Kal Tire appoint Haltec Group to distribute KalPRO tooling
Innovative KalPRO tools to be made available to tyre technicians globally to enhance safety, efficiency, and productivity
KAL Tire’s Innovation Centre in western Canada has been designing and producing proprietary tooling for nearly 10 years to help improve safety and efficiency for the company’s mining tyre technicians.
From tools that reduce fatigue and strain to ones that eliminate high risk, KalPRO tools allow technicians to perform work with greater ease, efficiency, and safety. Now, some KalPRO tools will be available to technicians globally through Haltec/AME International, a leading manufacturer and worldwide distributor of tyre service tools.
Until now, these tools were exclusively used by Kal Tire teams on the sites where they work, but as they have been proven to make a difference, interest in using them outside Kal Tire has been building.
‘We believe it’s our responsibility to make our work around the wheel as safe as possible, so we’ve focused on reinvesting in our teams, the tools they use, and the way they work,’ said Dan Allan, senior vice-president of Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group. ‘Our KalPRO tools go such a long way in protecting technicians and we saw this partnership with Haltec and AME as a valuable way to bring those benefits to the entire industry.’
The first tool to be widely available through Haltec’s AME International catalogue will be the KalPRO ValveShield – a heavy-duty magnetic valve housing prevents rocks and debris from displacing valve stems and causing tyre failure. This device has been proven to provide substantial productivity savings at mine sites across numerous regions.
Other KalPRO tools that have been developed and deployed in Kal Tire operations include: WheelJaws, which use remote-controlled clamps that take technicians out of harm’s way during the final and most dangerous step of tyre and wheel assembly removal; the GATR (gravity assist tooling rig) for weightless operation of heavy tools, such as 36kg torque guns; RamDrive securing rams for safer bead breaking; and the SpringLock for safer lock ring installation and removal.
‘Our relationship with Haltec spans decades of collaboration and mutual trust,’ commented Dan Allan. ‘We look forward to adding more of our KalPRO tools to the Haltec and AME catalogue in the months to come.’
Keith Jarman, president of AME International, added: ‘This represents an ideal partnership. Haltec and AME’s global distribution network can help deliver these innovations to the industry effectively, improving efficiencies and safety.’
