Unveiling its 10 millionth radial truck tyre here using a robot, JK Tyre and Industries has said it will combine its several R&D centres under one roof to set up a world-class research centre here.
"JK Tyres has been using robotics technology since 2003, and we are using 14 such robots nicknamed 'Adams' in our Mysuru plant," Chairman Raghupati Singhania told IANS in an interview, pointing to the robot which brought on stage the company's ten millionth radial at an event here on Monday.
"Technology is back. Our R&D centres currently spread over different locations are now going to be brought under one roof in a world-class research centre here with an investment of Rs 100 crore ($15 million).
"It will house the most modern and advanced equipment manned by highly experienced engineers and scientists with deep insight into material resource, designs, aesthetics and structures, " he said, adding that the centre will start with 200 scientists, whose number will double during the next one year," Singhania said.
Noting that JK Tyres pioneered radial technology in India, being the first to produce such tyres for trucks and buses in 1999, he said it is R&D which helps the company remain ahead as tyre technology is "ever evolving and developing rapidly".
"JK Tyre is going greener, not only in manufacturing processes and plants, but also in products," he said.
"The green tyres that we produce have low rolling resistance, which helps in saving fuel. Besides, we are constantly reducing our carbon footprint by reducing energy and water consumption -- two critical resources in tyre manufacturing," the chairman said.
"Ours is the first Indian company to have completed the 'Carbon Footprint Verification Process' as set down by the British Standards Institute. This year, we achieved total energy benchmark levels of 10.9 giga per tonne, which makes JK among the top five worldwide in the sector," he added.
Singhania also revealed that all JK Tyres plants have "zero water discharge" and that they have grown over 5 lakh trees around their various plant locations.
In this connecttion, Karnataka government representatives at Monday's event were so enthusiastic about the progress of the tyre plant here that PWD Minister H.C. Mahadevappa said he wants the JK Group as a whole along with its other verticals in cement, paper, sugar and agri-products to become the largest employer in the state.
(Biswajit Choudhary can be contacted at biswajit.c@ians.in)
--IANS
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