Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director,BKT BKT enjoys major presence in five continents around the world, encapsulating more than 130 countries Many businesses around the world become successful by identifying an existing trend (socio-economic and market) and selling accordingly. But only a handful of them break through the obvious and dare to go beyond, thus creating not only success but 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 tyres segment, Balkrishna Industries (BKT) is undoubtedly one such company. Back in the early 1990s, when the other tyre companies in India were busy producing highway tyres, especially for mass use, the leaders at BKT foresaw a unique opportunity in international business and audaciously initiated production in the off-highway segment. BKT´s products, owing to its state-of-the-art make and unmatched performance, found immediate recognition in world markets, and there began an unending story of the company´s triumph and innovation. Today, BKT enjoys major presence in five continents around the world, encapsulating more than 130 countries. It is the preferred supplier to international OEMs in industrial, construction and agricultural tyre segments, and has grown since its inception in 1988 into a diversified industrial conglomerate exporting its expansive range of off-highway solutions to the world. Made at BKT Quality conscious users who adhere to stringent conformity standards in Europe and America prefer BKT as their supplier, thus implying that every BKT product is superior in creation and delivers expected performance. This is achieved by using the foremost quality of raw materials that are processed through the most advanced and developed technology creating a BKT product. ´Each product passes through over 450 stages of tests. The result of this rigorous practice being that BKT products are known for their reliability and have the lowest claim ratio in the industry,´informs Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, BKT. The company has products from 5´to 54´rim diameter for vehicles ranging from trailers, forklifts, etc, to technologically advanced machines like high horse power tractors, combines, harvesters, GPS-controlled vehicles, articulated dump trucks, high-speed cranes, sophisticated port vehicles and container handlers, etc. One stop shop BKT ventured into the production of all-steel radials in 2008. It is the first tyre company in India to produce all-steel radial OTR tyres. An all-steel radial plant at 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 manoeuvering vehicles. The tyres under this segment range from 20´diameter tipper truck size to a giant 51´rigid dump truck size, in both radial and bias make, thus covering every requirement of customers in industrial and mining applications. BKT also plans to unveil a more enviable and capable range of sizes for OTR solutions soon. To aid these ambitions, it has opened another state-of-the-art, advanced production plant in Bhuj, Gujarat that will focus on producing top of the line OTR tyres with special focus on radial segment. Port tyres: BKT has established itself as a one-stop-shop for all OTR solutions and initiated production of port tyres. Owing to excellence in product performance and make, these have found tremendous users, not only across ports in Asia but also around the world. There is a wide gamut of tyres available in this line, ranging from port reach stacker sizes to RTG sizes. BKT has been selling tyres to major companies like Kalmar, the world´s leading reach stacker machine manufacturer. The company has also recently launched an ultra-advanced range of tyre especially for high-speed cranes. The tyre (445/95R25) enables heavy high-speed cranes to journey at an unprecedented incredible speed of 80 km per hour. Agricultural tyres: BKT is one of the world´s most preferred tyre makers for agricultural use. The company offers a wide range of solutions for agricultural activities. Its range of tractor tyres are specially 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 tractor and trailer applications. Rule of thumb At BKT, research and development (R&D) is a norm. Since its inception, the company has invested heavily in R&D of new products and advancements in their existing line. BKT is the first tyre company in India to produce the all-steel radial OTR tyres. This was possible because of the interest the leaders of the company took into the possibilities of research. ´We invest heavily into R&D, to upgrade our plant facilities and develop new products,´informs Arvind Poddar, Chairman and Managing Director, BKT. New solutions for new world BKT is at the forefront when it comes to product development. The company caters to an expansive range for clients all over the world, thus has to be proactive and in sync with their growing and changing needs. It develops about 150-160 new SKUs every year in response to these ever changing requirements of its consumers. The company has exclusive facilities to develop new compounds and technology, which keep adding new products to its already gigantic range of solutions every year. BKT has its own mould plant, which enables it to have the fastest turnaround time - that is from a new concept to product availability in the market. Dilip Vaidya, Director and President-Technology, BKT, says, ´In addition to our state-of-the-art factories, we also 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.´This enables BKT to attend to specific demands of its exclusive customers, by creating products exclusively made to encounter their specific needs. A greenfield project, the plant at Bhuj is the fourth manufacturing unit set up by BKT in India. The project complex comprises about 300 acre in the Gujarat region, just a few kilometres away from Mundra port offering logistical advantages in transport of raw materials, which are mainly imported, and the export of containerised tyres.