The specialist Off-Highway tire Group, BKT, has obtained ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certification. This recognition certifies the work of the laboratory located in the Bhuj plant, as regards tire testing and calibration.
The certification was recently awarded by NABL, the Indian body which regulates the accreditation of test and calibration laboratories. It is a member of the international bodies in the sector – i.e. the International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC) and the Asia Pacific Accreditation Co-operation (APAC) - and it follows their standards and criteria.
This recognition makes it possible to have certified the quality by precise tests of the raw materials and semi-finished materials, and control over manufacture and testing of the end product.
It also allows to obtain trustworthy reports on the tests and better results in terms of accuracy and reliability. It improves control over laboratory work and the feedback processes on the results.
The greatest benefit is for the tires which become even more reliable and safe. Certified by rules which are valid worldwide, this certification abolishes the need for new tests once the product has been exported, thus reducing costs and lead-times.
Moreover, the results from certified laboratories, such as BKT's one, are used by governmental bodies to look at measures to tackle and reduce pollution. This activity includes and shares sustainability goals for the sector.
This certification has important and strategic meaning for BKT, which is targeting greater market penetration worldwide.
This recognition is just the latest for the Bhuj plant, which is BKT's flagship. Opened in 2015 and located in the Indian state of Gujarat, it was created to be constantly expanded and developed. Here, in 2017, a new R&D center was opened, managed by an expert team of engineers, chemists and technicians. It handles all the issues relating to the technological development of BKT tires: starting from designing a new tire to creating mixes to improve product performance, from tests to process implementation for efficient, customized production of top of the range tires.
