Kal Tire launches KalPRO: innovative mining tire management solutions that improve safety, sustainability, productivity and more

At an open pit gold mine in Australia, a Kal Tire technician tightens the nearly 50 lug nuts of an earthmover tire with ease and in mere minutes. That’s because instead of his own arms and body bearing the weight of a 36-kilogram torque gun, the GATR (Gravity Assist Tooling Rig) supports the weight of heavy hand tools. At a copper mine in Mexico, a fleet planning team has just used TOMS (Tire & Operations Management System) to see how much truck availability will be increased this month because tire service work has been planned and aggregated.

 TOMS and GATR are just two among several mining tire management tools and technology Kal Tire has developed to drive positive change every day—for both team members and customers. Now, these tools have been brought together under the sub-brand KalPro: Progressive Innovation.

 “We believe it’s our responsibility to leverage our expertise to make work around the wheel as safe as possible and help customers improve productivity,” says Dan Allan, senior vice president, Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group. “We’re committed to making the management of tires safer and more efficient, reducing downtime and total cost of ownership, and helping customers improve sustainability and tire performance.”

 With a growing number of proprietary solutions, Allan says the new KalPRO sub-brand unites and captures Kal Tire’s commitment to innovation.

“It’s all to help our teams and customers advance in a way that’s practical, purposeful and future-minded.”

Which solutions are included in KalPRO, and how are they making a real difference every day?

Thermal conversion technology isan OTR tire recycling solution that promotes a circular economy. At Kal Tire’s facility in Chile, tires are converted back to their base elements and high-value circular-certified feedstock is created, ensuring the best use of recycled rubber.

TOMS gives a rare window into how tires are impacting productivity so fleet planning teams can make decisions that enhance fleet use.

Ultra Repair™sends tires with complex injuries back into production that would otherwise be scrapped. Restores the strength and integrity of tires with complex injuries to any area—giving customers thousands of hours of like-new performance and safety.

Ultra Tread™ restores front tires to their original tread depth and condition—sometimes multiples times before rotation to the rear for significant cost-per-hour savings.

Maple Program provides proven environmental data for retreads and repairs.Leveraging a custom-built carbon calculator, Maple Program gives customers certificates sharing actual and accredited data about the emissions savings of choosing Kal Tire retread or repair solutions vs buying new.

Innovation Tools

Mining tire management inherently carries risk, but for several years now, Kal Tire’s Innovation Centre has been striving to develop tools that protect technicians while enhancing efficiency. KalPRO products include:

GATR: Gravity Assist Tooling Rig for weightless tool operation

WheelJaws: Secure, remote-controlled clamps for safe tire removal

RamDrive: Secures rams for safer bead-breaking

PowerFlow: Portable, hydraulic power to operate tools on the go

ValveShield: Heavy duty magnetic valve stem protection keeps trucks on the road          

SpringLock: Safer lock ring installation and removal

“What’s made these purpose-built tools so successful is that they solve everyday challenges in the field in a way that’s simple and effective,” says Allan. “We make a significant investment to ensure these tools are robust enough for the demanding conditions of mine sites.”

“At the end of the day, many of these KalPRO solutions mean team members are returning home safely and trucks spend more time in operation.”

To learn more about KalPRO and Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group, visit: www.kaltiremining.com.