A system and method of reducing the net carbon dioxide footprint of an industrial process that generates power from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in which ambient air is admixed with up to 50% by volume of an effluent gas from the power generator of the industrial process, in order to substantially increase the CO2 concentration in the air prior to treatment. The treatment comprises adsorbing CO2 from the admixed ambient air utilizing a cooled, porous substrate-supported amine adsorbent, wherein the porous substrate initially contacts the mixed ambient air containing condensed water in its pores, which act as an intrinsic coolant with respect to the exothermic heat generated by the adsorption process. In addition, prior to regenerating the supported adsorbent, air pressure is substantially reduced in the sealed regeneration chamber and the low pressure chamber is placed in fluid connection with a higher pressure regeneration chamber containing steam and carbon dioxide, to preheat the sorbent to be regenerated and to quickly cool the regenerated sorbent prior to use for further CO2 adsorption.

A process for winning oil from a vapor gas mixture (VGM) containing a plurality of oil fractions obtained by the pyrolysis of a hydrocarbon containing material includes dedusting and cooling the VGM. The dedusted and cooled VGM are fractionated in at least two electrostatic precipitator stages at respective temperatures corresponding to respective boiling points of the oil fractions so as to separate the oil fractions.

A method and apparatus are described for swing adsorption processes. The method includes obtaining different plates, wherein the plates have gaseous openings and a utility fluid opening. Then, the gaseous openings are substantially oriented along a common axis for gaseous openings and the plates are diffusion bonded. Once diffusion bonded, the gaseous openings within the module are wash coated with an adsorbent material.

A pressure swing adsorption process for removal of CO2 from natural gas streams through a combination of a selective adsorbent material containing an effective amount of a non-adsorbent filler, adsorbent contactor design, and adsorption cycle design. The removal of contaminants from gas streams, preferably natural gas streams, using rapid-cycle swing adsorption processes, such as rapid-cycle pressure swing adsorption (RC-PSA). Separations at high pressure with high product recovery and/or high product purity are provided through a combination of judicious choices of adsorbent material, gas-solid contactor, system configuration, and cycle designs. For example, cycle designs that include steps of purge and staged blow-down as well as the inclusion of a mesopore filler in the adsorbent material significantly improves product (e.g., methane) recovery. An RC-PSA product with less than 10 ppm H2S can be produced from a natural gas feed stream that contains less than 1 mole percent H2S.

The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for producing a fluid enriched in carbon dioxide starting from a waste gas from a ferrous metallurgy unit.

The invention relates to a cyclonic fluid separator comprising a throat portion (4) which is arranged between a converging fluid inlet section and a diverging fluid outlet section. The cyclonic fluid separator is arranged to facilitate a cyclonic flow through the converging fluid inlet section and the throat portion towards the diverging fluid outlet section in a downstream direction. The diverging fluid outlet section comprises an inner primary outlet conduit (7) for condensable depleted fluid components and an outer secondary outlet conduit (6) for condensable enriched fluid components. The cyclonic fluid separator comprises a further outer secondary outlet conduit (16). The outer secondary outlet conduit (6) is positioned on a first position along a central axis (I) of the cyclonic fluid separator and the further outer secondary outlet conduit (16) is positioned on a second position along the central axis (I) of the cyclonic fluid separator.

An array of hollow fibers including a plurality of hollow fibers of a predetermined diameter configured to receive a gas having oxygen therein and transfer the oxygen to a fluid and/or transfer carbon dioxide in the fluid to a gas. The array is configured in a predetermined pattern having a predetermined packing density that is a fraction of a total cross-sectional area of the array occupied by the hollow fibers.

A composition of matter, and method to make same, for a nano-based material including a nanocarbon support to which is attached an aliphatic amine. In particular, the composition of matter is an aliphatic amine-nanocarbon material that includes a nanocarbon (NC) support, such as C60, nano-graphite, graphene, nanocarbon ribbons, graphite intercalation compounds, graphite oxide, nano-coal, nanohorns, and combinations thereof, and further includes an aliphatic amine, such as polyethyleneimine (PEI).

Apparatus and methods for separating volatiles from particulates are provided. The apparatus includes a separator having an internal volume and a fluid discharge outlet, a particulate discharge outlet, a particulate inlet, and a fluid inlet disposed on the separator and in fluid communication with the internal volume. The particulate inlet is disposed toward a first end of the separator and the fluid inlet is disposed toward a second end of the separator. The fluid inlet includes one or more openings disposed through a sidewall of the separator.

The exhaust gas treatment apparatus has a sealed vessel which is vertically partitioned into two spaces by a partition. A portion of the sealed vessel lower than the partition is an absorbing liquid storage portion, and a portion of the sealed vessel upper than the partition is an exhaust gas introducing portion. The partition is provided with a large number of sparger pipes so that the sparger pipes reach inside an absorbing liquid stored in the absorbing liquid storage portion. The partition is provided with a single gas riser in communication with a space upper than the absorbing liquid in the absorbing liquid storage portion. An upper end of the gas riser passes through a top plate portion of the sealed vessel and protrudes upward.

A punching device includes a punching unit that punches a hole in a sheet of paper; a container that receives a chad of paper generated upon punching by the punching unit; a dispersing member that is provided within the container and that is configured to disperse the chad of paper; and a guiding member configured to guide the chad of paper that is generated upon punching by the punching unit and fallen into the container to the dispersing member.

A cutting device for cutting labels includes a cutting element for cutting into individual labels a label strip that is provided with a plurality of labels arranged one behind the other in the direction of the length of the label strip. The cutting element has a cutting tool in a first axis, about which the cutting element is rotatable. A counter-pressure roller which serves for the placement of the label strip is rotatable about a second axis arranged parallel to the first axis and has at least one counter-cutting bar which is provided on the outer surface of the counter-pressure roller essentially parallel to the second axis.

An apparatus for cutting a continuous web includes a disc-shaped rotatable blade member for cutting the continuous web by moving in an intersecting direction, while rotating about an axis of a rotating shaft, a regulating section for regulating a relative movement of the continuous web in the predetermined direction with respect to the rotatable blade member throughout a time during which the rotatable blade member is cutting the continuous web, and a reciprocating mechanism for moving both the rotatable blade member and the regulating section along a forward path and a return path. The forward path has an equal velocity region where both the rotatable blade member and the regulating section move at a velocity value equal to a transport velocity value of the continuous web. The rotatable blade member cuts the continuous web while moving in the equal velocity region.

Rotary cutting apparatus has a frame, a first rotary device and a second rotary device. Each of the first and second rotary devices has a shaft concentrically arranged about a rotational axis and a drum and are arranged in the frame in such a way that said first and second axes are substantially horizontal and substantially in the same vertical plane. A pair of bearing housings is arranged on either side of each of the drums. A first pair of bearing housings is movable relative to the frame in a transverse direction to the first rotational axis by means of a force means. Means is provided for passive vibration attenuation of at least the first shaft that includes a mass damper having a housing and a damping body movably arranged inside the housing, wherein the mass damper is associated with the first pair of bearing housings.

Noodles with hand-made quality consisting of thick and thin portions are processed by introducing a noodle belt between first and second cutting rolls 5 and 6 having first and second cutting blades 3 and 4 each formed by large and small diameter portions 3a, 4a and 3b and 4b, and spacers 7. The cutting rolls are relatively shifted in an axial direction such that the thick portion is formed by opposing large diameter portion and spacer and the thin portion is formed by opposing large diameter portion and small diameter portion.

A rotary cutter device includes a rotating body, a plurality of rotary blades, a fixed blade, a feeding portion, and a control portion. The rotating body is configured to be rotatable around a central axis. The plurality of rotary blades are provided on the rotating body. The fixed blade is provided facing a trajectory that cutting edges of the plurality of rotary blades describe when the plurality of rotary blades rotate. The feeding portion is configured to feed a sheet-shaped object along a linear feed path that passes close to the fixed blade. The control portion is configured to rotate the plurality of rotary blades around the central axis toward the fixed blade from the opposite side of the feed path from the fixed blade.

A dicing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a work table on which a work is mounted; a processing device which processes the work; an imaging device which images the work on the work table; a plurality of moving device which move the work table, the processing device, and the imaging device relatively to each other; and an alignment camera which is provided on the same moving device as the work table so as to face the imaging device, and which performs imaging in the direction toward the portion where the imaging device is provided. According to the dicing apparatus configured in this way, it is possible to easily measure the relative position of the imaging device and the processing device without processing a dummy work, and it is possible to perform excellent dicing processing without lowering the efficiency of the dicing apparatus.

A bread conveying apparatus and a bread slicing apparatus including the bread conveying apparatus, comprise a flight conveyer including a first flight for urging a bread, an endless revolving member on which the first flight is mounted, and a driving member and a driven member, the endless revolving member being wound around the driving member and driven member; a rail extending along a conveying path of the bread and supporting the first flight; and a rail size setting unit for setting a length of the rail with respect to an extending direction of the conveying path, wherein the length of the rail with respect to the conveying direction is set by the rail size setting unit based on a size of the bread.

The invention relates to a portable, handheld work apparatus such as a trimmer, a cut-off machine, a chain saw or the like, having a motor (5, 33) to drive a rotating, exchangeable work tool (13). A control unit (15) serves to control the operation of the motor (5, 33). The control unit (15) determines the rotational speed (n) and/or the power (P) of the motor (5, 33). According to the invention, the motor (5, 33) can be operated in a first operating mode (I) with reduced rotational speed (n0) and/or power (P0) and in at least a second operating mode (II) with an increased rotational speed (n1) and/or power (P1). In dependence on a release signal, the control uses exclusively the first operating mode (I) for a limited operation and the second operating mode (II) for an expanded operation.

A web-member cutting apparatus for cutting a web member at intervals in a transport direction includes: an intermittent transport mechanism for intermittently transporting the web member in the transport direction; a disc-like rotatable blade member for cutting the web member by moving along an intersecting direction while rotating about a rotation shaft during a suspension period of transport of the web member, and a downstream pressing member for regulating movement of the web member by pressing the web member against the intermittent transport mechanism at a position downstream from a target cut position in the transport direction throughout a period during which the rotatable blade member is cutting the web member.

A method and apparatus for cutting a window covering comprises saw for cutting the window blind. A clamp assembly moves the window covering relative to the saw. A controller moves the clamp assembly to automatically position the window covering relative to the saw. The saw is moved into engagement with the window covering to cut the window covering.

An apparatus for cutting tubular members includes a support structure, a control system, a cutting station, a guide and an extracting assembly. The cutting station includes a first wheel having at least one cutting member located on the circumference of the first wheel and a second wheel having at least one projection located on the circumference of the second wheel. The extracting assembly has a cylindrical member with a first end and a second end. The cylindrical member also includes a pair of grooves extending along a portion of the interior thereof. The grooves decrease in height and depth from the first interior section to the third interior section.

A circular saw including a saw blade (36) which may be rotatingly driven about a rotational axis, and at least one first splitting wedge is described. The circular saw is configured so that the first splitting wedge is movable relative to the rotational axis of the saw blade.

A work piece cutting apparatus including a base, a work table, a support post defining a void for a work piece being worked on to pass at least partially through the void, a cutting device, and attachment assembly for securing the cutting device to the support post. Another embodiment of the above apparatus includes a work table being movable to angle orientations relative to the base, and a locking mechanism for locking the work table into angle orientations. A further embodiment is an apparatus adapted for receiving a cutting device. The apparatus includes a base, a work table, and a tool dock base located about the work table. The tool dock base is adapted for receiving a cutting device. Another embodiment of the above apparatus includes a work table being movable to angle orientations relative to the base, and a locking mechanism for locking the work table into angle orientations.

An articulating band saw apparatus provides a frame that includes a vertically extending section having upper and lower end portions. An elevator moves between the upper and lower end portions of the frame. A first hydraulic actuator is supported on the elevator for movement therewith. A first arm provides arm end portions, the first arm supported by the first hydraulic actuator. An end of the first arm supporting a second hydraulic actuator that is spaced away from the first hydraulic actuator. The second hydraulic actuator supports a second arm. An endless band type saw is mounted on the free end of the second arm generally opposite the second actuator. The band saw is movable by articulation of the first and second actuators and resulting movement of the first and second arms. In one embodiment, the band saw is a diamond wire saw.

A simple and compact rotary cutter unit capable of detecting a home position of a rotary cutter, and a printer device having the rotary cutter unit. A radially outwardly extending fin-shaped detected member is arranged on an end portion of the rotating blade opposed to a second gear of the rotating blade. A photosensor is arranged within a main frame of the printer device so that the photosensor may detect the fin-shaped member when the rotating blade is positioned at the home position. The fin-shaped member and the photosensor are not positioned outside relative to both ends of the rotating blade in relation to the direction of the rotational axis of the rotating blade. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the width of the printer device due to the presence of the fin-shaped member or the photosensor, whereby the printer device may be compactly constituted.

An adjustment device for an auxiliary fence includes a support frame, an auxiliary fence, a guiding unit and an adjusting unit. The guiding unit guides the auxiliary fence along a longitudinal direction such that the auxiliary fence is selectively slidable relative to the support frame. The adjusting unit allows the auxiliary fence to be adjusted relative to the support frame and securely positioned. The adjusting unit includes a driving member, a securing member installed on the driving member, and an elastomeric element. When the driving member is operated, the securing member becomes disengaged from the support frame which allows the position of the auxiliary fence to be adjusted by sliding it relative to the support frame.

In some examples, an apparatus includes a base including an arm selectively movable with respect to the base. The arm is selectively rotatable about a first arm axis. A base plate is engaged with the arm. A tool is configured to be detachably coupled to the base plate. The tool is movable with the base plate when coupled to the base plate. The apparatus includes a first mode with the tool coupled to the base plate and the arm being selectively rotatable about the first arm axis, a second mode with the tool coupled to the base plate and the arm being constrained from rotating about the first arm axis, the arm being substantially stationary with respect to the base; and a third mode with the tool detached from the base plate.

A cutting apparatus is provided with a first blade (48, 82), a second blade (50, 84) intersecting with the first blade (48, 82), and a switching unit (72). The switching unit (72) switches between a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the first blade (48, 82) positions in a cutting position in which it is possible to cut a work-piece (12) and the second blade (50, 84) positions in a non-cutting position in which it is impossible to cut the work-piece (12). In the second mode, the second blade (50, 84) positions in the cutting position in which it is possible to cut the work-piece (12) and the first blade (48, 82) positions in the non-cutting position in which it is impossible to cut the work-piece (12).

Embodiments herein provide a modified pitch sprocket to provide an orientation of a saw chain link, such as a cutter link or drive link, with respect to the direction of travel of the link, as it traverses the sprocket that is different than the orientation of the link as it traverses a straight portion of the guide bar. In some embodiments, the modified pitch sprocket may orient the cutter link to provide radial extension for a depth gauge of the cutter link relative to a cutting element of the cutter link. This may facilitate shaping of the depth gauge and/or cutting element, such as by a sharpening element, as the cutter link traverses the sprocket.

A sheet post-processing apparatus which is capable of shortening time wasted until actual start of punching and enhancing productivity. A drive unit causes a moving member which has a cam and reciprocates. A punching member is driven by a movement of the cam of the moving member and punches a sheet when the moving member moves forth and moves back. A determination unit determines a type of the sheet. A control unit controls, when a sheet to be punched is to be subjected to a punching process, the drive unit such that the moving member starts moving before conveyance of the sheet to be punched stops, and controls, when the sheet to be punched is to be subjected to the punching process, the drive unit such that timing with which the moving member starts moving is changed based on the determination by the determination unit.

A method and assembly for separating contaminants from liquids, such as condensates, or vapors at an evaporation plant. The contaminants are separated from liquids by stripping when bringing a contaminant-enriched liquid into direct contact with a vapor by spraying or distributing the liquid into the vapor flowing in a vapor duct or onto wall surfaces in the vapor duct thus reducing the contaminant-content of the sprayed liquid and producing a cleaner liquid. The contaminants are enriched in the vapor. From vapors contaminants are separated by absorption when bringing a contaminant-enriched vapor into direct contact with a cleaner liquid by spraying or distributing the liquid into the vapor flowing in a vapor duct or onto wall surfaces in the vapor duct thus increasing the contaminant-content of the liquid, but producing a cleaned vapor.

A method of manufacturing coated paper by applying a coating liquid to a strip-shaped web of paper to form a plurality of bands extending in the width direction of the web and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the web includes: a coating step (S1) of applying the coating liquid to the web to form the bands with a coating band pitch narrower than a design band pitch defined as a standard for the coated paper; an aftertreatment step (S2), executed after the coating step, of drying the web; and a tension applying step (S3), executed after the aftertreatment step, of expanding the band pitch of the web by applying tension to the web to cause the band pitch of the web to approach the design band pitch.

The invention relates to a process for making paper or paper board comprising forming a cellulosic suspension, flocculating the suspension, draining the suspension on a device to form a sheet and then drying the sheet, wherein the suspension is flocculated using a formation improving 3-component flocculation system comprising a) a linear cationic or ampoteric co-polymer of: i) acrylamide, and ii) a substance with formula (I) with a halide as counter-ion; b) at least one water soluble component chosen from the group of anionic polyacrylamide, non-ionic polyacrylamide and polyethyleneoxide; and c) inorganic microparticles, whereby the flocculation system does not contain a wafer-dispersible or branched anionic organic polymer. The invention also relates to use of the flocculation/retention system in the manufacture of paper or paper board, and to paper and paper board thus produced.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of a surface-treated calcium carbonate, the use of this surface-treated calcium carbonate in a process for the control of organic material in an aqueous medium, as well as to a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and organic material, such as a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and to the use of such a composite.

The invention provides methods and compositions for increasing the strengthening effect of a starch coating on paper. The method involves contacting the starch with a synthetic polymer before the starch is cooked. This changes how the starch gelatinizes and how the polymer gets distributed on the paper resulting in greater paper surface strength.

A method for manufacturing a sheet of paper and/or board having improved retention and drainage properties is provided, according to which, before the formation of the sheet and/or board, at least two retention aids are added to the fibrous suspension. These two retention aids are a main retention aid corresponding to a (co)polymer having a cationic charge density above 2 meq/g, obtained by the Hofmann degradation reaction, and a secondary retention aid corresponding to a water-soluble or water-swellable polymer having an anionic charge density above 0.1 meq/g. The main retention aid is introduced into the fibrous suspension in a proportion of 100 to 800 g/t of dry pulp, and the secondary retention aid is introduced into the fibrous suspension in a proportion of 50 to 800 g/t of dry pulp and has an intrinsic viscosity IV above 3 dl/g.

A method is provided for forming a fire resistant cellulose product. A fire-retarding solution and a bonding agent are combined with refined cellulose fibers to form a fiber mixture, and the fire-retarding solution and bonding agent are substantially uniformly distributed with respect to the cellulose fibers within the fiber mixture. The fiber mixture is exposed to an actuating element, wherein the actuating element is configured to actuate the bonding agent so as to facilitate cohesion of the cellulose fibers and form the fiber mixture into a fiber board member, the fiber board member having opposing major surfaces. A cellulose sheet member is engaged with each major surface of the fiber board member, such that each cellulose sheet member substantially covers the respective major surface. An associated apparatus is also provided.

A process for preparing a seam area for a paper machine clothing (PMC) base fabric includes the steps of: forming the PMC base fabric by flat-weaving, the PMC base fabric including warp yarns extending in machine direction and weft yarns extending in cross machine direction and interwoven with the warp yarns, the weft yarns including first weft yarns and a second weft yarn, the second weft yarn being a multifilament yarn, the warp yarns, the first weft yarns, and the multifilament yarn being woven together on a loom in an original weaving process, the multifilament yarn being positioned in an anticipated seam area; and folding over the PMC base fabric, after weaving the multifilament yarn with the warp yarns, to form a seam loop of the PMC base fabric such that the multifilament yarn is a first one of the weft yarns on a sheet side of the seam loop.

Method for production of cellulose and hemicellulose fibers from lignocellulose biomass obtained from sugarcane leaves and buds by applying a process comprising the stages of: a) Diminishing the particle size of the lignocellulose biomass to a range between 3 and 15 mm, b) Subjecting the product obtained to treatment with one or more solvents and/or a mixture of specific catalysts, c) Carry out sudden decompression to an atmospheric pressure, d) Collecting the pretreated material in a cyclone, e) Optionally separating the liquid and solid fractions through washing and filterung f) Optionally, treating the solid fraction in a reactor with a mixture of ethanol and chlorine dioxide, d) Wash the product obtained to achieve cellulose efficiency above 50% and of lignin of 5 to 7%, fiber lengtht in a range to 1,5 to 2,7 mm, breaking length (km) of 7,0 -8,9, Burst index (kPam2/g) of 4,5-7,2 and Tear index (mNm2/g) of 8,2-8, The obtained high-resistance cellulose and hemicellulose is especially suitable for the paper production and polymer-type plastics.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of a surface-treated calcium carbonate, the use of this surface-treated calcium carbonate in a process for the control of organic material in an aqueous medium, as well as to a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and organic material, such as a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and to the use of such a composite.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of a surface-treated calcium carbonate, the use of this surface-treated calcium carbonate in a process for the control of organic material in an aqueous medium, as well as to a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and organic material, such as a composite of surface-treated calcium carbonate and to the use of such a composite.

A pellet made of aramid pulp and filler material. The pellet has at most 90 weight percent aramid pulp and at least 10 weight percent filler material. A method for manufacturing a pellet that has at most 90 weight percent aramid pulp and at least 10 weight percent filler material.

The disclosure provides a dispersion for making décor paper having improved optical performance without negatively impacting mechanical strength comprising a TiO2 particle slurry comprising a treated TiO2 particle having a surface area of at least about 30 m2/g, and a cationic polymer; wherein the treatment comprises an oxide of silicon, aluminum, phosphorus or mixtures thereof; and the treatment is present in the amount of at least 15% based on the total weight of the treated titanium dioxide particle; paper pulp; and a cationic polymer; wherein the cationic polymer in the slurry and the cationic polymer in the dispersion are compatible; wherein for equal optical performance, the amount of treated TiO2 particle in the dispersion is reduced by about 10% when compared to a dispersion not comprising the treated TiO2 particle of (a). These dispersions are useful in making décor paper that may be used in paper laminates.

A method of production of a product from a stock pulp sheet uses conveyor rolls to convey a stock pulp sheet to a crusher. During conveyance to the crusher, a defective part in the stock pulp sheet is detected by a detector. The detected defective part is removed from the stock pulp sheet by a remover. The stock pulp sheet from which the defective part is removed is supplied to the crusher to produce crushed pulp. The produced crushed pulp is used to produce a product in a product producer.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a defibrating unit configured to defibrate a defibration object including at least a fiber, in air. The sheet manufacturing apparatus forms a sheet by adding quantity of heat to a defibrated material defibrated at the defibrating unit. The sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a measuring unit configured to acquire moisture amount information of the defibrated material or the defibration object, and a controller configured to control the quantity of heat to be added to the defibrated material on the basis of the moisture amount information.

The invention relates to a method for precipitating calcium carbonate, in which method calcium hydroxide is introduced to a fiber suspension containing cellulose-containing fibers, the calcium hydroxide is allowed to attach onto the surfaces of fibers for a pre-determined time, and the aqueous suspension of calcium hydroxide and fibers is brought into contact with carbon dioxide for precipitating the calcium carbonate. The invention also relates to a corresponding system for precipitating calcium carbonate in connection with cellulose-containing fibers. In addition, the invention relates to a fibrous product, which comprises pulp material produced by said method and comprising calcium carbonate.

A pneumatic tire for improving steering stability performance on dry and wet road surfaces. The tire tread pattern has circumferential center main grooves, outside and inside main grooves, land sections demarcated by the main grooves, ground contact borders on both sides of the tire, and closed shoulder lug grooves. A ratio Wmax/Wout of a maximum main groove width Wmax and an outside main groove width Wout is at between 1.5 and 2.5 inclusive. A ratio Sin/Sout of a groove area ratio Sin of a region on a tire-widthwise second side of a tire centerline and a groove area ratio Sout of a region on a first side of the tire centerline is at least 1.10 and smaller than 1.25. A groove area ratio of a region on the second side of a tire-widthwise centerline of the intermediate land sections exceeds that of a region on the first side.

Particular embodiments of the present invention include a multi-stage tire tread having a plurality of wear layers, each said layer being located at a different depth of the tire tread, the tread including one or more tread elements including a contact surface and having a first wear layer and a second wear layer, wherein the second wear layer is located below the first wear layer. The tire tread also includes a longitudinal groove extending in a longitudinal direction within the second wear layer of the tread element, wherein said longitudinal groove becomes exposed after a depth of the first wear layer has been worn. The tire tread further includes one or more lateral grooves extending from the longitudinal groove in a lateral direction within the second wear layer of the tread element. The invention also provides a mold element for forming portions of the multi-stage tread.

A tire having a tread includes an outer tread layer and an inner tread layer. The inner tread layer includes one of a first elastomeric compound and a second elastomeric compound. The outer tread layer includes the other of the first and second elastomeric compounds. The second elastomeric compound has a lower rolling resistance and greater resistance to treadwear than the first elastomeric compound. The inner tread layer increases in thickness across at least a widthwise portion of the outer tread layer with a maximum thickness of one of the inner tread layer and the outer tread layer occurring near at least one of a first shoulder and a second shoulder of the tread. As the tread wears, the inner tread layer defines a greater proportion of a running surface of the tread.