A boom in the construction sector is expected by the end of this year

In an interview with Ace Update, P. K. Ganguly, Head Marketing – OTR, Balkrishna Industries reposes his faith on the building and construction industry and points out that BKT is prepared and ready to meet the upcoming demands of the industry.

What is your take on the ongoing developments happening in the construction and mining sectors?
The government is keen on infrastructure development and views it as a sound area of investment in the coming years. Going by this trend, we are expecting an increased amount of capital infusion in road and infrastructure projects now. In five years’ time, this investment will increase further, which will entail better connectivity, mobility, and connectivity thus helping in contributing to the Indian economy in a big way. We are expecting a boom in the construction sector by the end of this year. As a company, we are ready to meet the future demands of the building and construction industry in every possible way. We have four dedicated factories manufacturing tyres for the construction equipment sector. At BKT, we have been constantly upgrading our factories as well to ensure our customers have access to not just the best but world-class products.

With respect to the global counterparts what are some areas of improvement when it comes to offering better service to the varied pool of clients and customers?
After-sales service is becoming more and more important, as it is a major influencer when it comes to the final decision. Thinking about the manufacturer-user relationship, this cannot actually end after the initial sale.

Our product offerings range from tyres for 240-tonne dumpers to ultra-large radial tyres. For such products, it is essential to have a strong service backup and on-site support. We at BKT take pride in offering our clients and customers proper on-site as also after-sales support which ensures optimum utilization of the product and cost savings.

Moving forward, what are your future plans for increasing Indian market share?
Along with the global markets we have our undivided attention on the Indian market too.

In the mining segment, BKT has a wide range of earthmover tires, both for surface and underground mining. The recent development of 57” giant ultra-large earthmover tire has already created a vibration in the coal mining segment, which will surely bring a major change in BKT’s growth in this segment.

Our technologically advanced ‘Commander’ tires have already proven as the best bet for the Agri segment, and huge appreciation from farmers across India.

BKT has been consistent and continuous investment in Research and Development as well as in tire technology, tire machinery, and tire manufacturing processes. Every year, BKT brings from 80 to 90 new products or new tire sizes to global markets thanks to extensive R&D, product design, and product development activities. In addition, we produce in-house our tire molds and carbon black pigments, which provide us with major autonomy and ensure enhanced quality control throughout the entire supply chain. Our deep understanding of OHT market has led to capabilities to manufacture over 3,200 SKUs.

What is the advantage of BKT when it comes to quality?
Quality is a key aspect irrespective of the product. Our customers seek tyres which will perform efficiently under severe conditions. For them, it implies less downtime, minimal operational issues, and increased profits.

BKT Tires are qualitative, tough, and durable; attributes that made them an instant hit. What bears testimony to this fact is the acceptance that BKT’s tires have found amongst high- quality conscious overseas users.

Our core focus on offering quality products is evident from the fact that we have numerous repeat customers and clients apart from the new customers who increase our footprint in the market from time to time.

Even during the pandemic our production and delivery goals did not suffer. Not to mention we took good care about the safety and welfare of our ‘workforce’ – our greatest asset.

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