BKT, an innovative and sustainable multinational
The colossal Indian BKT is a multinational which looks to the future without neglecting human values and the environment. Last year BKT reported turnover of more than $815 million, 65% of which in the sector of witch in the sector of agricultural tires
Tack in 1954 Indian entrepreneur Mahabirprasad Poddar decided to open a line for the production of bicycle tires. Within a few decades this early courageous initiative led to the formation of the Balkrishna Industries Limited (BKT) industrial group and now counts a workforce of 7,000 in India, Europe and North America and in seven manufacturing plants in India. The most recent of them, a BKT pride, was opened in 2015 in Bhuj at a cost of $ 500 million on 120 hectares of land with avantgarde machinery, structure and respect for the environment with central thermal-electric heating which turns out more than 2,400 products exported to more than 160 countries for a wide market range.
The vital BKT Foundation promotes such social initiatives as providing hospitales with surgical instruments and health care supplies, finances free schooling for 800 students in Rajastahan, and university training for qualified students. The Akshaya Patra Foundation supports programs involving infant nutrition and instructions in 10,000 India schools for members for the less well off class. BKT has been confirmed as a strong and deeply-rooted brand name symbolic of a modern and dynamic enterprise totally committed to spending 4.5% of turnover on research and development.
The president of BKT Europe, Lucia Salmaso, says, “The sustainability of BKT arises from the strong will to play an active part in improving conditions of life for everyone. The philosophy of work begins with production processes with a reduced impact on the environment and then on to investing in the workforce and civil society and on to genuine support for humanitarian activities.”
All the manufacturing plants and procedures for planning and development of tires have been awarded Certification of Quality Management ISO 9001: 2000. Moreover, BKT complies with strict international standards applied to control of production and quality covered by various environmental regulations which include the European Reach and the Certification ISO 14001:2004.
The installation of wind farms and the decision to use renewable sources for energy for more than 40% of this requirement confirms the BKT commitment to safeguard the climate and environment. At present, BKT Off-Highway tires are estimated to hold 6% of the world market thanks to an excellent quality-price ratio, the customer service network and efficient commercial and marketing divisions. Last year, BKT reported turnover at $ 815 million, with agricultural tires accounting for 65%, industrial for 14% and the OTR sector for 13% with the remaining 8% attributed to other specialist products turned out.
