Hitachi to Develop Portugal’s Second Translator Tech for ETCS Trains on Legacy Lines
Hitachi Rail has secured a contract from Infraestruturas de Portugal to build the country’s second Specific Transmission Module (STM), a translator that lets ETCS‑equipped trains run on legacy Convel signalling. About 69% of Portugal’s 2,500‑km network still uses Convel, so the STM is essential for the nation’s shift to the European Rail Traffic Management System. The new STM will be an external module, developed by teams in Portugal, Sweden and Italy, and offered under FRAND terms to broaden the supplier base. Deployment is slated for late 2026, supporting both passenger and freight operators.
Why a Single Bypass Method Isn’t Enough
PrePass® promotes a dual‑method weigh‑station bypass that combines mobile‑app screening with transponder technology. The mobile app expands coverage quickly, while transponders guarantee reliable skips at high‑traffic, staffed sites. Together they enable fleets to capture the full benchmark‑based savings of roughly...
UK Could Face Gaps on Supermarket Shelves by Summer if Iran War Continues
UK ministers are preparing for a ‘reasonable worst‑case scenario’ as the Iran‑Israel conflict threatens to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, potentially disrupting carbon‑dioxide supplies essential for food processing. The government’s Exercise Turnstone, run by the Cobra emergency committee, includes...
MukAway Partners with MV Kelly
MukAway, a digital material‑management platform, has sealed a partnership with groundworks specialist MV Kelly, extending its reusable‑materials network across the United Kingdom. The deal gives MukAway access to MV Kelly’s hundreds of active residential sites, boosting transaction density and operational reach. MukAway...
Amrize Expands ‘Made in America’ Cement Offering
Amrize has broadened its “Made in America” cement label to four additional plants, bringing the total to nine U.S. facilities that meet the domestic‑sourcing criteria. The new sites include locations in Oklahoma, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio, joining the original five...
Hetauda Cement Halts Production Again Amid Coal Shortages
Hetauda Cement, Nepal’s state‑owned cement producer, has halted operations again because it ran out of coal. The plant requires roughly 120 tons of coal per day, but unpaid supplier invoices have prevented new deliveries. A brief restart in late March proved...
China Supplies 44pc of Imports as Australia’s Timber Bill Hits $3B
Australia’s wood‑product imports topped roughly $2 billion USD in 2025, with mainland China supplying $870 million USD – about 44 percent of the total. Plywood, LVL and glulam alone accounted for $523 million USD, representing 26 percent of spend, while builders’ joinery and sawnwood added...
Suzuki Breaks Ground on Laguna Facility Expansion
Japanese automaker Suzuki Philippines broke ground on a major expansion in Calamba, Laguna, investing roughly ₱900 million (about $16 million). The new integrated facility will house a parts warehouse, service training center, and corporate offices adjacent to its existing plant. Designed to...
Apple Trims Mac Mini, Mac Studio Lineup as AI Demand Spikes
Apple quietly removed its highest‑memory Mac mini (32 GB and 64 GB) and Mac Studio (128 GB and 256 GB) configurations from the US online store, following a recent pull of the 512 GB Mac Studio model. The cuts come amid a broader industry RAM...
Fuel Rollback: Diesel May Drop ₱20, Gasoline ₱3 Next Week
Fuel prices in the Philippines are set to retreat next week as easing Middle‑East tensions push global benchmarks lower. Industry data based on the Platts Singapore mean projects diesel to drop ₱18‑20 per liter (about $0.36) and gasoline to fall...
Autonomous Times
Airport World reports rapid expansion of autonomous ground vehicles across four major hubs. Singapore Changi Airport has moved two driverless tractors into live baggage service after 5,000 trial trips and plans a 24‑vehicle fleet by 2027, later adding cargo tow...
Honda Pulls E:Ny1 From UK Market in Great EV Reset
Honda has withdrawn its e:Ny1 electric SUV from the UK after just three years, having sold only 7,122 units. The move leaves the Japanese automaker without any EVs on its UK website, exposing it to the UK’s 33% zero‑emission vehicle...
What Does the Geelong Refinery Fire Reveal About Australia’s Fuel Supplies?
Late Wednesday a fire broke out at Viva Energy's Geelong refinery in Corio, believed to be caused by equipment failure. The plant, which can process up to 120,000 barrels per day and supplies more than half of Victoria’s fuel and...
Northern Railway to Operate Regular Delhi-Kashmir Parcel Train Service From April 17
Northern Railway will launch a regular Delhi‑Kashmir parcel train on April 17, operating a trial service until May 31 before deciding on permanent status. The Joint Parcel Product‑Rapid Cargo Service runs between Adarsh Nagar in Delhi and Budgam in central Kashmir, using eight...
Seafood Has Been Under-Represented in Meal Kits – Until Now
Australia’s ready‑to‑eat and meal‑kit market is booming, valued at roughly $2 bn USD in 2023 and projected to reach $3.4 bn USD by 2035. Despite a 6‑7% CAGR, seafood remains scarce in kits due to supply‑chain hurdles. Global Seafoods, a 50‑year‑old Australian...
