Equipment is getting bigger; tyres must keep pace.
Farid Ahmed, Head - Product Management (OHT), BKT
What are the key OTR tyre products and technologies you are showcasing at bauma ConExpo India, and which applications or equipment segments are they designed to address?
bauma ConExpo India provides BKT with an important platform to engage with customers, OEMs and industry stakeholders while presenting our capabilities across the construction, mining, earthmoving and industrial sectors. At this year's edition, BKT will showcase a portfolio of application-specific tyre solutions developed for demanding operating environments, heavy loads and intensive operating cycles.
The key highlights include DYNA-HAUL and Earthmax Experto GD1, alongside a wider range of solutions designed for construction, mining, earthmoving, material handling and industrial applications. The products reflect BKT's focus on developing tyres that address specific equipment and operating requirements while supporting productivity, equipment uptime and operational efficiency.
The showcase also reflects our continued investment in engineering excellence and customer-centric product development. The exhibition will also provide an opportunity for visitors to interact with BKT’s technical experts and gain a closer understanding of the solutions being presented for different operating requirements.
Customers are increasingly focused on tyre life, fuel efficiency, uptime and total cost of ownership. What innovations in tyre design, compounds, tread patterns and construction are helping you deliver better performance and lower operating costs?
At BKT, product development begins with a detailed understanding of the machine, terrain and operating conditions. Tread patterns, compounds and construction types are developed to achieve the required balance of traction, durability, rolling resistance and heat management.
We also work closely with OEM partners to understand the specific requirements of their machinery and operating environments. This co-creation approach allows us to develop and refine tyres around particular equipment, terrains and applications, with field inputs helping inform product development across our portfolio.
Our radial tyre range is engineered to deliver uniform wear and enhanced heat dissipation, helping minimise downtime and extend equipment service life. We also continue to invest in advanced tyre testing and validation to assess performance under demanding conditions and refine products based on field requirements. These capabilities help us develop tyres that support equipment productivity while contributing to lower operating and lifecycle costs.
Our vertically integrated manufacturing ecosystem is another important advantage. From in-house carbon black production to mould and drum manufacturing and advanced R&D capabilities, this integration provides greater control over quality and manufacturing processes, while supporting consistency, efficiency and faster product development cycles.
What are the key trends you are witnessing in the Indian OTR tyre market across mining, construction, quarrying and infrastructure, and how are changing equipment usage patterns influencing tyre demand?
The Indian OTR market is being influenced by the pace of infrastructure development, increasing mechanisation and higher utilisation of construction and mining equipment. As machines operate for longer cycles and under more demanding conditions, requirements around durability, traction and service life are becoming increasingly important.
A significant market shift is the continued transition from conventional bias-ply tyres towards radial construction. This is being driven by the benefits of lower rolling resistance, improved fuel efficiency; longer tread life and better heat dissipation.
Sustainability is also gaining relevance, with greater attention being placed on longer-lasting products, renewable materials and resource-efficient manufacturing. These trends are collectively influencing the direction of tyre development across the sector.
How important is India as a manufacturing and export hub for your OTR tyre business? What are your plans for expanding production capacity, localisation and exports from India?
BKT is firmly committed to the Make in India vision, for India and for the world. We have established world-class manufacturing facilities in India that supply tyres to more than 160+ countries. Our plants are designed to meet global standards in technology, automation, and sustainability, enabling us to supply high-quality tyres to both domestic and international markets. India remains our strategic manufacturing hub, with products exported worldwide across construction, mining, material handling and industrial segments.
BKT operates state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Waluj, Bhiwadi, Chopanki and Bhuj, with the Bhuj serving as our flagship plant in India. The Bhuj facility includes a dedicated R&D centre, testing track, and advanced compounding capabilities, maintaining global standards in tech, automation and sustainability. As part of our broader growth plans, we continue to invest in manufacturing capacity, technology and infrastructure in India. This includes strengthening our integrated manufacturing capabilities to support increasing demand across domestic and international markets.
With the growing adoption of larger, higher-capacity and more technologically advanced construction and mining equipment, how is your OTR tyre product portfolio evolving to meet the changing requirements of these machines?
As the equipment across segments becomes larger, powerful and capable of handling higher loads, tyre performance is becoming increasingly important to overall machine productivity, safety and efficiency. At BKT, our approach is centred on offering the right tyre for the right application, with each product engineered around the machine, terrain, load and operating conditions. This application-focused approach has enabled us to develop a portfolio of over 3,600 SKUs serving diverse construction, mining and industrial requirements.
Our all steel radial portfolio represents an important part of this offering. It has been developed through extensive R&D and precision engineering; these tyres are designed to address demanding applications where high load-bearing capability, durability and consistent performance are critical. Radial construction also provides advantages such as lower rolling resistance, improved fuel efficiency, longer tread life, enhanced heat dissipation and better traction, making it increasingly relevant as equipment utilisation and operating demands increase.
The portfolio is also being strengthened to address newer equipment technologies. BKT has introduced e-ready tyres for electric equipment and is developing additional sizes with reduced rolling resistance to meet the requirements of modern electric machinery.
We are also strengthening our validation capabilities through advanced testing and simulation. This combination of field inputs, engineering expertise and testing enables BKT to continue expanding its OTR portfolio in line with the requirements of the industries.
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