BKT: Global Leadership through Innovation

Tire makers are witnessing mixed demand from the mobile off-highway construction equipment due to revival in infrastructure and road sectors. With the indications of growing demand of off-highway tyre, the key challenge for tyre manufacturers is to introduce dynamism in their R&D for catering to various applications and sizes.

To meet the projected demand, export oriented tire major, Balkrishna Industries Limited, (BKT) has commissioned its state-of-the-art Greenfield plant, involving an investment worth $450 million at Bhuj in Gujarat. Spread across 300 acres, the plant has 25 acres exclusively dedicated to research & development. The testing facility at the plant is equipped with indoor and outdoor testing areas for the products, made at the plant. The testing area encompasses, special testing track for test runs and on field tests for the tires.

According to Mr. Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, BKT, “The Bhuj plant near Mundra Port, will offer us cost advantage with better economies of scale for procuring the imported raw materials and for exporting the finished products. The plant will contribute towards our 75% capacity increment. We have plans on board to expand the production capacity of the Bhuj facility. Backed by strong R&D support and state-of-the-art machineries, the plant will produce ultra large and giant OTR tires upto 51” rim diameter.”

BKT provides 2300 stock keeping units for varied equipment verticals in off- and on-highway construction. This includes products for dumpers, motor graders, trailers, forklifts, articulated dump trucks and mobile cranes. BKT makes tires from 5 inches to 54 inches rim diameter.

Mentioning on maintaining appropriate product quality, Mr. Poddar says, “R&D forms the very basis of BKT. With consistent investment in R&D, we develop tires between the ranges of 150-160 new tire sizes each year. These tires are made in accordance with the application requirements of the customers along with complying all the national and international regulatory and statutory pollution control norms. Production of tires with quality materials is supported by our in-house mould design and production unit at Dombivali in Maharashtra. The facility is instrumental, enabling us to have production flexibility in the production cycle within shortest possible time, resulting towards faster, concept to market product roll out.”

BKT has grown exponentially with around 30% CAGR in the past 6 years despite many challenges from the economic scenario and ‘me-too’ companies. “We, at BKT endeavors a holistic approach in our operations with belief in offering a wide range of products, best quality, marketing and training support, reasonable prices, best after sales service, consistency and transparency in our dealings ensuring BKT’s reliability all over the world. To be in tandem with the emerging needs, we are closely working on projects with fair number of OEMs in the domestic as well as international markets towards launching series of newer products,” informs Mr. Poddar.