India’s BKT is one of the global leaders in Off-Highway Tyre (OHT) manufacturing with a range that includes tyres for mining, construction, industrial, ports, agriculture, landscaping, ATV, and many other applications.
The company will launch its first ‘On & Off road’ Tipper tyre 12.00R24 in a SR423 pattern at this month’s Automechanika Dubai. Joint managing director Rajiv Poddar explains to T&FME that it will also be showcasing some “important sizes” for the Multi-Purpose Truck segment, such as 365/80R20, in a SR33 pattern. He adds that the company plans to demonstrate its equipment ranges too. As ever, BKT is focussed on developing tyres for a huge range of applications.
“BKT is expanding its range in solid tyre segment where 4.00 – 8 ECO Rib pattern has been introduced for Ground Support Equipment and 7.00 – 12 Maglift ECO pattern as a high performance tyre for forklift and material handling equipment,” he says. “In the All Steel OTR radial segment BKT has introduced a new pattern 24.00R35 SR48 for rigid dumpers operating in stone quarry and cement mining and 20.5R25 SR23 pattern for heavy duty grading operation. In the telehandler segment BKT has released a new product in 15.5-25 in AT603 pattern which is suitable to endure heavy duty operation.”
Automechanika Dubai is one of the first major industry events to follow the all-important Bauma show in Germany. During the construction industry showcase – and the world’s biggest trade event – BKT
highlighted the Earthmax SR 46. Poddar says the premium heavy duty rock design pattern offers excellent resistance to cuts and damages in very rocky and highly abrasive conditions.
“The robust tyre construction offers high protection and premium tire compound helps in offering long service life,” he says,
The Earthmax SR 46 is available in different compound options to suit specific customer requirements and now has evolved considerably in years following its initial launch in 2008. At the time of its release, BKT was the first Indian tyre company to produce an All Steel OTR Radial tyre.
“The range has seen phenomenal expansion and now includes sizes suitable for Rigid Dumper, Articulated Dumper, Scraper, Wheel Loader, Motor Grader, Tele-handler, Tipper Trucks, Underground mining equipment, and more,” says Poddar.
He adds that the Earthmax range has been offered to various users across Middle East and has seen phenomenal growth in the last five years.
“The products have been suitably modified to withstand the challenging work conditions and have subsequently produced excellent results in categories like rigid dumper, wheel loader, mobile crane, motor grader, tipper trucks, etc. In most cases these products have offered superior cost per hour performance even compared to the top brands. Today, users in the Middle East are accepting Earthmax as their product of first choice due to the excellent service life as well as superior damage protection offered at a highly effective price point.”
According to Poddar, the construction segment where Earthmax is so dominant is looking healthy and
picking up in some markets: “due to which the overall demand will be good. In addition, the mining sector has improved significantly which will result in higher demand for the high performance Earthmoving radial tyre,” he says.
Like other tyre manufacturers at the cutting edge of the market, BKT has been exploring how to deploy smart tyre technology and ensure it is useful for contractors, particularly on site.
“In order to have a real-time assessment of the tyre operating conditions BKT has been working on the development of special tools like TPMS,” he explains. “This helps in getting real-time data from the tyre from remote locations and also helps in tracking the tyre behaviour in extreme conditions.”
He adds: “In addition, BKT has developed tools like SPOTech (Satellite Performance Optimization Technology) which help to understand the operating condition at a micro level which results in the correct tire selection. The SPOTECH tool has been highly appreciated by project managers in Middle East as it is able to decipher and bring out the project intricacies in great detail.”
Looking ahead, Poddar believes that BKT’s growth will be driven by its All Steel OTR radials. It is currently the fastest growing segment for BKT and could yet accelerate as new patterns and sizes are introduced.
“Owing to the sustained market demand, BKT will also grow in construction and industrial tyre segments with its vast product range,” he adds. “BKT tyres have consistently delivered excellent performance at cost-effective price.”
While it is focused on offering value for buyers, the company has been relentlessly addressing its manufacturing footprint in recent years. Its new manufacturing plant at Bhuj has seen massive growth in with the All Steel Radial programme at the facility expanded, “both in terms of new tyre size introduction and multiple variants of same size to suit various specific requirements.”
Poddar adds: “In order to ensure systematic upgradation of the other three manufacturing plants, BKT has also made substantial investments year on year in these plants. This has resulted in overall improvement of product quality.
As a first step towards backward integration, BKT has now set up a new plant for carbon black production within the Bhuj factory.
“This facility will be operational soon and will further assist in the in-house development of special tyre compounds as well as ensure continuous supply of this important raw material,” comments Poddar.
The future of BKT is now firmly planted within the global tyre market and the company will soon enter production away from its Indian hub for the first time.
“The fifth BKT manufacturing facility has been planned in Tennessee, USA – the first manufacturing facility outside India,” he says. “This will be helpful in increasing BKT presence on the American continent.”
Whether it’s the technology or the companies at the head of the market, the tyre industry changed dramatically over recent decades. It’s a trend, Poddar says, that will continue.
“With the changing world market scenario, more consolidation is expected in the tire Industry. The competition is expected to increase further which will create more pressure on smaller brands,” he says.
“BKT is working to develop its strengths on many different parameters to ensure consistent growth. This includes developing superior manufacturing systems, increasing product range, improving service levels, customising product offering, increasing market coverage, improving brand visibility, etc.”
