MAHARASHTRA, India — Off-the-road tire manufacturer Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has restarted manufacturing partially in all its factories, after securing approval by local governments.
The Indian tire maker said it also has restarted supply and delivery to the original equipment and aftermarket channels.
BKT suspended production at its facilities March 24 following the implementation of a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19.
BKT has four tire plants in India, in Aurangabad, Maharashtra; Bhiwadi and Chopanki, Rajasthan; and Bhuj, Gujarat, where it also runs a carbon black unit. The tire maker also produces tire tire molds at a plant in Dombivali, near Mumbai.
According to BKT's statement on April 29, all factories are adhering strictly to several health and safety procedures, including social distancing and body temperature monitoring.
The tire maker said its supply chain team in Mumbai and its logistics and sales support team in Seregno, Italy, have remained in close contact with raw material suppliers throughout the lockdowns.
This allowed the production to restart "without any time being lost," BKT said.