Sustainable development of the agricultural industry is one of the greatest global challenges. Exponential growth of the world population means a constant increase in the demand for food and fodder.

The need to increase productivity on the one hand, but also to guarantee food quality and security on the other, has imposed new standards and requirements for agricultural machinery, which undergo continuous development and improvements in terms of size, power and performance. It is therefore essential that tractors and other agricultural vehicles and equipment can count on equally modern, efficient and hi-tech tires to help optimize sustainable operations in the field.

This is the issue addressed in an exclusive episode available only on BKT Network, in which Piero Torassa, Field Engineer Manager at BKT Europe, sets out the viewpoint of the Indian Group:

“There are various new technologies on the market which aim to increase productivity and efficiency in agriculture. In BKT we are researching solutions for tires integrated with sensors and software for precision agriculture. For some time we have had a range of products designed to guarantee the least possible damage to the soil and harvests.”

An example of this is the BKT radial tire range AGRIMAX, created to satisfy the needs of agriculture 4.0, characterized by the use of Flexion (IF) and Very High Flexion (VF) technologies, among which the AGRIMAX FORCE and AGRIMAX V-FLECTO tires stand out.

AGRIMAX FORCE is specifically designed for high power tractors (over 250 CV). Thanks to the IF technology which has been revised by BKT, this tire has a higher load capacity at lower pressures compared to standards for the same size tire, all to the benefit of the land which is significantly less compacted.

AGRIMAX V-FLECTO, instead, improves the performance of latest generation tractors thanks to reduced soil compaction and higher load capacity (+40%) at the same pressure as a standard tire of the same size.

Tractors yes, but more besides. The right tires are needed also for the numerous complementary agricultural machines, such as seeders, balers, plows and combine harvesters. The latter, for example, require high performance tires which do not damage harvests.

The products in the special range for harvesters AGRIMAX TERIS have excellent flotation capacity to guarantee the best possible protection of the land and excellent harvesting performance, with the ability to support very high loads. In addition, AGRIMAX TERIS is particularly resistant to cuts and impacts due, for example, to the presence of stubble on the ground, thus guaranteeing a long lifecycle and reducing vehicle downtime.

“Flotation is one of the essential characteristics in modern-day tires, – explains Piero Torassa - since it is very important to minimize the impact of the machines - which moreover are getting heavier and heavier - on the soil, thus avoiding damage to harvests. Equally important, however, is the tire's flexibility: just think of the subcontractors who manage extensive fields and need to move not only over long distances, but also over a wide range of terrains. It is to respond to and anticipate the most diverse and particular needs that BKT products are continuously developed and improved.”

An example of the latest products developed by BKT in this regard are tires in the Flotation series FL 630 ULTRA, FL 630 SUPER, RIDEMAX FL 693 M and the latest revolutionary creation V-FLEXA, a tire designed for trailers, equipped with VF technology and steel belts which strengthen the casing.

There is still a lot to do to make agriculture even more sustainable. Nonetheless, the road taken is the right one. The future of the industry also depends on more efficient and smarter machinery and on modern and hi-tech tires, such as those from BKT.

Watch the episode exclusively on BKT Network.