Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, Balkrishna Industries LtdHow is your company preparing for Excon 2023?BKT Tires’ preparations for Excon 2023 are centered around presenting our best-in-class tyre solutions, engaging with industry stakeholders, and contributing to the advancement of the construction equipment sector. We are excited about the opportunities this exhibition presents and look forward to showcasing our commitment to excellence and innovation in tyre manufacturing.Will your company be launching any products or initiatives at Excon 2023 that will align with Excon’s theme of “Building a Better World” through sustainable practices?We are committed to demonstrating our technological prowess and dedication to providing high-quality tyres for the construction and infrastructure sectors. Aligning with this year’s Excon theme, ‘Building India’s Tomorrow – Technology, Globalisation, Sustainability, Inclusiveness,’ BKT Tires will focus on enhancing ‘efficiency’ and ‘reliability’ – two key values in the construction and industrial sectors.Visitors can expect to see how we are pushing the boundaries of tyre technology to meet the evolving needs of the industry.How do you look at the market in India for your products?We view the market in India as a dynamic and strategically significant landscape for our products. India, being an agrarian economy with a thriving construction and industrial sector, presents both opportunities and challenges that shape our approach to the market.The Indian market holds immense significance for BKT Tires, and our approach is rooted in understanding and meeting the unique demands of this diverse and dynamic landscape. We continue to invest in innovation, sustainability, and customer-centric strategies to contribute to the growth and development of the tyre industry in India.What are the various challenges faced in the sector you are in? In the tyre sector, there are several challenges are prevalent, impacting manufacturers and stakeholders across the industry. Such as fluctuations in the prices of raw materials, such as natural rubber and synthetic rubber can significantly impact production costs; supply chain disruption due to geopolitical tensions, or global health crises can disrupt the tyre industry's global supply chain. Addressing these challenges requires a combination of strategic planning, innovation, regulatory compliance, and a commitment to sustainable practices. As BKT Tires navigates the tyre sector in India, we remain dedicated to overcoming these challenges through proactive measures and a forward-thinking approach to ensure sustained growth and resilience in a dynamic market environment.Please share more information on the investment made in the Indian market in terms of the manufacturing facility, etc.BKT Tires has historically demonstrated a commitment to expanding its manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure in India. We have made substantial investments in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, research and development, and technology integration. These investments align with BKT’s goal of enhancing production capacity, ensuring product quality, and staying at the forefront of technological innovation.Over the past few years, we have invested huge capex in all our manufacturing plants, which emphasises the technological upgradation of existing equipment and installation of automated material handling systems. Furthermore, upscaling to integrate digital and physical aspects of manufacturing as well as plant expansion. Additionally, improving the operational logistics has allowed the introduction of new specialist workers and greater flexibility in production and storage flows.How do you work with end users and equipment manufacturers to develop OTR tyres that can increase productivity and efficiency?OEMs and end-use customers have a variety of requirements that they expect their tyres to meet. They must be able to travel over a wide range of terrain and withstand use in harsh operating environments, among other things. Hence BKT continually focuses its efforts on improving rubber compounds and tread patterns. By doing so, we ensure better performance in various applications, improve comfort for equipment operators and minimise unplanned downtime. More importantly, we have dedicated teams of field engineers, who actively collect customer feedback and work with the R&D team on ensuring better quality products and addressing any issues.Tyres are integral to any OTR equipment design as they ensure mobility and productivity. The wrong selection can greatly impede an end-use customer’s ability to get their work done. Hence, we collaborate with OEMs – both local and global, OEMs in order to design and manufacture high-quality tyres that cater to various regions, areas, terrains, and applications while increasing the life and experience of the tyre.