BKT tyres support efficient, reliable, and sustainable operations at one of Europe’s key intermodal transport hubs.
European Logistics Hub: The Strategic Role of Rhine Europe Terminals
Rhine Europe Terminals (RET), a subsidiary of the Port Autonome de Strasbourg, serves as a central hub for French intermodal transport and for European freight transport as a whole. Strategically located in Strasbourg, France, the RET terminals connect and facilitate the movement of goods between the North Sea—via routes from cities such as Rotterdam and Antwerp—and the markets of southern Germany, France, and Switzerland.
As part of this pivotal logistics ecosystem, RET is critical infrastructure and a major European transport corridor that handles over half a million cargo operations annually, positioning it as a key player in multimodal transport committed to contributing to more sustainable and responsible logistics.
BKT and RET Partnership: Driving Performance Since 2019
The partnership between RET and BKT began in 2019. After an initial testing stage, Balkrishna Industries Ltd., the leading multinational off-highway tyre manufacturer, progressively introduced its solutions across an expanding fleet due to excellent stability and service life results.
“After the first tests carried out on one piece of equipment, we have gradually introduced PORTMAX PM 90 on a large fleet of reach stackers to further test the tyre’s stability, overall product durability, and performance at our two terminals in order to compare different application conditions. The results were excellent, leading us to choose BKT as a partner for our daily operations,” commented Stephane Rick, Technical Manager at Rhine Europe Terminals.
PORTMAX PM 90 Tyres: Fuel Efficiency, Durability, and Safety Benefits
Compared to other similar solutions, PORTMAX PM 90—in addition to being specifically designed for heavy-duty industrial handling applications—stood out for its low rolling resistance, which contributes to significantly improved fuel efficiency, excellent safety, and good cornering grip.
“A long service life was another essential factor for us, which is vital for the proper functioning of a container terminal from both a technical and economic viewpoint. BKT was able to fully meet this need,” added Rick.
“As a matter of fact, durability and long service life are key features of PORTMAX PM 90, resulting in lower hourly operating costs and overall economic benefits through reduced maintenance and downtime.”
High-Performance Tyres for Demanding Port Operations
In such challenging operating environments, these conditions subject tyres to high stress, particularly during sharp turns with a 30-ton load, around obstacles, or on uneven surfaces.
It is in this situation that BKT’s reliability and quality stand out significantly, as Michael Felix, team leader at the Port of Strasbourg, confirms, “We’ve noticed that even in very tight spaces, BKT tyres ensure a high level of manoeuvrability, and this is a major advantage for our operations.”
“Stability is also remarkable; especially during container loading at maximum height, we’ve noticed that PORTMAX PM 90 provides the equipment with excellent stability, instilling safety and confidence in our operators.”
Tyre Management and Innovation: Supporting Safe, Efficient Port Operations
Ports are highly challenging and demanding environments, where equipment is employed in complex applications and operations, such as lifting, reversing, tight turns, and frequent stop-and-go cycles. Equipment like reach stackers has no suspension, and tyres are their only connection to the ground.
As a result, tyres have a huge impact on overall performance, timing, safety, and the vehicle’s general operation. For this reason, on-site presence and support are two of the fundamental pillars of BKT’s corporate mission, which aim to support end-users throughout the entire product lifecycle.
“Through regular tyre fleet inspections, we closely monitor wear rates and identify early signs of uneven wear, damage, or fatigue, allowing corrective actions to be taken at the right time,” commented Bruno Santos, OTR Field Engineer at BKT Europe.
“Based on these insights, scheduled tyre rotations help balance usage across axles, extending service life, while careful pressure monitoring ensures stability, optimal load capacity, and reduced rolling resistance—ultimately contributing to improved fuel efficiency. Overall, these activities help protect the investment in both tyres and machinery, while supporting smooth, safe, and uninterrupted port operations.”
BKT constantly researches and develops innovative tyres to push performance to ever-higher levels. These tangible and measurable improvements, as seen with the PORTMAX PM 90, make BKT tyres increasingly reliable solutions, even in complex operating conditions typical of port environments.
