BC, Canada—Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group, a world leader in mining tire management and supply, will be showcasing several of its newest innovations designed to help maximize tire life and productivity at the upcoming Electra Mining Africa and MINExpo exhibitions in September.
While Kal Tire’s reputation in the mining industry grew from supplying and servicing tires on mine sites around the world, over the last 45 years, the company has also become known for developing solutions to drive tire performance and safety.
“Kal Tire has always believed in looking for a better way to do things, and often that’s meant getting our hands dirty to come up with the solution ourselves,” says Dan Allan, senior vice president, Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group. “Innovation in tire management has become a critical part of what we do and how we help our customers remain competitive. We look forward to showcasing some our newest solutions to solve customers’ tire challenges at these exhibitions.”
The company will be showcasing its award-winning Ultra Repair™ technology—Kal Tire’s exclusive product and process for repairing large injuries on ultra-class tires that may have previously been deemed irreparable. The process involves replacing damaged or broken steel belts in ultra-class tires to restore the tire’s original strength, integrity and performance at a fraction of the cost of new tires. With over 10 years of proven success in Canada, Kal Tire brought Ultra Repair™ to mine sites in the UK and West Africa. It will also be available in Australia and Chile later this year.
Mine operators in western Canada now have a solution for one of their major environmental concerns thanks to Kal Tire’s new OTR recycling service. In 2016, Kal Tire partnered with a leader in tyre recycling to give western Canadian mine operators their first opportunity to have scrap tyres disposed, shredded and converted into products such as sports field flooring. This new plant, located in northern Alberta, will have the capacity to recycle nearly 6,000 tyres per year (including ultra-class tires).
“Until now, scrap tires on a mine site were used for berms or retraining walls or simply sent to the scrap pile for storage and that’s probably where they stayed,” says Bob Bennett, vice president of operations in Canada, Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group. “We sell and service these tires, and we wanted to offer customers a simple, proven, environmentally approved alternative when tires reach the end of their life. This arrangement works well because we already serve customers on many of these sites.” This recycling solution will be made available to other markets in the near future.
In addition to introducing the OTR recycling process, Kal Tire will also be reinforcing the value of another form of recycling: retreading. Over the last 45 years, Kal Tire has advanced its retreading processes and incorporated new technology to ensure its retreaded tires perform as well as premium brands of new tires. Based on the success of these retreaded tires and with the expertise gained over time, Kal Tire has expanded this service to include five world-class earthmover retread facilities located in Canada, UK, West Africa and Chile.
Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group, which employs 1,600 team members and operates on more than 150 mine sites across five continents, has spent the last 45 years investing in world-class facilities and solutions to help customers drive tire performance and value. Kal Tire takes pride in being able to bring new technology and services for every stage of the tire life cycle to mine sites around the world.
At the core of every solution and service is the safety of team members and mine workers. Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group has worked hard to build global standards for safe work practices and invest in the training, tools and equipment needed for team members to work safely. With a culture of safety and a commitment to achieving zero harm, team members are engaged in recognizing and eliminating hazards, and keeping safety top of mind, even after they leave the pits or the shop.
With such an innovative and comprehensive approach to tire management as well as global expertise and resources, Kal Tire has become a true partner for leading mine operators around the world. To learn more about how Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group delivers innovative solutions of measurable value, visit them at Electra Africa, September 12-16, Hall 5, stand B28 and MINExpo, September 26-28, Central Hall, stand 8793.
ABOUT KAL TIRE
Kal Tire is Canada’s largest independent tire dealer and one of North America’s largest commercial tire dealers. Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group is a global leader in mining tire service and supply, operating on 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 four earthmover retreading facilities located in Canada, the United Kingdom, West Africa and Chile. The company employs more than 5,400 team members. For more information on Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group, please visit www.kaltiremining.com.