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Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group has never wavered in its resolve to provide customers around the world with mining tyre services and products that create a competitive advantage for their mining operations. With an intent to prove themselves in Australia, this past year the organization has shown significant investment and advancement in the country’s mining industry.
“Some of the most sophisticated miners in the world are in Australia so we’ve needed to prove ourselves here,” says Dan Allan, senior vice president, Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group. “We believe we have a great deal to offer Australian customers, from our 45 years’ experience in every type of mining environment to the significant focus we have on innovation to improve tyre performance, productivity and safety.”
began operating in Western Australia in 2000, and in the spring of 2016, acquired the mining tyre services business of the long-established national tyre service provider, Klinge & Co. At the time, the Mining Tire Group already had more than 1,800 team members servicing more than 150 mine sites across five continents. The Klinge acquisition demonstrated Kal Tire’s commitment to Australian mining customers and its intention to deliver on the same best-in-class operating standards and custom service solutions that they are known for in other countries.
has since grown to 2,700 team members internationally. This includes the 200 Klinge team members who all joined Kal Tire, bringing to the company the highest quality technicians and their decades of experience on mine sites throughout Australia.
now has almost 250 team members servicing more than 20 mines in regions such as the Pilbara, Hunter Valley, the Bowen Basin and more. “That’s really given us a critical mass of team members who have spent years on the ground in Australia,” says Darren Flint, managing director, Kal Tire Australia. “We’re working with major miners and we can support operations in every area of the country now.”
The organisation also sets itself apart by being a multi-brand dealer with the expertise and independence to recommend the right tyre for the application, and then help the customer maximise their investment throughout the life of the tyre.
As the company grows its reach and capabilities in Australia and elsewhere, they are able to leverage its Learning Management System (LMS), the foundation of a rigorous tyre technician training program comprised of nearly 300 courses taken over a two-year period.
“The length and breadth of our training, and the structure of LMS itself, ensures we consistently deliver the Kal Tire Standard in safety and performance across regions and languages,” says Flint. “But it also goes beyond the LMS courses; tyre technicians work closely with mentors, there are hands-on field assessments and competency sign-offs along with constant safety training.”
Throughout Kal Tire’s history, the organisation has demonstrated a pioneer mentality, always looking for new and better ways to provide a superior level of service. In the past few years, Kal Tire took this one step further and opened an Innovation Centre in Canada in order to harness its decades of experience and develop solutions that would improve efficiency, productivity and safety.
“Kal Tire team members around the world are encouraged to contribute ideas for Innovation Centre projects,” says Allan. “It’s about improving the tools we use and the way we work. We listen to what the customers are trying to achieve and we find a way to help them get there. Whether it’s new technology, new products and services, or new cost models—innovation is core to the value we bring to any mining operation.”
One of the most exciting and impactful innovations Kal Tire has brought to Australia is its proven and exclusive Ultra Repair™ patch and process for repairing earthmover tyres with large injuries. After many years in development by Kal Tire, Ultra Repair™ launched in Canada three years ago and has since launched in all Kal Tire locations internationally, including Muswellbrook, New South Wales, and Kewedale, Perth. Ultra Repair™ has saved hundreds of earthmover tyres from being in scrap piles.
“There’s a lot of excitement about Ultra Repair™ in Australia,” says Flint. “It restores the tyre’s original strength and integrity at a fraction of the cost of new tyres. And by keeping tyres in production, it saves miners thousands of dollars.”
At AIMEX 2017, Kal Tire showcased its ability to offer a full suite of mining tyre management solutions, along with Ultra Repair™ and the following innovations:
About Kal Tire
Kal Tire is Canada’s largest independent tyre dealer and one of North America’s largest commercial tyre dealers. Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group is a global leader in mining tyre service and supply, servicing more than 150 mine sites across five continents. The company has warehouse facilities strategically located across Canada servicing over 250 Kal Tire retail and commercial stores. Kal Tire owns and operates five earthmover retreading facilities located in Canada, the United Kingdom, West Africa and Chile. The company employs more than 6,500 team members. For more information on Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group, please visit www.kaltiremining.com.
For more information, please contact:
Tracy Cobb-Reeves Director, Communications
C: +1-250-558-8671
P: +1-250-541-3707
