Volvo Construction Equipment has appointed Laothani Tractor as its new national distributor in Laos, launching the partnership with a dealer inauguration and customer roadshow. The events showcased Volvo CE’s latest generation excavators and compaction machines, targeting mining, construction and infrastructure fleets that typically operate in remote, high-rainfall terrain. The move signals expanded in-country support for heavy equipment selection, maintenance and parts availability, which is critical for uptime on Lao mine haul roads and earthworks projects.

Lubrication Engineers, Inc has acquired BioBlend Renewable Resources, LLC, adding a comprehensive portfolio of bio-based and hybrid lubricants to its existing high-performance industrial lubrication and asset reliability offering. BioBlend supplies biodegradable and low-toxicity lubricants to mining, marine, drilling and industrial customers seeking to cut environmental impact while maintaining equipment performance. The deal signals growing commercial availability of drop-in, environmentally acceptable lubricants for mobile and fixed mining plant, potentially easing compliance with stricter discharge and spill regulations around pits, workshops and marine-linked export facilities.

SGS has signed a definitive agreement with Carbonix Inc to pilot the company’s P180 direct reduction technology at the SGS Metallurgical Centre of Excellence in Lakefield, Ontario. The SGS‑Carbonix pilot plant, agreed in June 2026, will run extended operating campaigns to assess P180’s performance under continuous metallurgical conditions rather than short bench tests. Results will interest miners and steelmakers evaluating alternative direct reduction routes for ironmaking and other value chains seeking lower‑carbon, high‑efficiency reduction processes.