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COMPANY PROFILE
Kal Tire Continues to Expand to Service Customers in More Regions
Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group, the Canadian-based mining tyre service and supply provider, has expanded significantly over the course of the past ten years to become a global player in the OTR tyre market. With key acquisitions in Europe, Australia, and South Africa, and major investments in Latin America and Africa, the company has been implementing an ambitious expansion strategy which includes greater coverage in Southern Africa, targeted contract development in Africa and
Australia, significant growth in servicing capability in Europe and an expansion into the tyre recycling sector.
Kal Tire, founded by Tom Foord in Vernon, British Columbia in 1953, is Canada’s largest independent tyre dealer with over 250 stores, servicing both retail and commercial customers and are Canada’s largest retreader, being active in the process for over 40 years. The company operates 10 Bandag truck retread plants across Canada, producing 370,000 tyres per annum. In total
the company employs over 6,500 people. As part of Kal Tire, the Mining Tire Group, under the leadership of Senior VP Dan
Allan, has over 2,700 team members and operates five retreading plants, including two in Canada and others in the UK, Ghana and Chile, with a further plant opening in Mexico in 2019. The company services more than 150 mining sites across five continents, contractually serving some of the world’s largest mining companies - supplying complete tyre management solutions as well as providing both new and manufactured retread tyres. Kal Tire’s services are focused on safely minimising truck downtime for clients, while maximising the customer’s tyre investment and helping to increase truck productivity. Examples of these site-based services on offer include specialist tyre fitting, inspections, repairs, rotations and pressure and temperature management, as well as comprehensive reporting and analysis services, such as heat and weight studies, haul road design,
payload monitoring, volumetric scanning and payload optimisation. Kal Tire also takes care of tyre budgeting, forecasting and performance studies to ensure the best tyre for the job is used.
An example of the value of this service can be seen in that provided to a Western Australian Gold Mine. After noting patterns of tyre damage on CAT 793 trucks, Kal Tire implemented a proactive tyre-life improvement plan in conjunction with the customer, including installing a dedicated on-site team at the workshop, performing daily pressure checks and carrying regular haul road surveys, focusing particularly on loading areas. In addition, tyre awareness training was given to truck operators to educate on best practices for managing tyres and preventing tyre damage. According to Kal Tire, after implementing this programme, tyre life was improved by nearly 50%, with a total value to customer of over $2,970,000 (AUD) in terms of increased tyre life and reduction