BKT enters into R&D agreement with Kultevat, Inc. aiming at developing new compounding methods and tyre manufacturing technologies based on TKS Rubber as substitute for natural rubber.

Off-highway tyre manufacturing major Balkrishna Industries Ltd (BKT) enters into a joint research agreement with Kultevat, Inc., a US biotechnology company specialised in the cultivation and processing of TKS Dandelion as a renewable and sustainable alternative for natural rubber. The purpose of the agreement is the development of new compounding methods based on TKS Rubber to be integrated in the tyre manufacturing process. The agreement involves a first project stage with several sample deliveries in 2018, whereas stage 2 of the project provides the supply of one metric ton of stabilised TKS rubber to BKT by October 2019.

All studies, analyses, experimentation and testing will be carried out at BKT´s recently inaugurated, modern R&D Center known as “Suresh Poddar Innovation Hub” stretching over an area of 25 acres within the company’s latest and largest production site in Bhuj, Gujarat.

The R&D Center was officially inaugurated last year with the announcement of a series of ambitious projects related to sustainable materials, including research into alternatives to natural and synthetic rubber as well as the development of high-performance compounds with nanomaterials and nanocomposites.

“Kultevat’s commercialisation strategy calls for the company to sell into specialty rubber markets at the outset while the company continues working with BKT to develop products for their purposes,” Daniel R. Swiger, CEO of Kultevat says. “We have engaged a number of customers and are currently growing TKS for processing and rubber for prototype and testing purposes. We expect commercial sales of rubber beginning 2019.”
Dilip Vaidya, BKT President and Director of Technology, states, “The agreement with Kultevat for TKS rubber is a great step forward in our R&D activities in terms of both sustainability and innovation. This project is fully in line with the goals expressed in our R&D Mission: To research and develop cutting-edge materials technologies to support future BKT business challenges in terms of innovative product technology.”