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.

Two-phase flow between solid particles and interstitial air is shown to control how powders settle, discharge and move through hoppers, chutes and transfer points, with air pressure gradients often dominating behaviour in fine or aeratable materials. Jenike & Johanson’s microlearning session explains how phenomena such as flooding, ratholing and erratic discharge arise when air cannot escape freely, and why conventional single-phase flow assumptions fail. The content points engineers towards incorporating air permeation, deaeration and venting design into bulk solids handling calculations and equipment selection.

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.