BKT in Bhuj: bigger giant tires in the making

Coal Insights Bureau

Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT), is an Indian multinational group and a global player in the Off-Highway tire market. Its Bhuj plant was set up as a greenfield project amid the arid region of Gujarat, and recently completed a major capacity expansion and modernisation project. The company makes 3,200 different tire variants used in farms, construction, mines, and even for ports, and are exported to more than 160 countries worldwide.

BKT caught the eye of the mining sector in December 2020 and unveiled a giant 57inch tire from its Bhuj plant, the largest tire ever produced in India.

A bigger giant in the making

BKT is now busy creating an even larger tire meant for the growing mining sector within and outside the country. “So far, we have gone up to 57 inches and we plan to go up to 60 inches. The monster tire EARTHMAX SR 468 (OTR 57), is meant to carry a huge load of 240 tons. Dump trucks with this tire are now running successfully in some of the highly challenging mining conditions across the world. In the middle of next year, we would be releasing the 60-inch variant of the EARTHMAX for trials followed by commercial productions once they are successfully tested,” Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, BKT said.

The all-steel radial tire EARTHMAX SR 468 has a special tread design and a compound created to limit the heat generated and the capability to resist cuts in rough underfoot conditions. With its wide range of OTR tires, BKT is now eyeing the growing market of private-sector mining companies, particularly those who have won coal mines during the ongoing commercial block auctions.

“We are ready with our range of tires, distribution is in place while service providers are close to the mining regions. And as the mines are getting privatised, we are reaching out to the new private owners of the mines and explaining to them the features of our offerings and why they should buy from us rather than importing,” Poddar said during an interaction with media representatives in Bhuj.

“Our vision is to become a one-stopshop for all OTR tire needs, be it in mining, port operations, industrial, agricultural, or even military usage and we are working towards that aim by filling up all the gaps in our offerings,” Poddar said. Tires for heavy electric vehicles like battery-operated tractors for farm applications are also being planned in close association with the OEMs.

“We are in discussion with battery-operated tractor manufacturers to develop tires suited for such vehicles. While the dimension of the tractor tire, say of the 16.9x28 size variety, would remain the same, the making of the tire would be different. We have given them curtain solutions and discussions are on,” Ashok Chhajer, Sr. General Manager, OE Sales, BKT said.

Beyond tires, BKT is venturing into making rubber tracks that find applications in agriculture and mining and are also expanding the tire mold facility and getting into specialty carbon black.

“Tracks are a big and upcoming area and we are the first manufacturer in India to make such products,” Poddar said.

BKT in November 2022 unveiled the prototype rubber track AGRIFORCE BKT71 for the farming sector.

According to a BKT official, the company is currently going through validation of the rubber tracks for agri and other industry uses and has designated an area within the Bhuj facility to set up a commercial-scale manufacturing facility for it.

In farms, rubber tracks are preferred over OTR tires in some cases as the tracks, being a continuous band of treads, allow even distribution of weight which makes tracks better suited to maintain soil quality.

A new mold-making facility is also coming up at Bhuj. “We are expanding our mold capacity. Currently, it is at Dombivli in Mumbai and we are setting up such capacity at Bhuj as well. The land has already been designated, machines are expected and the project will be done shortly” Rajiv Poddar said.

BKT initiated a backward integration program for the production of Carbon Black (a main ingredient in tire making) in 2017, which has proved to be a boon and has augmented the supply of critical raw materials in the present circumstances.