 by integrating green energy, using alternative fuel resources, and improving sourcing methods.

Market coverage and brand consistency
Brand integration under one strategy will provide uniform product quality and easier distribution networks. Integration with Orient Cement’s dealer base, 60 per cent of which already distributes Ambuja/ACC products, enhances outreach and responsiveness.
By having captive limestone reserves at Lakhpat (approximately 275 million tonnes) and proposed new manufacturing facilities in Raigad, Maharashtra, Adani Cement derives cost advantage, raw material security, and long-term operational robustness.

Strategic implications and risks
Consolidation at Adani Cement makes it not just a capacity leader but also an operationally agile competitor with the ability to reap digital and sustainability benefits. Its vertically integrated platform enables cost leadership, market responsiveness, and scalability.

Challenges potentially include:

  • Integration challenges across systems, corporate cultures, and plant operations
  • Regulatory sanctions for pending mergers and new capacity additions
  • Environmental clearances in environmentally sensitive areas and debt management with input price volatility

When materialised, this revolution would create a formidable Adani–UltraTech duopoly, redefining Indian cement on the basis of scale, innovation, and sustainability. India’s leading four cement players such as Adani (ACC and Ambuja), Dalmia Cement, Shree Cement, and UltraTech are expected to dominate the cement market.

Conclusion
Adani’s aggressive consolidation under the ‘One Business, One Company’ strategy signals a decisive shift in the Indian cement industry, positioning the group as a formidable challenger to UltraTech and setting the stage for a potential duopoly that could dominate the sector for years to come. By unifying operations, leveraging economies of scale, and securing vertical integration—from raw material reserves to distribution networks—Adani Cement is building both capacity and resilience, with clear advantages in cost efficiency, market reach, and sustainability. While integration complexities, regulatory hurdles, and environmental approvals remain key challenges, the scale and strategic alignment of this consolidation promise to redefine competition, pricing dynamics, and operational benchmarks in one of the world’s fastest-growing cement markets.

About the author:
Milind Khangan is the Marketing Head at Vertex Market Research and comes with over five years of experience in market research, lead generation and team management.

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Concrete

Precision in Motion: A Deep Dive into PowerBuild’s Core Gear Series

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PowerBuild’s flagship Series M, C, F, and K geared motors deliver robust, efficient, and versatile power transmission solutions for industries worldwide.

Products – M, C, F, K: At the heart of every high-performance industrial system lies the need for robust, reliable, and efficient power transmission. PowerBuild answers this need with its flagship geared motor series: M, C, F, and K. Each series is meticulously engineered to serve specific operational demands while maintaining the universal promise of durability, efficiency, and performance.
Series M – Helical Inline Geared Motors: Compact and powerful, the Series M delivers exceptional drive solutions for a broad range of applications. With power handling up to 160kW and torque capacity reaching 20,000 Nm, it is the trusted solution for industries requiring quiet operation, high efficiency, and space-saving design. Series M is available with multiple mounting and motor options, making it a versatile choice for manufacturers and OEMs globally.
Series C – Right Angled Heli-Worm Geared Motors: Combining the benefits of helical and worm gearing, the Series C is designed for right-angled power transmission. With gear ratios of up to 16,000:1 and torque capacities of up to 10,000 Nm, this series is optimal for applications demanding precision in compact spaces. Industries looking for a smooth, low-noise operation with maximum torque efficiency rely on Series C for dependable performance.
Series F – Parallel Shaft Mounted Geared Motors: Built for endurance in the most demanding environments, Series F is widely adopted in steel plants, hoists, cranes, and heavy-duty conveyors. Offering torque up to 10,000 Nm and high gear ratios up to 20,000:1, this product features an integral torque arm and diverse output configurations to meet industry-specific challenges head-on.
Series K – Right Angle Helical Bevel Geared Motors: For industries seeking high efficiency and torque-heavy performance, Series K is the answer. This right-angled geared motor series delivers torque up to 50,000 Nm, making it a preferred choice in core infrastructure sectors such as cement, power, mining, and material handling. Its flexibility in mounting and broad motor options offer engineers’ freedom in design and reliability in execution.
Together, these four series reflect PowerBuild’s commitment to excellence in mechanical power transmission. From compact inline designs to robust right-angle drives, each geared motor is a result of decades of engineering innovation, customer-focused design, and field-tested reliability. Whether the requirement is speed control, torque multiplication, or space efficiency, Radicon’s Series M, C, F, and K stand as trusted powerhouses for global industries.

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Concrete

Driving Measurable Gains

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Klüber Lubrication India’s Klübersynth GEM 4-320 N upgrades synthetic gear oil for energy efficiency.

Klüber Lubrication India has introduced a strategic upgrade for the tyre manufacturing industry by retrofitting its high-performance synthetic gear oil, Klübersynth GEM 4-320 N, into Barrel Cold Feed Extruder gearboxes. This smart substitution, requiring no hardware changes, delivered energy savings of 4-6 per cent, as validated by an internationally recognised energy audit firm under IPMVP – Option B protocols, aligned with
ISO 50015 standards.

Beyond energy efficiency, the retrofit significantly improved operational parameters:

  • Lower thermal stress on equipment
  • Extended lubricant drain intervals
  • Reduction in CO2 emissions and operational costs

These benefits position Klübersynth GEM 4-320 N as a powerful enabler of sustainability goals in line with India’s Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) guidelines and global Net Zero commitments.

Verified sustainability, zero compromise
This retrofit case illustrates that meaningful environmental impact doesn’t always require capital-intensive overhauls. Klübersynth GEM 4-320 N demonstrated high performance in demanding operating environments, offering:

  • Enhanced component protection
  • Extended oil life under high loads
  • Stable performance across fluctuating temperatures

By enabling quick wins in efficiency and sustainability without disrupting operations, Klüber reinforces its role as a trusted partner in India’s evolving industrial landscape.

Klüber wins EcoVadis Gold again
Further affirming its global leadership in responsible business practices, Klüber Lubrication has been awarded the EcoVadis Gold certification for the fourth consecutive year in 2025. This recognition places it in the top three per cent
of over 150,000 companies worldwide evaluated for environmental, ethical and sustainable procurement practices.
Klüber’s ongoing investments in R&D and product innovation reflect its commitment to providing data-backed, application-specific lubrication solutions that exceed industry expectations and support long-term sustainability goals.

A trusted industrial ally
Backed by 90+ years of tribology expertise and a global support network, Klüber Lubrication is helping customers transition toward a greener tomorrow. With Klübersynth GEM 4-320 N, tyre manufacturers can take measurable, low-risk steps to boost energy efficiency and regulatory alignment—proving that even the smallest change can spark a significant transformation.

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