BKT has big ambitions in off-highway tyres

India-based tyre manufacturer BKT is pursuing its goal of a wider market share of the industrial construction and mining tyre market with an ambitious programme of new product releases. BKT is a leading player in the agricultural tyre market, which still accounts for around 65% of its current turnover.
January 6, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Lucia Salmaso, managing director, and Piero Torassa, field engineering manager, at BKT

India-based tyre manufacturer 7297 BKT is pursuing its goal of a wider market share of the industrial construction and mining tyre market with an ambitious programme of new product releases. BKT is a leading player in the agricultural tyre market, which still accounts for around 65% of its current turnover. “Our vision is to become a major player in off-highway tyres,” says Lucia Salmaso, BKT managing director, who is based in Italy. To this end, the company entered the industrial construction and mining tyre market seven years ago and now offers a range of products for cranes, dump trucks, reach stackers, forklifts and other equipment. A key factor in achieving its ambitions is BKT’s latest manufacturing plant in Bhuj, India, with state-of-the-art equipment and processes. “The Bhuj plant has almost doubled our production capacity,” says Salmaso. The plant is focused on the company’s construction and mining tyre production and enables the company to offer a wide range of designs and sizes. The plant’s environment also includes housing for employees, plus a hospital, fire station, sports centre and school in line with the company’s philosophy of corporate responsibility. The plant has been able to produce the company’s recently introduced Maglift solid tyres for forklift applications in logistics. “We had to develop not only the tyre but also production facilities,” says Piero Torassa, field engineering manager for BKT. In addition to the new SR 47, SR 51 and SR 53 Earthmax tyres introduced at INTERMAT 2015, BKT is currently field testing an 1800 R25 tyre for port cargo handling applications. “It is important to field test this type of tyre in addition to the indoor testing that we carry out at our plants,” says Torassa. Like all tyre manufacturers, BKT has had to cope with a depressed market since the financial crisis of 2008. However, there is now cause for “cautious optimism”, says Salmaso. “We are finding that there is a more positive attitude in the market, which really needs a push after several years of slowdown,” she says.

For more information on companies in this article

BKT

Related Content

  • Key advances in asphalt compaction technology
    February 18, 2013
    A wide range of new models is being introduced for the asphalt equipment compaction market – Mike Woof reports. The asphalt compaction equipment market is seeing the introduction of new machines from an array of major manufacturers. Manufacturers have introduced both steel drum and rubber tyred rollers to meet customer demands in specific markets as well as globally, and have also developed innovative new compaction practices. Competition in the asphalt compaction market is increasingly tough, with many of
    Read More
  • Berco targets growth based on rich Italian manufacturing heritage
    October 1, 2014
    Berco, the Italian heavy equipment machinery undercarriage parts manufacturer, is targeting strong growth after hitting back at what the firm describes as market competitor rumours of its decline and the relocation of much of its manufacturing capability to China. Speaking during a construction equipment trade media and customer tour of Berco headquarters in Copparo, near Ferrara, in northern Italy, Matteo Seghieri, the company’s Global Aftermarket Sales Manager, said, “Berco went through a very importan
    Read More
  • Dressta’s new dozers part of ambitious growth vision
    May 13, 2015
    Earthmoving equipment manufacturer Dressta is launching the first of three new hydraulic crawler dozers later this year, and has ambitious growth plans funded by parent company LiuGong, the Chinese construction equipment manufacturing giant. Guy Woodford reports Dressta’s trio of new hydraulic crawler dozers represent exciting additions to the dozer market and are the first results of parent company LiuGong’s significant R&D investment in the Polish firm, which it bought in 2012. Being launched in Q
    Read More
  • Advances in tyre technology boost performance
    February 7, 2017
    New tyre technology will increase productivity and cut downtime - Mike Woof writes Key advances in tyre technology will offer extended life for customers, as well as substantial gains in productivity and durability. Meanwhile, some major developments are also being seen in the market, with a number of smaller players now accounting for a substantial portion of sales. Important developments for tyre users include new strategies intended to improve tyre life and cut costs for consumers. One of the majo
    Read More

Highlighted Content