Liebherr has launched three 50‑tonne Generation 8 crawler excavators at Steinexpo – the R 948 G8 for earthmoving, the R 958 G8 for mining with an S‑HD chassis and ME equipment, and the versatile R 952 G8 with three chassis variants and higher engine power. All models feature LPE (Liebherr Power Efficiency) claiming up to 10% lower fuel use, Bucket Fill Assist automation, Modetronic adaptive machine settings, and an automatic central lubrication system. A passive 2D machine control system co‑developed with Leica Geosystems plus on‑board weighing is standard, with upgradeable 3D and semi‑automation options.

Revenue at Belgian building materials group Etex rose 4.9% in H1 2026, with cash flow up 8.8%, driven by stronger demand across several global markets. The supplier of lightweight construction systems, fibre cement boards and plasterboard reported that France and the UK lagged, reflecting weaker residential activity and delayed refurbishment work. For contractors and specifiers, the figures signal continued availability and investment capacity in Etex’s product lines, but with potentially tighter pricing and lead times in underperforming Western European markets.

IperionX has secured a US Army SBIR Phase III contract allowing US defence agencies to place titanium orders up to a collective $99 million, with the first two task orders worth about $19.8 million. Funding will expand integrated titanium powder-to-finished-component production at its Virginia facility, adding continuous HSPT and dehydride furnace capacity and bringing titanium fastener finishing fully in-house. The programme targets industrial-scale manufacture of titanium track pins, bolts and fasteners, with inspection and acceptance planned at Detroit Arsenal and Aberdeen Proving Ground, and may extend to aerospace‑grade components.