BKT: a global leader of Indian origin

BKT: a global leader of Indian origin
With over 25 accomplished years of global presence in the off-highway tires segment, BKT has undoubtedly become a pioneer
 

 
Our competition is with global tyre giants, so we always have to have an edge over technology if we have to compete with them. If you look at all steel OTR radial tyres for mining, we are the pioneers from India- Arvind Poddar, Chairman and Managing Director, BKT
Many businesses around the world become successful by identifying an existing trend (socio-economic and market) and selling accordingly. But only a handful breakthroughs the obvious and dares to go beyond, thus creating not just success but also an unprecedented niche for themselves. They become pioneers and go on to build, along with a strong company, a robust business culture that lasts for generations.
With over 25 accomplished years of global presence in the off-highway tires segment of world business, Balkrishna Industries (BKT) is undoubtedly one such company.
Back in the early 1990s when the other tire companies in India were busy producing highway tires for mass use, BKT foresaw a unique opportunity in international business and audaciously initiated production in the off-the highway segment. BKT’s products, owing to their state-of-the-art make and unmatched performance, found immediate recognition in world markets, and there began an unending story of BKT’s triumph and innovation.
Today BKT enjoys principal presence across the world, encapsulating a staggering 130 countries. It is the preferred supplier to international OEMs in industrial, construction and agricultural tire segments, and has grown into a diversified industrial conglomerate, exporting its expansive range of off-highway solutions to the world.
Made at BKT“BKT products are known for their reliability and have the lowest claim ratio in the industry; each product passes over 450 stages of tests,” informs Rajiv Poddar, Executive Director, BKT.
BKT has three functioning state-of-the-art manufacturing plants spread across India. Fourth plant in Bhuj, Gujarat is expected to start production by the end of 2013. Currently, BKT provides over 2,100 different SKUs (stock keeping units) for various applications.
The company has products from 5-inch rim diameter to 54-inch rim diameter for vehicles ranging from Go-cart, trailers, forklifts etc. to technologically advanced machines like high horsepower tractors, combines, harvesters, GPS-controlled vehicles, articulated dump trucks, high-speed cranes, sophisticated port vehicles and container handlers etc.
One-stop shop for mining and industry needsBKT has ventured into the production of all-steel radials since 2008. BKT is one of the first tire companies in India to produce the all-steel radial OTR tires. An all-steel radial plant in Chopanki, Rajasthan is now functioning on full throttle, producing top of the line radial tyres for OTR vehicles, ranging from rigid dump trucks to snow manoeuvring vehicles.
The tires under all-steel radials segment range from a 20-inch diameter tipper truck size to a giant 51-inch rigid dump truck size in both radial and bias make, thus covering clients’ every requirement for industrial use as well as mining.
BKT also plans to unveil a more enviable, capable range of sizes for OTR solutions soon. To aid these ambitions, BKT has opened up another state-of-the-art, advanced production plant in Bhuj, Gujarat which will focus on producing top of the line OTR tyres with special focus on the radial segment.
Recently, BKT has also launched an ultra advanced range of tyres especially for high-speed cranes. The tyre 445/95R25 enables heavy high speed cranes to journey at an unprecedented speed of 80 km per hour.
Agricultural tyres BKT is a maker of the world’s most preferred tyres for agricultural use. The company offers a huge range of solutions for agricultural activities. BKT’s range of tractor tyres is especially designed to carry higher loads on and off roads with minimal soil compaction in field. Their superior make ensures great road ability, traction and durability making them a fitting choice for today’s high horse power tractors and trailer applications.  
Rule of thumb: research, develop, innovate and succeedAt BKT, R&D is not just an initiative, it is a norm. The company has invested heavily into research and development of new products and advancements in their existing line. The results are tremendous. “We invest heavily every year into R&D to upgrade our plant facilities and develop new products,” informs Arvind Poddar, Chairman and Managing Director, BKT. “Our competition is with global tyre giants, so we always have to have an edge over technology if we have to compete with them. If you look at all steel OTR radial tyres for mining, we are the pioneers from India.” Going forward, the new plant at Bhuj will have a full-fledged testing track, spread over 25 acres (larger than the Chopanki plant site), which only the top manufacturers can boast. New solutions for new worldBKT is at the forefront when it comes to new product development. BKT develops about 150-160 new SKUs every year in response to the ever-changing requirements of their consumers. The company has its own mould plant which enables them to have the fastest turnaround time.
Dilip Vaidya, President and Director -Technology, BKT says, “In addition to BKT’s state-of-the-art factories, we possess an in-house mould design and a production plant which enables us to achieve production flexibility and frequent changeover in production cycles as per demand.”
OE: the way of futureThe tyre markets in Asia have witnessed a strong surge in recent years with India and China leading in growth and development. The Asian tire industry revenues have increased from $ 54 billion in 2008 at a CAGR of 22 per cent during 2008-2012.
Indian tyre companies are no longer just manufacturing tyres for commercial vehicles, but the market has expanded encapsulating high-end consumers with heavy OE needs for industrial, construction and mining purposes.A company like BKT is a huge factor in this growth with its distribution network, covering almost the entire world. However, as they say, with great success comes great responsibility. Along with business interests, there has also been a strong escalation in application requirement demands by its consumers. Today BKT is manufacturing tyres for OEMs all over the world, offering solutions for heavy agro, industrial and mining solutions.
With demands for fuel efficiency and continuing requirements for extended hardware durability, it has become increasingly important for big market players like BKT to not just provide solutions for OE machinery but also be involved with its development from the beginning. BKT is working intensively to be at tandem with the emerging needs of its OEM clients and has the shortest response period amongst its competitors when it comes to delivering a new product while keeping the costs low and efficiency high, adhering to the stringent most international standards.
India and the WorldIndia over the past decade has emerged as one of the most competent tyre markets in the world, essentially due to the availability of raw materials (natural rubber) and increasing use of modern machinery and technology. There has also been a stupendous increase in interest from global markets due to companies like BKT, which are available across the globe and have earned a good name for India by providing the best quality in their products and services.
Today the Indian automobile market is valued at $58 billion approximately. Over 39 tyre manufacturing companies, with 60 production plants have made India one of the largest markets for all kinds of tyres.
All these factors have resulted in opening enormous prospects for exports for India, which only a few companies lead by BKT are tapping into. Then there is the niche of the Off-Highway segment and OEM solutions carved and nurtured by companies like BKT primarily, which again has only seen a rise since its beginning in the early 1990s.
According to Arvind Poddar, BKT has been able to successfully identify these opportunities and create an industry out of it. The other tyre companies are following suit now after witnessing the success of BKT. As for BKT, the company is once again ready to venture forth into a budding frontier, supplying expansive and a varied range of solutions for mining and industrial needs of emerging India.
Mining shiningIndia is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of its mineral resource deposits which opens doors to possibilities of immense infrastructural growth. The government and industrial India are waking up to the prospects of the gains that lie unearthed in the country’s huge mineral resource reserves. India is already the world’s largest producer of coal, and producer and exporter of mica and iron ore. Then there are the abundant resources of manganese, bauxite, limestone among others which aren’t being fully tapped into. Identifying these opportunities, BKT has ventured into full-fledged production of mining and industrial solutions providing a huge range of tyre variants for various applications.
A green industry, a clean industryEver since its inception, BKT has been very conscious about protecting the environment. Adding to that, Arvind Poddar says, “We keep our plants pollution free. For example, for mixing of carbon black (powder), we have highly sophisticated auto carbon charging unit, which eliminated manual loading. Hence, it minimises the air pollution.”
Energy saved is energy generated“We have windmills set-up in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan for generating green power which fulfil almost 40 per cent of all our energy needs in the northern manufacturing units,” says Arvind Poddar proudly. Energy conservation is a top agenda at BKT. A sizable part of its energy requirement is fulfilled through non-conventional and renewable energy sources, where BKT has invested heavily.
BKT’s Bhuj plant: a greenfield projectThe manufacturing plant in Bhuj, Gujarat is the 4th manufacturing unit set up by BKT in India. The project complex comprises of about 300 acres of land, just a few kilometres away from the Mundra port, offering logistical advantages in transport of raw materials, which are mainly imported and the export of containerised tires.
The site foresees a large warehouse with efficient storage solutions. The specific area of about 25 acres dedicated exclusively to research and development with testing facility at the plant is equipped with indoor and outdoor testing areas for the products. The  special testing track has been constructed to provide for test runs and on-field tests for the tyres.  “We have invested over $375 million in this plant,” says Rajiv Poddar while introducing the Bhuj plant. “This is a huge plant spread across 300 acres and with the most modern machinery ever used in production in India. The plant will enhance our total capacity by 75-80 per cent.”
For BKT, Bhuj plant means an extraordinary increase in production which will add about 120,000 tonnes per year along with its 180,000 tonnes obtained from the other three plants.
“There are plans being made to modify the Bhuj plant and extend its production capacity to the level of 280,000 tonnes,” says Rajiv Poddar.
This is a greenfield project and will focus on developing a wide range of BKT’s radial and bias tyres. “This facility will also produce ultra large and giant OTR tyres up to 51-inch rim diameter,” says Mr Vaidya.
The ‘WOW’ CampaignBKT has recently launched its new campaign titled ‘WOW’ to promote its super efficient industrial, mining and OTR tyres under the sub-brand Earthmax. The campaign is created in-line with the performance and efficiency of the Earthmax products which are bound to evoke a sense of wonderment in its users.

 
BKT products are known for their reliability and have the lowest claim ratio in the industry; each product passes over 450 stages of tests
– Rajiv Poddar, Executive Director, BKT

 
In addition to BKT’s state-of-the-art factories, we possess an in-house mould design and a production plant which enables us to achieve production flexibility and frequent changeover in production cycles as per demand
– Dilip Vaidya, President and Director-Technology, BKTOver 39 tyre manufacturing companies, with 60 production plants have made India one of the largest markets for all kinds of tyres

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