Classified

Next Article

Numbers that Count

GROWING TOGETHER GLOBAL EXPERTS IN OFF-HIGHWAY TIRES

BKT HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY

“We are committed to growth. Looking ahead is our continuous goal. A company that cannot look bravely at its own future is like a person unable to dream.” -Arvind Poddar

Mr. Arvind Poddar Chairman and Managing Director

MARKET PENETRATION

160 COUNTRIES

Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of offhighway tires with over 92% of its products exported to more than 160 countries worldwide. We specialize in off-highway tires for diverse segments such as agricultural, industrial, construction, earthmoving, mining, ATV and gardening applications. We are a one-stop shop with over 2,700 SKUs with a goal to achieve global leadership in the off-highway tire market. BKT is headquartered in Mumbai, India, with five manufacturing sites throughout the country.

BKT has invested heavily in resources, research, and development to continuously offer the best tire solutions to our customers. This has been acknowledged around the globe. n

5CONTINENTS

Mr. Rajiv Poddar Joint Managing Director

1995 Started production for off-highway tire segment

1

2007 Launch of the first “IF” technology tire, AGRIMAXFORCE

3

2011 Change of the company’s logo and branding

5

2015 Opening of the state-ofthe-art manufacturing facility at Bhuj

7

2018 Working on building a carbon black plant at Bhuj

9

2

2004

Launch of the radial tractor tire, sub-branded Agrimax 4

2009

Launch of the first radial all-steel OTR tire, Earthmax 6

2013

BKT becomes exclusive tire supplier of Monster Jam 8

2017

Suresh Poddar Innovation Hub for R&D is opened. Over 4.2 B. impressions from Monster Jam 10

2019 Construction of U.S. manufacturing plant

BKT USA, INC.

“All of our sales associates are well-trained with product knowledge and service applications and are able to respond to queries customers may have. They go the extra distance 24/7 to service our customers.” -Minoo Mehta Doug Kershaw, Vice President, and Minoo Mehta, President of BKT USA.

Minoo Mehta, President of BKT USA, Inc., and Doug Kershaw, Vice President, have developed a team atmosphere within the U.S. office. Our program to help support the wholesalers’ dealers

combined efforts have helped BKT grow at a fast pace in the U.S. market across all segments. We have been able to expand our sales force and warehousing capabilities to meet the growing demands of the market.

BKT USA, Inc. is best known in the agricultural market for a premium product that performs at a very high level. For ICP-OTR, the market share is lower, but we are positioned as a high level orders and our two U.S. warehouses. We provide tire

performing product at a reasonable price, bringing better return on investment to customers.

BKT is very strategic with how we go to market. “We want ‘partners’ to represent our product line. We are very strong with our pre- and post-sales support,” says VP Doug Kershaw. “Our goal is to the application and to assist them with training, marketing and technical support. We also employ technical specialists in the field who offer product and application training to dealers and end-users.”

For our agriculture segment, BKT has very strong wholesaler partners throughout the country. Tires are mostly sold by container, and the wholesalers maintain a strong inventory level to ensure the best in product availability. We offer an associate dealer with incentives and marketing support. We have grown our network to 300 associate dealers and are adding new dealers on a regular basis.

For the ICP-OTR market, we partner with key “servicing dealers” in each market through container make sure the customer is getting the best tire for

performance tracking tools to ensure the end users know they have the best value. The dealer can be confident that there will be fewer warranty claims and professional, technical support along the way.

We are excited to announce that we will be opening a manufacturing factory in the U.S. very soon! n

MANUFACTURING AND R & D

BKT incorporates a working together atmosphere between our researchers, engineers and technicians to produce the most innovative and advanced tires in the market. Aiming at continuous quality improvement and the best adaptation in our offhighway applications is an important achievement for our company.

This is a core competency of the BKT R&D division and one of the company’s strengths. For this reason, BKT invests about 3-4% of its annual sales into R&D which is fundamental to compete in a complex global market with its rapidly evolving needs. Our team handles everything from designing a new tire, developing new compounds, and improving product performance. BKT is always implementing more efficient production processes in our facilities.

BKT designs, develops and produces about 60-80 new BKT tires per year. Presently, the average time to market for a new BKT tire at a global level is only 6-8 weeks, much lower than the competitive average. This is partly due to having our own mold making facility. We have set up a continuous monitoring process to control product performance through feedback from distributors and end users providing information on the tire use and its performance. These monitoring activities are carried out by our technical support

BKT invests about 3-4% of our annual sales into R&D which is fundamental to compete in a complex global market with its rapidly evolving needs.

Mr. Dilip Vaidya President and Director of Technology

team in cooperation with our technicians on site who regularly visit customers worldwide to check tire conditions, pressure, wear, and the product life cycle status.

The R&D center in Chopanki hosts several laboratories cooperating closely together at every stage. These include an analysis lab, a chemical lab, a physical lab, and an area for rigorous tire testing with a special factory for all steel radial tire prototypes. Our state-of-the-art R&D center at the Bhuj Suresh Poddar Innovation Hub hosts a special team for developing top-of-the-range solutions. In addition, there is a modern testing ground for in-depth tire performance tests simulating real application conditions. This sophisticated new facility will enable us to rely on timely and precise data and analysis to ensure the best tire performance. Research will focus on new materials with a goal toward sustainable and environmentally friendly elements.

BKT is committed to protecting the climate and the environment. We adhere to strict environmental standards and have obtained the ISO 9001:2000 quality certification. We incorporate wind power in our plants and use energy from renewable sources (over 40%). n

MR. PODDAR INDUCTED INTO TIA HALL OF FAME

Arvind Poddar, the Chairman and Managing Director of Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT), has been given the Tire Industry Association’s 2018 Hall of Fame Award, one of the most prestigious honors of the global tire industry.

The Tire Industry Honors Awards Ceremony, where Mr. Poddar was officially inducted into TIA’s Hall of Fame, took place at the Paris Las Vegas hotel on October 29. The event was just one day before the opening of the 2018 SEMA Show, the leading automotive specialty and aftermarket fair, held in Las Vegas, Nev.

The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor, preserve and perpetuate the names and outstanding accomplishments of personalities who have brought lasting fame to the tire, rubber and transportation industries. The Hall of Fame was started in 1985 and is open to all in the tire industry, including manufacturers, inventors, publishers, equipment suppliers, tire dealers and retreaders.

“I cannot but consider the announcement of this prestigious – I dare to say the most prestigious – award in the tire industry as a great honor that fills me with pride from both a personal and professional point of view,” Mr. Poddar states. “Without any doubt, this is a great moment and a great achievement for my personal development and my professional career. It is also a confirmation of the passionate spirit and commitment that drives all our projects and all people in our company aiming at “Without any doubt, this is a great moment and a great achievement being an example for future generations.”

for my personal

development and my At the event, Mr. Poddar professional career.” made a $10,000 donation to -Arvind Poddar the AACF, the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation, a non-profit founded in 1959 that assists members and their families who have experienced catastrophic events. Their mission is to provide sustainable solutions for those in great need. n

BKT STRATEGIC PLANS

CARBON BLACK PLANT

With a global shortage of carbon black, BKT has invested $40 million to manufacture our own carbon black at the Bhuj Suresh Poddar Innovation Hub. With an estimated capacity of 60,000 tons a year in phase 1 and 80,000 tons in phase 2, this plant will help ensure raw material quality and more accurate controls throughout the entire manufacturing process. It will also decrease the time and cost of tire production and meet the growing demand of BKT tires the world over.

“Currently nobody knows what is going to happen with carbon black,” said Arvind Poddar, Chairman and Managing Director of BKT. “There is a shortage because of the closure of various plants due to the environmental situation.” The impact of this shortage is being exacerbated by rising oil prices, which are further pushing up the cost of carbon black. Our carbon black plant is scheduled to open the first quarter of 2019.

DANDELION

BKT has signed a “joint research agreement” with the St. Louis-based company Kultevat to research the use of genetically modified dandelion-based latex in rubber compounds used in making tires. This project aligns with the company’s commitment to sustainability and innovation and aligns with the European Commission’s recommendations concerning raw materials. Kultevat specializes in green technology and the friendly extraction of high-quality dandelion rubber from Taraxacum Kok-Saghyz (TKS), known as the Russian Dandelion. The root of the flower contains 15% latex, and the quality of this latex is better than that drawn from the Hevea trees. This innovation could help combat the threat of a rubber shortage throughout the world. n

EARTHMAX CELEBRATION IN CRETE

“Ten years of success for our Earthmax range: safety, performance and quality, which have been continuously further developed, acquiring step-by-step an enormous meaning for our corporate history.” -Arvind Poddar

BKT HOSTED

a 10th Anniversary Celebration for our Earthmax premium radial OTR tires in Crete, Greece, in June 2018. Distributors, partners and media contacts attended the one-day conference where BKT outlined the past, present and future of the Earthmax tire lineup and goals for the OTR market. We announced plans to achieve a 10% market share in the allsteel radial segment of the global OTR market by the year 2025.

The first Earthmax tire for loaders was launched in 2008 and has grown to an extensive lineup of allsteel radial OTR tires designed to withstand the harsh conditions in quarries, mines and construction sites. BKT will produce giant 49- and 51-inch tires in the second quarter of 2019 with 40.00R57 OTR tires planned for manufacturing in 2020.

Guests participated in team-building activities and entertaining excursions. They toured the Palace of Knossos, Europe’s oldest city and the largest archaeological site on Crete, and visited the island’s famous beaches. n

SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD

BKT is the official and exclusive tire manufacturer of Monster Jam and its fleet of monster trucks. This top sporting event has monster truck racing and freestyle competitions in over 100 cities worldwide. These cities host 350 shows with over 4 million spectators a year. The Monster Jam Experience Powered by BKT toured the U.S. in 2017 and 2018 as a 53’ interactive semi-trailer with a Grave Digger truck inside, along with video games and TV screens. The 2019 World Finals will be held May 10-11 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. n

The Italian Serie B Football Championship signed BKT as the official sponsor for 3 years for the 42-day playoffs. 22 clubs participate in the Lega Nazionale Professioniste B to compete for the cup Ali della Vittoria (Wings of Victory).

For the next six seasons, BKT will also be the official title sponsor for the Coupe de la Ligue French Football League (LFP). This is the 25th year for the league cup knockout competition in France. 32 clubs from the top 3 divisions will participate.

BKT has become the first subcontinent group to partner with the Australian Cricket KFC Big Bash League. This 3-year partnership was motivated by our passion and enthusiasm for cricket, increasing brand awareness in Australia, and the BBL’s alignment to BKT’s ”Growing Together” philosophy.

Andy Ondo, North Gateway Tire, has been working with BKT for over 20 years.

“BKT offers quality and advanced technology with a pattern and size lineup that is unmatched in the field for all equipment. BKT tires are competitively priced for the market for their quality. We always recommend BKT first as our premium, quality tire that you can purchase with confidence for your farm or construction needs.”

Dean Barnhart, Director of Purchasing, East Bay Tire Co.

“For the last 10 years, BKT has made a tremendous effort to constantly identify future trends in the market and develop quality products to fill those needs. They have constantly adapted to the needs of independent dealers around the world. As an independent tire dealer, we can use more partners like BKT. BKT has become a global force to be reckoned with in the agricultural and OTR tire market while still remaining accessible at the highest level to its dealers. The quality in many cases is comparable to a Tier 1 manufacturer. The value is there because you do not have to pay Tier 1 pricing for Tier 1 performance.”

Dale Anderson, Salesman, East Bay Tire

“We have been working with BKT for 3 years. The price and performance makes their products stand out. The main reason I recommend BKT is that the price and performance to the end user is competitive and provides a solid CPH savings over the imports and some major brands.”

Todd Holub, OTR Sales Manager, A&E Tire Inc.

“BKT has been very easy to work with. We have made great strides to form a solid business relationship between manufacturer and dealer. What we came to discover is the BKT tires provided us a competitively priced tire that was high quality as well. Also, BKT has been very aggressive in building new radial and bias OTR products. I would recommend BKT to anyone looking for a quality OTR tire at a fair cost that is also professionally represented by quality people.”

Tim Whitehead, Store Director/Manager, Ed Whitehead’s Tire Pros & Automotive

“BKT’s tire quality really stands out when it is compared to name brand tires, especially in the ag business which we are heavily into. A lot of farmers were unaware of the BKT brand, but all it takes is just one run of the tires to make farmers see that BKT is just as good, if not better, than most Tier 1 brands. Pricing and endurance are the main reasons I recommend BKT tires. It is easy to see that BKT takes pride in their workmanship and they want the quality to stand out.”

Tony Thompson, President, Thompson’s OK Tire

“Thompson’s OK Tire has had a great relationship with BKT for 10+ years, and they have built many new agricultural tires for us, exceeding expectations each time. In an ever-changing market, BKT has kept us and our customers ahead of the curve with exceptional quality and quick-to-market solutions. We look forward to many years of successful partnership.”