Utranazz has cut prices on its Sermac truck-mounted concrete pump range by about £50,000 while keeping the same specification, output and build quality, directly targeting competition from Chinese-owned brands Cifa (Zoomlion), Putzmeister (Sany) and Schwing (XCMG). The Sermac 4ZR20 on a Mercedes 1827 4x2, 18‑tonne GVW chassis now lists at £255,000, the 5Z36 on a Mercedes Arocs 2643 6x4, 26‑tonne GVW at £350,000, and the 5RZ46 Superlight on a Mercedes Arocs 3246 8x4, 32‑tonne GVW at £425,000. For contractors, the move materially lowers capex for European-engineered pumps without trading off reach or reliability.

US battery recycler Aqua Metals has signed a term sheet to acquire Utah-based energy storage systems provider Lion Energy, aiming to control the full battery lifecycle from manufacturing and deployment to grid-interactive storage and end-of-life recovery. The deal would combine Aqua Metals’ recycled battery materials, including future supply of up to 1,000 tonnes per year of nickel carbonate to Westwin Elements from 2027, with Lion’s systems, software and manufacturing capability. Shares in Aqua Metals fell 6.9% on the announcement, leaving the company valued at $12.8 million.

Advanced Magnet Lab (AML) is scaling a wire-like manufacturing process for permanent magnets, enabling samarium nitride and manganese-bismuth compositions that are poorly suited to conventional press-and-sinter NdFeB routes dominated by China. Operating at pilot scale and targeting roughly 100 tonnes per year rather than 10,000-tonne megaprojects, AML is qualifying MnBi magnets with motor OEMs and ramping NdFeB output for defence and specialty uses, with samarium nitride furthest advanced. OEMs are reportedly paying US$10–20/kg premiums for diversified, traceable supply, while magnet-making equipment faces 14–20 month lead times.