Archives 2026

Kolkata, Feb 25: Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck, today announced the inauguration of its new authorised BharatBenz dealership, Agile Trucking, in Raniganj, West Burdwan district, West Bengal. The new facility marks an important step in BharatBenz’s continued expansion across Eastern India and reinforces its commitment to supporting customers in high-activity industrial and infrastructure corridors.

Strategically located on NH2, one of West Bengal’s key arterial highways, the dealership is about 20 kms from Andal Domestic Airport. The location enables efficient service coverage across West Burdwan district, particularly the industrial hubs of Durgapur, Raniganj, and Asansol, which see strong demand from captive fleet operators, railway sidings, and construction-led logistics.

The state-of-the-art facility spans 85,000 sq. ft. and operates 24×7, underscoring BharatBenz’s focus on maximising vehicle uptime. It features 12 service bays and 4 accident repair bays, supported by four Mobile Reach Vans (MRVs) to ensure rapid on-road assistance. With a skilled workforce of 65 trained personnel, the dealership has the capacity to service over 500 vehicles per month, offering comprehensive sales, service, and spares support to customers in the region.

Commenting on the inauguration, Rajiv Chaturvedi, President & Chief Business Officer, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said,

“West Bengal continues to be a key market for BharatBenz, driven by infrastructure development, industrial activity, and freight movement along major national highways. The inauguration of the Agile Trucking dealership in Raniganj further strengthens BharatBenz’s footprint in southern West Bengal. West Burdwan is a strategically important district with strong industrial and infrastructure activity. With this modern 3S facility, we are reinforcing our commitment to delivering reliable products, faster service turnaround, and a superior ownership experience for our customers.Currently, 418 BharatBenz touch points are there with this facility and in 2026 we will add total 32 more touch points to improve reach to 450 touch points in total. We have 11 Service workshops in West Bengal and we will add 5 more touchpoints in 2026. We are also going to start new RTC in Kolkata by Q4’2026 to provide trained engineers to our dealerships which in turn will improve customer service experience.”

Vijayakumar K, CEO ofAgile Trucking, said,

“The launch of this new BharatBenz facility in Raniganj reflects our long-term commitment to the region. With advanced infrastructure, a skilled team, and round-the-clock operations, we aim to support our customers with dependable service and help them achieve higher vehicle uptime and operational efficiency.”

All BharatBenz touchpoints in South Bengal are strategically positioned along major national highways, enabling efficient logistics support and faster response times. The new Raniganj facility further strengthens BharatBenz’s service network in the state and is expected to play a critical role in supporting fleet operators across industrial, infrastructure, and captive-use segments. Since its inception in July 2022, Agile Trucking has sold over 400 BharatBenz vehicles in the region and currently operates three active touchpoints in West Bengal, all strategically located on major highway corridors to ensure seamless customer access.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO Venky Mysore, in conversation with Mr. Anis Sajan (aka Mr. Cricket UAE), hailed Gautam Gambhir’s unwavering commitment to victory as a defining force behind the franchise’s Indian Premier League (IPL) success.  

Speaking on the latest episode of the Mr Cricket UAE Podcast, Mysore revisited KKR’s championship years, shared insights into the franchise’s auction strategy including their strong pursuit of Cameron Green and expressed confidence ahead of IPL 2026. 

Gambhir’s Leadership: The Turning Point for KKR Mysore described Gambhir as the foundation of KKR’s resurgence, revealing that the former India opener was the very first player he secured after joining the franchise in 2011.

“Gautam was amazing. First and foremost, he was the very first player I picked once I joined Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2011 Auction. His name came first, we picked him first and it was a great association when he led the team. We won both championships, we won under him as captain.” said Mysore.

He emphasized Gambhir’s single-minded focus on winning and his ability to rally the squad, particularly during the 2014 season in the UAE, a campaign that saw KKR lift their second IPL trophy despite Gambhir enduring three consecutive ducks at the start of the tournament.

“Just for people who don’t remember, 2014, when the championship happened in UAE, Gautam Gambhir, I guess, had made four or five [three] ducks. And I was fortunate enough to see one game with Shah Rukh Khan in Sheikh Zayed Stadium. And I remember he was telling me, this guy is going to make me win the championship, even though he has made four or five ducks. And the rest is history.”

Drawing parallels with young left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma, who is currently going through a lean patch in the T20 World Cup 2026, Mysore reiterated the importance of backing quality players during tough phases.

“After Gautam got his series of ducks initially, he came up to me, and he said if you have to bench me, you should bench me. Then I said to him, Gautam, if you had played 50-60 balls and not scored runs, I would have said, ‘You are out of form’. You played only 5-6 balls, and you scored 4 ducks. How can you say you are out of form? The same holds true for Abhishek Sharma. I think he is a quality player. Sometimes it’s just that one ball hitting the middle of the bat; things can change. Maybe the next game is going to be his game”

Auction Strategy and the Cameron Green Pursuit Turning to KKR’s approach for IPL 2026, Mysore underlined the franchise’s meticulous preparation at auctions and revealed their strong intent around marquee all-rounder Cameron Green.

“I think when it comes to auctions, there’s so much preparation that goes in. You might see me there with the paddle. We were the first ones to use analytics in the auction from 2011. At that time, if you remember, we cleaned the slate, released everybody, went with the full purse, built a team which has paid dividends. So, we think the strategies we adopt are solid.”

On their aggressive pursuit of Green, Mysore signaled the franchise’s ambition to secure players who fit both their skill and strategic framework.

KKR’s auction philosophy, he explained, is rooted in data-backed decision-making combined with a clear understanding of team balance and long-term vision. 

Sustained Success Built on Structure Despite multiple leadership changes over the years including different captains and head coaches, Mysore highlighted KKR’s consistency as evidence of a strong foundational strategy.

“Over the last 15-16 years, if you look at win-loss ratios across teams, we always rank among the top two. We have about a 55-56 percent win ratio.”

With a balanced squad, experienced support staff, and a data-driven blueprint, Mysore expressed optimism for the upcoming campaign.

“Ultimately, when they go out and cross that boundary line, go on the field, it’s the players who have to make it happen. So, I think we have an outstanding team, we have a great support staff and the skill sets and the combination that we have is great. Now, ultimately, it has to happen on the field. So, we are always very optimistic in this class.”

As KKR gear up for IPL 2026, Mysore’s reflections underscore a recurring theme: belief in leadership, conviction in preparation, and the relentless pursuit of victory. And at the heart of that winning culture stands Gautam Gambhir, whose legacy continues to shape the Knight Riders’ journey.

Rail brakes support fast roller changes in laminating units

 SAUERESSIG has evolved from being a manufacturer of printing and embossing rollers to becoming a highly innovative machine manufacturer with a diverse product range.

In a large laminating unit by SAUERESSIG Engineering for laminating steel strip on both sides, rubber rollers press a protective PET film onto hot steel strip. Despite cooling, these rubber rollers do wear down and need to be replaced regularly. Four profiled rail brakes by mayr® power transmission ensure that the laminating process, which takes place 24 hours a day, only has to be interrupted briefly to replace the rollers.

SAUERESSIG began manufacturing printing and embossing rollers for the packaging and printing industry around 70 years ago. Today, the company is a highly innovative mechanical engineering company with a diverse portfolio. As a leading full-range supplier of calendering, embossing and rotary processing systems in standard and special designs, the company supplies a wide range of industries.

The machine solutions include both complete production lines and customized systems for embossing, finishing, coating, smoothing, perforating and calibrating sheet materials such as paper, film or metal sheets. The company offers comprehensive expertise from the initial idea to the final customized solution, including planning and designing mechanics, drive and automation technology, pre-assembly and commissioning in the factory, and final approval at the customer’s premises.

SAUERESSIG’s large laminating unit coats both sides of the steel strip with a protective PET film

 One such customized system, no less than six metres long and around four metres wide, coats a steel strip on both sides with a thin protective PET film. Harald Bartsch, Head of Design/Expert Advisor at SAUERESSIG Engineering, describes the machine’s design concept as follows “The complete laminating unit consists of two nearly identical, symmetrically arranged side frames, each with a rubberized laminating roller and a contact cooling roller. For laminating, the steel strip moves vertically between the two laminating rollers through the laminating unit at a conveying speed of up to 250 m/min. The laminating rollers press the film onto the hot steel strip from both sides.”

The steel strip’s high temperatures of up to 260 °C heat up the rubber coating on the laminating rollers. Water-cooled contact rollers dissipate this heat and limit the rubber coating’s temperature to a maximum of 90 °C. Despite the cooling, the rubber linings of the laminating rollers are subject to wear and must be replaced regularly. “As the laminating process should ideally be running continuously all year round and 24/7 without interruption,” explains Harald Bartsch, “the time required to replace the laminating rollers must be kept as short as possible. Therefore, the laminating unit is designed in such a way that the automated roller replacement only takes half an hour.”

The laminating unit consists of two symmetrically arranged side frames. Both side frames are mounted onto profiled rail guides and can be separated axially to replace the worn laminating rollers. While the coating process is in progress, profiled rail brake of the ROBA® guidestop® series by mayr® power transmission hold the two system parts in position backlash-free and with high rigidity. To replace the rollers, these safety brakes are released hydraulically, the two machine halves can be moved apart via rack and pinion gears and the laminating rollers can be replaced.

Profiled rail brake of the ROBA® guidestop® series by mayr® power transmission hold the two system parts of a large laminating unit in position backlash-free and with high rigidity.

 The ROBA® guidestop® profiled rail brake serves as a reliable safety brake and backlash-free clamping unit. It can brake movements safely and quickly and clamps the axes rigidly and backlash-free.

Just like all safety brakes by mayr®power transmission, the profiled rail brakes also work according to the fail-safe principle. This means they are closed in de-energised condition. The ROBA® guidestop® brakes use pre-tensioned cup springs to press the brake shoes against the ‘waist’ of the profiled rail, thus clamping it in place.

The hydraulic brake design used in the SAUERESSIG laminating unit is released using a nominal pressure of 70 bar. This is comparatively low in relation to the very high holding forces. The brake mechanism is dimensioned for relatively large strokes. As a result, the brake can compensate for production tolerances on the profiled rails without losing braking force. The ROBA® guidestop® safety brakes are equipped with two independent brake circuits: This allows for either double holding forces or a redundant design.

The profiled rail brakes are therefore directly mounted onto the masses which are to be braked or held. This minimises the risk of hazards, particularly with gravity-loaded axles, as drive elements between the motor and the moving mass, such as spindles, spindle nuts, shaft couplings and gears, do not affect safety. This is different for concepts with motor brakes, as all drive elements must transmit the braking torque to the carriage. Furthermore, every element between the brake and the carriage has a negative effect on rigidity. ROBA® guidestop® safety brakes are therefore considerably more rigid than motor brakes, rod brakes or band brakes, which are often subject to backlash.

ROBA® guidestop® safety brakes by mayr® power transmission are available in pneumatic or electromagnetic versions in addition to the hydraulically opening design. The hydraulically releasing ROBA® guidestop® series covers nominal holding forces from 5000 to 34000 N with four sizes. The pneumatically releasing version offers the greatest variety of options: Six sizes with nominal holding forces from 700 to 15000 N are available in the standard product range. Both versions (i.e. pneumatically and hydraulically releasing) are available for all common linear guides. Electromagnetically opening rail brakes do not require any pneumatic or hydraulic equipment. mayr® power transmission developes this variant on request, customizing it for the respective application.

India, Feb 25 : In a vital moment for cross-cultural collaboration, Indian playwright Mahesh Dattani and director Jonathan Taikina Taylor in association with NCPA, are bringing a queer epic, The Monk & The Warrior. The play starts with the historically accurate encounter between Alexander the Great and a Bodhisattva monk, which explodes into a love story that traverses culture, space, and time, weaving together queer histories across centuries and civilisations. The play is slated for only six shows from April 2nd to April 5th, 2026 at NCPA.

Contemporary politics prioritise a narrowed telling of history and mythology, ignoring identities and desires that don’t support their narratives. The Monk & The Warrior explodes this oppressive framework by leading audiences through a fantastical, episodic journey into India’s queer histories. It revisits several folklores such as Chandravati and Malavati and Shams and Rumi, amongst others, to propose what some might say is quite radical: Queerness is not a Western construct. It is a traditional part of Indian culture.

The play is a defiant tale of the meeting between Alexander the Great and the Bodhisattva. One seeks to conquer the world while the other longs to want for nothing. It is an interplay of curiosity and desire, a conflict between ambition and transcendence, and a dream of a blooming relationship.

It is conceived and directed by Jonathan Taikina Taylor, a Brooklyn-based creative extraordinaire, who is responsible for directing The SuperGeographics’ work across the USA, Sweden, Peru, Chile, and India. He is collaborating with celebrated Indian playwright and Sahitya Akademi awardee Mahesh Dattani. Through this play, cultures are able to collide together to uplift the voices and stories of pervasively marginalised people and cultures.

Talking about creating this queer epic, Jonathan Taikina Taylor, Director, said,

“The Monk & The Warrior is about the impossibility of meeting another person across disparate cultures and of loving. Cultures of countries yes, but also cultures of gender, of belief, of desire, and of shared experience. It is the result of seven years of research and collision with a culture very unlike my own but that has welcomed me in a conversation. In an era of extreme and unnecessary polarization, artists are required to reach out across chasms of difference and imagine new ways forward. That process has been immensely challenging and joyful.

Mahesh Dattani added,

“In The Monk & The Warrior, I wanted to explore the profound collision between the pursuit of spiritual self-realisation and the brutal reality of imperialism. History often romanticises conquerors, but this play strips that myth away to confront Alexander not as a hero, but as a genocidal force, a ‘killer of human souls’, leaving countless orphaned children and ravaged lives in his wake. Against this backdrop of violence, the play champions radical non-violence and weaves a deeply personal narrative of queer love. I have always believed that many of our traditional Indian stories hold an inherent queerness, which we lean into through narratives like the fluid, transformative rituals of Aravan’s brides and the Bodhisattva’s own acknowledgement of his ‘queer feelings’. Ultimately, the monk’s journey is a struggle toward absolute self-compassion, asking the audience a difficult question: can the quiet, resilient power of love and non-violence truly disarm the relentless machinery of war?”

From India to Chile to Australia, the production boasts cast members from across the globe. It includes Sachin Ravindran, Prethora, Caitlin George, Manjari K, Juan Diego Bonilla, and Harsh Tharad. Eero Hämeenniemi, a Finnish composer, has composed the music for the play. Additionally, Tomás Carrasco Gubernatis, a composer and Chilean woodwind player, along with Prasoon Bhargava, an Indian musician and actor, will be performing live.

The Monk & The Warrior is shaped by a collision of cultures in conversations with artists from around the world. It is an explosion of movement and music; a celebration of difference. Through stories across centuries and cultures, the audience will not be confined to a singular narrative but will explore a radical proposal for how to come together in difference

Bengaluru, Feb 25: Be.ing painfree, a science-led menstrual wellness startup, has launched the world’s first sanitary pads with in-built cramp relief technology, introducing an integrated approach that combines menstrual hygiene with active pain management with a single product. 

Be.ing painfree operates at the intersection of menstrual hygiene and pain relief, two categories that have traditionally functioned separately. The brand aims to bridge this gap by integrating hygiene and active pain management into one system. Its portfolio includes sanitary pads with embedded cramp relief technology, a fast-acting cramp relief gel, and a debloat superfood that targets secondary symptoms such as bloating and gut discomfort. The hero product is the sanitary pad with in-built cramp relief technology, combining high-absorbency menstrual hygiene with embedded plant-based actives that are released through body heat and moisture. The company has also been granted a patent for its innovation titled “Cramp Relieving Sanitary Pad and Process for Its Preparation,” making it a patented product and reinforcing the uniqueness of its technology. 

Commenting on the launch of the brand, Dr. Sharmistha Mondal, Founder of Be.ing painfree says,

“With the launch of Be.ing painfree, we are introducing a brand built on one simple belief; any pain that disrupts daily living should never be considered normal. We are here to simplify life for women by of ering solutions that are safe, natural, and work without compromise.” 

Be.ing Painfree’s most notable recognition is its selection for WTFund (Cohort 1, C1/24), a competitive initiative founded by Nikhil Kamath. The brand was founded after extensive research and pattern mapping across more than 3,000 women, Be.ing painfree was built as a problem-first company. The founding team, with backgrounds in healthcare and operations, spent over four years conducting customer discovery, clinical consultations, and rigorous testing to build formulations that are plant-based, non-hormonal, and non-steroidal. In addition to the pads, the brand offers a 15-second cramp relief gel designed for fast-acting relief from cramps, back pain, and leg pain, as well as a debloat superfood that supports gut health and reduces bloating and acidity. All products are designed to be safe for lifelong use, free from toxins, hormones, and artificial pain-numbing agents.

Mumbai, Feb 25 : Oliva Skin & Hair Clinic, one of India’s leading medico-aesthetic chains, has appointed Dhaval Doshi as its Chief Operating Officer, as the brand sharpens its focus on profitable growth, market expansion, and customer-centric transformation.

In this role, Dhaval will lead Marketing, Operations, Expansion across new and existing markets, Product Portfolio, Customer Experience, and Doctor Engagement, with a mandate to build a scalable, performance-led growth engine for the organization.

Dhaval brings with him a diverse leadership background spanning growth strategy, performance marketing, business operations, and scale-building across consumer-facing businesses. Over the years, serving as Head of Marketing at AZORTE, Head of Marketing at Forever 21- India, Deputy General Manager at Allen Solly, Regional Sales Manager at Peter England, Milk Marketing and Operations Manager at Amul, and more, he has been instrumental in driving revenue growth, strengthening unit economics, and building execution-led frameworks that balance brand building with measurable business outcomes. 

He is particularly known for integrating marketing effectiveness with on-ground operational excellence to unlock sustainable and profitable growth.

At Oliva, his focus will be on building brand salience along with accelerating demand generation, improving walk-ins and conversion efficiency, enhancing clinic-level profitability, and expanding the brand’s footprint in high-potential markets. He will also work closely on strengthening doctor engagement and elevating the overall patient experience to align with Oliva’s clinical leadership.

Backed by Kedaara Capital, Oliva is entering a new phase of disciplined, growth-led expansion. Kedaara Capital is a leading India-focused private equity firm known for partnering with high-quality, scalable businesses and building institution-led platforms through long-term capital and strong governance. Its portfolio includes category leaders such as Lenskart, Vedant Fashions Dairy Day, and Avanse Financial Services, among others. Dhaval’s appointment underscores Oliva’s emphasis on transformation, marketing precision, and operational rigor as it scales into its next chapter.

By Linh Tran, Market Analyst at XS.com

EUR/USD has continued its downward trend since peaking around 1.2080 at the end of January, as the divergence in economic prospects between the United States and the Eurozone has become increasingly evident. This movement reflects the current macroeconomic landscape, where the US dollar remains supported by relatively stable growth and inflation that is still above target, while the Eurozone faces slower expansion and lacks sufficient policy momentum to trigger a meaningful shift in expectations.

Recent US economic data suggest that growth has moderated but has not deteriorated significantly. GDP expanded by only 1.4% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, a notable slowdown from the 4.4% recorded in the third quarter, partly reflecting the impact of a prolonged government shutdown that disrupted public spending and investment. Nevertheless, for the full year 2025, the US economy still grew by 2.2%, its lowest pace since 2020 but sufficient to avoid a broad-based recession.

While growth has cooled, inflationary pressures have not fully subsided. Core PCE remained around 3.0% year-on-year, well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, forcing the central bank to maintain a cautious stance. At the same time, the US trade deficit in goods and services widened to approximately $901.5 billion in 2025, among the highest levels since records began in 1960, highlighting structural imbalances in external trade. However, with inflation still above target, the Fed’s primary policy focus remains price stability rather than growth stimulus.

The combination of slower but still positive growth and persistent inflation makes it difficult for the Fed to signal an early easing cycle. The “higher for longer” narrative continues to gain traction, keeping US Treasury yields relatively attractive compared to Europe. This yield differential remains a key factor supporting the US dollar and weighing on the euro.

On the other hand, the Eurozone has posted modest growth. The region’s GDP rose by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in Q4 2025 and approximately 1.5% for the full year. Although the February Flash Composite PMI improved to 51.9 from 51.3 the previous month, indicating a mild expansion in overall activity, the pace of improvement remains insufficient to significantly alter expectations for ECB policy. In an environment of fragile growth, the ECB has less room to maintain a hawkish stance compared to the Fed.

In my view, the near-term outlook for EUR/USD will largely revolve around the policy divergence between the Fed and the ECB. With US policy rates still considerably higher than those in the Eurozone and core US inflation hovering around 3%, the Fed is unlikely to ease policy soon. Conversely, Eurozone inflation has eased to around 1.7% while growth remains modest, giving the ECB limited incentive to maintain a restrictive stance.

Under the base-case scenario, where US growth continues to slow but avoids a sharp downturn and inflation declines only gradually, the US dollar is likely to retain its relative advantage through yield differentials. The euro may only stage a sustained recovery if US economic data weaken sufficiently to push the Fed toward earlier-than-expected rate cuts. For now, the macro balance continues to tilt slightly in favor of the dollar, leaving EUR/USD more prone to sustained pressure than a decisive reversal.