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."
OTR Engineered Solutions Appoints Oscar Torres As New President And CEO
- By TT News
- January 05, 2026
OTR Engineered Solutions has named Oscar Torres as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 5 January 2026. With over 25 years of executive leadership, primarily within private equity–backed aerospace aftermarket firms, Torres possesses substantial industry expertise.
His extensive career was largely spent at Kellstrom Aerospace, where he progressed through roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and ultimately Chief Executive Officer. In these capacities, he was instrumental in enhancing operational performance and fostering sustainable growth. His strategic direction included overseeing several acquisitions and divestitures, which solidified the company's position as a premier global supply-chain solutions provider for a wide range of aviation clients.
Torres's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Accounting from Florida International University and an MBA from the University of Miami. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. The organisation anticipates that his leadership will guide OTR in maintaining its commitment to delivering high-quality solutions and exceptional service to its clientele.
Hector Ramirez, Interim President of OTR, said, “Oscar’s proven leadership, collaborative approach, and deep industry knowledge make him exceptionally well suited to lead OTR into its next phase of growth. We are excited to welcome him and are confident in the value he will bring to our customers, partners and stakeholders.”
IRI-CON’26 To Focus On Sustainability Agenda For India’s Tyre And Rubber Industry
- By TT News
- January 02, 2026
The Indian Rubber Institute (IRI), a not-for-profit professional body focussing on the tyre and rubber industry, is set to host ‘IRI-CON’26’, a two-day conference aimed at addressing the sector’s evolving technological and sustainability priorities.
The event scheduled on 30th January 2026, will be held in Vadodara, Gujarat, underscoring the state’s growing importance as a hub for elastomers and rubber-related manufacturing.
Led by eminent technocrats and industry leaders, IRI has played a pivotal role for decades in advancing technical education, skill development and professional excellence across the tyre and rubber value chain. A large proportion of technical professionals in these industries are lifetime members of the institute, contributing through voluntary service, knowledge sharing and technical engagement.
IRI has also been instrumental in training candidates for the DIRI and PGDIRI programmes, with examinations conducted by IIT Kharagpur since their inception.
The choice of Gujarat as the host state is significant. The region is home to major tyre manufacturers including Apollo Tyres, CEAT, BKT, MRF and JK Tyre, alongside key suppliers of carbon black, silica, textiles and rubber chemicals. Vadodara, in particular, has emerged as an important centre for rubber and allied industries, making it a strategic venue for the conference.
The theme of IRI-CON’26, ‘Unlocking the Potential of Sustainable Developments in Rubber and Allied Industries,’ reflects the industry’s increasing focus on sustainability, resource efficiency and responsible manufacturing. The conference is expected to bring together professionals from manufacturing, R&D, academia and allied sectors, offering a platform for technical exchange, collaboration and dialogue on future-ready solutions.
With regulatory pressures, material innovations and environmental expectations reshaping the sector, IRI-CON’26 is positioned as a timely forum to align industry stakeholders on sustainable growth pathways for India’s tyre and rubber ecosystem.
Indian Rubber Institute Appoints Industry Veteran Vijay K Misra As Chairman
- By TT News
- December 30, 2025
The Indian Rubber Institute (IRI) has confirmed Vijay K Misra as its new Chairman following a formal election. With a distinguished career spanning nearly 50 years in the tyre and rubber sector, Misra possesses extensive expertise in technology, product development, international collaborations and major greenfield projects.
His deep industry connections and proven leadership are anticipated to steer the IRI through its next period of growth and enhanced impact. The Institute also formally acknowledged Misra's pivotal role in founding the Dr D Banerjee Centre of Excellence in Mysuru, a premier hub for advanced training and industry-academia synergy.
Concurrently, sincere appreciation was extended to outgoing Chairman Dr R Mukhopadhyay for his valuable guidance, as he continues to support the Institute in the role of Chairman Emeritus.
Sumitomo Rubber Restructures Top Management
- By TT News
- December 26, 2025
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. has announced that its Board of Directors has approved a forthcoming change to its representative leadership at a meeting on 25 December 2025, pending formal ratification at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for 26 March 2026.
The shift is part of a planned reorganisation of the company’s management framework effective from that date. Under the new structure, current Director and Senior Executive Officer Yasuaki Kuniyasu is slated to be appointed as the new Representative Director, President and CEO. Concurrently, the present President and CEO, Satoru Yamamoto, is expected to transition to the role of Representative Director and Chairperson of the Board.
Yasuaki Kuniyasu, aged 56, began his career with the company in April 1992. His tenure includes significant leadership roles, such as General Manager of the Tyre Technology Headquarters and, from January 2023, General Manager of the Corporate Management Planning & Administration Department. He has served as a Director and Senior Executive Officer since March 2023 and held 8,400 shares in the company as of 30 June 2025.
This planned succession aims to establish a renewed executive team to guide the company forward under its new governance model.
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