BKT to add 51” size; ponders move to 57”

BHUJ, India (Dec. 11, 2015) — Balkrishna Industries Ltd.'s (BKT) steady move into the giant radial OTR sector will continue in 2016 with the addition of a 51-inch size, company officials disclosed during the recent ceremonial opening of the firm's $500 million Bhuj factory in northwest India.

BKT's largest tire now is the 27.00R49, used in mining and quarry applications. The company has a dedicated tire building and curing area within the 313,500-sq.-ft. factory complex for the giant sizes. The plant can turn out three such tires a day, based on the current complement of equipment in this area.

This existing building area can be adjusted to make the 51-inch sizes, according to Dilip M. Vaidya, president and director, technology. BKT sourced the dedicated building equipment for giant tires from Tianjin Siaxiang Technology Co. Ltd.

BKT also is evaluating the market for the possible development of a 57-inch size, Mr. Vaidya said, noting that the company calculates it would take about two years to develop and bring to market a tire of this size.

Mumbai, India-based BKT does not see market conditions at this time as supporting such a decision, Mr. Vaidya said in a conversation with Tire Business during a media visit to Bhuj and Mumbai, but that management is monitoring the situation.

BKT has set aside area within the Bhuj factory's confines for adding a building and curing area dedicated to the 57-inch project, he noted.

The company has all but ruled out a move to add a 63-inch radial, he added, saying the market is not currently large enough to justify BKT's investing in this segment.

Supporting the company's move into larger sizes and new applications will be a multi-story research and development center on land with the Bhuj OTR tire plant's 300-acre footprint, where it will focus on developing the firm's OTR tire range.

The R&D assets include three testing wheels — 1.5, 3 and 5 meters in diameter — on site at Bhuj, Mr. Vaidya said, in addition to an outdoor testing facility for tractor and OTR tires.

BKT broke ground on the Bhuj plant — built east of Bhuj in a desert area in Gujarat state — in January 2011 and produced the first pneumatic tire in March 2012. Output has ramped up to 150 metric tons per day now; nameplate capacity is more than twice that, officials said.