BKT has announced that with its enhancement at Bhuj, it is aiming for an annual tyre production of 600,000 metric tonnes (MT). The company also envisages the achievement of two billion dollars in turnover in three years.

Bhuj from 201 to 2023
When the first tyre rolled off the Bhuj production line in 2012, the plant was located on an area of 123 hectares. Then it was a $500 million investment. Before starting the works, the desert landscape was completely arid. There was neither water nor electricity. But after the laying of many kilometres of drinking water pipes and power lines, the site grew with 126 hectares in 2016, 131 in 2019, 137 in 2021 and 258 in 2022. By the end of 2023, the forecast is to reach a total surface area of 323 hectares, of which 283 have already been acquired.

Better production and safety
BKT claims that Bhuj today sees more efficient machinery installed, with features that make it possible to work faster and more precisely. This increases the quantity of production and the quality of the finished product. This means, for example, that the amount of product discarded is reduced, increasing the sustainability of the manufacturing process and consequently reducing production costs. Occupational risks are also reduced and worker comfort improved.

Self-produced carbon black
A further strategic choice by BKT to enhance the Bhuj site was to invest in its own carbon black plant. The plant came into operation in 2017, when the first 65,000 MT/PA of hard grade carbon black was produced, the type of carbon black used specifically in tyre tread.  The following year, production increased from 65,000 to 110,000 MT and saw the addition of production of soft grade carbon black. This carbon black is used in the casing compound to improve its strength and durability, generating less heat. In 2021, total production of the two types of carbon black reached 138,000 MT per annum, while last year it rose to 165,600 MT per annum.

The goal for 2023 is 198,600 MT. In addition to this, the R&D department plans to add a third type of carbon black, the ‘specialty carbon black’. It is a type of carbon black with unique properties compared to that used in rubber compounds, such as high resistance to colouring, a high level of purity, a low ash level and very low level of PAHs, which make it suitable for use in specific applications, such as paints, plastics and inks.

Increasing production capacity
The expansion of the plant means an increase in production capacity. The operational logistics have also improved significantly. This has allowed the introduction of new specialist workers, as well as providing greater flexibility in production and storage flows. Speaking of work, the construction of new facilities also marked an improvement in employees' safety conditions, an aspect which BKT takes very seriously. The community that operates on the Bhuj site today is very large. At the end of December 2022, the number of people working there was 4,776.

The wellbeing of the BKT family
BKT dedicates a significant investment to the wellbeing of its community every year, through the expansion of the area housing the families of employees (now almost 1,000 people live there), in the care of their health and in the education of their children.

A good use of resources
Bhuj is also a model for the good use of resources. In 2013, the internal power plant was created to have a reliable and controlled source of electricity. Today, both solar panels and the cogeneration plant make it possible to self-produce energy. In 2022, the cogeneration plant was expanded from 20 MW to 40 MW. Projects are still underway to increase the power of self-produced renewable resources.

Water is also at the heart of BKT's path towards sustainability. Since 2019, the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) principle has been adopted. This means that no liquid waste is released outside the plant. All water used in the plant is treated, purified and reused. The objective of the ZLD principle is to conserve water resources, reduce the environmental impact of wastewater discharge and improve the overall efficiency and sustainability of the plant.

Carbon black production made more sustainable
The tyre manufacturer has also taken an approach to carbon black production to make the whole process more sustainable. The company has substituted bulk bag containers with mobile silos. This means that the tyre production plant receives the carbon plant with the aid of mobile silos transported pneumatically to the storage. This will make BKT save on packaging, i.e., 100,000 bulk bags in the next few years. The whole transportation system is also designed to reduce energy usage, consumption and quality. Every transfer system is controlled by weight and the energy used. The future goal is challenging – reducing energy consumption up to 70 percent. This translates in saving more than two million kilograms CO₂ emissions per year, which are comparable to 5,000 apartments of 100 square metres each.

At the same time, the gas used to manufacture carbon black is now ending up in a co-generation plant, able to reuse 75,000 cubic metres of gas per year. This means saving 215,000 MT of coal per year. 

Research opens up the future
BKT's R&D division was what allowed the Bhuj site to grow. Established in 2017, this hub develops both products and processes, to ensure the company can maintain its international leadership. Led by a specialist team of researchers and analysts, it remains an important and up-to-date research centre in the tyre sector.

Coming to testing, a special test track was inaugurated in 2017. With six different tracks, this circuit includes tracks for tyre performance tests in dry and wet conditions, an asphalt track and a sloping concrete track. Thanks to a wide variety of tests, many important characteristics such as traction, handling, comfort, soil compaction and more can be measured here because of high precision devices and instruments.

A concrete vision
Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director at BKT, says, "People have asked me if all this was really necessary, so much in such a short time. The goals we set ourselves when we decided to open the Bhuj site were proportional to the financial solidity of the time, but above all, to a vision which is as great as it is concrete.”

He added, “Analysing the market and anticipating it with passion and foresight is what we have done all these years. Growth has always been in step with demand, not without – let me say it – courage and creativity, but never without our objectives and investments having solid foundations. Global tyre demand is growing and we see no signs of it slowing down over the next five years. This is a demand which started to rise during the 2020 pandemic, and which today is above pre-Covid levels. Will it be difficult? Will it be a challenge? Our vision is simple, which is why it is very concrete. The journey we started out on at Bhuj in 2012 was never a return journey, but one to prepare ourselves to discover the future."

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Radar Tires has named Anthony Paparone as its new Associate Vice President of Strategy and Analytics. Bringing over two decades of tyre industry expertise, Paparone offers a comprehensive background in strategic leadership and operational management.

His career includes significant leadership experience across various sectors, including sales strategy, pricing, dealer training and retail operations. He is recognised for his data-centric approach, consistently employing analytics, automation and process improvements to create innovative solutions that boost business efficiency and foster growth. In his new role, his primary objective will be to strengthen Radar's data infrastructure and utilise advanced analytics to refine the company's strategic initiatives and enhance its competitive standing throughout the United States.

Rob Montasser, Vice President – Sales, Radar Tires, USA, said “We’re thrilled to have someone of Anthony’s experience and knowledge join our team. His passion for leveraging data to drive smarter, faster decisions aligns perfectly with our strategic goals. Anthony’s leadership will be instrumental as we continue to scale and strengthen the Radar brand.”

Paparone said, “I’m incredibly excited to join the Radar Tires team. There’s tremendous opportunity to take our data game to the next level and turn insights into action. I look forward to working with the team to build scalable, data-driven systems that support growth and deliver real value for our partners and customers.”

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Bridgestone has initiated a planned CEO succession to propel the corporation towards its 2031 centennial. The board has selected Yasuhiro Morita, a seasoned executive with a background in international tyre operations and global strategy, to assume the role of global CEO on 1 January 2026. He will succeed Shuichi Ishibashi, who will retire from his executive position on 31 December 2025 and formally depart from the board after the annual shareholder meeting in March 2026.

Morita, a company veteran since 1996, brings extensive international experience from roles in Europe and Asia. His more recent positions as Global Chief Administration Officer and Global Chief Strategy Officer have given him broad oversight, encompassing areas from finance and sustainability to digital transformation and supply chain management. This background will be crucial as he leads Bridgestone following a period of significant restructuring.

This leadership transition is framed as a strategic accelerator, intended to build upon a recent foundation of business restructuring and product enhancement. The company aims to leverage Morita's extensive experience to drive its next chapter of sustainable growth and strengthen long-term corporate value. The complete 2026 global management team will be detailed upon finalization of the plan.

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Ecolomondo Corporation, a developer of sustainable scrap tyre recycling solutions, has announced the selection of Mario Mantaci as its new Chief Technology Officer. An experienced engineering executive with a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering, Mantaci brings over two decades of international expertise from the aerospace, naval, manufacturing and cleantech sectors. His career includes senior leadership positions with globally recognised firms such as Boeing and Collins Aerospace, where he managed complex engineering programmes and large-scale manufacturing projects. He is also the founder of DUMA Engineering Inc., a company through which he led pioneering work in biomass gasification and collaborated with European academic institutions to develop novel technologies for producing hydrogen and syngas.

In his new role as CTO, Mantaci will assume comprehensive responsibility for guiding Ecolomondo’s technological direction and advancement. His immediate priority will be to finalise the full operational ramp-up of the company’s flagship Hawkesbury, Ontario facility. This plant represents a significant investment of over USD 52 million and utilises Ecolomondo’s proprietary Thermal Decomposition Process (TDP), a technology refined over 25 years, which converts waste tyres into reusable resources. Mantaci’s mandate extends to aligning the company’s technology roadmap with its broader business objectives and ensuring it remains responsive to industry trends and competitive landscapes.

His leadership will focus on driving technology improvements aimed at boosting operational efficiency, safety and automation while also ensuring compliance with regulations and upholding strong ethical development practices. A key part of his mission will be to enhance the scalability of the TDP technology to facilitate the future construction of additional recycling facilities. Mantaci will also lead Ecolomondo’s engineering teams, promoting a culture of innovation and collaboration and will manage relationships with external research partners. Furthermore, he will be tasked with finalising the hiring for production and maintenance personnel and will oversee the implementation of critical operational protocols and certification programmes, including ISCC+ and various ESG initiatives, to solidify the company’s standing in the circular economy.

JF Labbé, Interim CEO of Ecolomondo, said, “We welcome Mantaci with great expectations and full confidence in his ability to lead our technical teams with success. His leadership and broad technical background will help position the Company for its next phase of technological and operational growth.”

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Bridgestone India announced the winners of the 5th Edition of its Mobility Social Impact Awards (MSIA) 2025 in Pune, celebrating organisations that use mobility for social good.

The top honour in the Road Safety Innovation and Excellence category went to ALERT (Amenity Lifeline Emergency Response Team) from Chennai for empowering over 450,000 citizens with emergency response skills. Safety Research Foundation (SRF), based in Pune, received a Jury Commendation for its BRACE Project, which transforms school zones with safety audits and infrastructure upgrades.

In the Empowerment of Vulnerable Communities category, The Association of People with Disability (APD), Bengaluru, won the top honour for its Rehab on Wheels initiative, which provides last-mile rehabilitation services.

The winners were presented with their awards by social worker Dr. Girish Kulkarni, founder of Snehalaya.

Hiroshi Yoshizane, Group President, Bridgestone Asia Pacific and Managing Director, Bridgestone India, said: “It is a privilege to honour these changemakers who are redefining mobility for social good. Their work reflects our shared commitment to building inclusive, safe, and empowered communities.”

Jeya Padmanaban, Founding Trustee, Safety Research Foundation (SRF), said, “We are truly honoured to receive the Jury Commendation at the Bridgestone Mobility Social Impact Awards 2025. The BRACE Project reflects our belief that road safety must begin at the community level, where awareness and infrastructure meet action. This recognition strengthens our resolve to continue building safer environments for children and fostering a culture of responsibility and care on our roads.”

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