Kal Tire, a Canadian company that provides mining tyre management and supply, has acquired the tyre services business of Klinge and Company in Australia.
The company has been operating in Australia for about six years and it has been Kal Tire’s goal to expand to eastern Australia where the majority of major mines operate on the continent.
“Even though our reputation is strong and recognised in many countries, it has been a challenge convincing customers of our credibility inside of Australia as our experience there has been limited,” said Dan Allan, senior vice president of Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group. “With Klinge, Kal Tire aligns with a well-respected, trusted company known to the Australian mining industry and secures our presence as a national tyre service provider.”
Klinge is very similar to Kal Tire, which is also a family-owned organisation started by Tom Foord in 1953 in Vernon.
“Kal Tire and the Klingetyre services business is a strong comfortable fit for Dianne and I,” said Tom Klinge, co-owner of Klinge and Company with his wife. “We share many of the same values and objectives, in particular when it comes to looking after customers and team members.”
Klinge and Company will be a software company going forward, focused on tyre management systems, training, and tools.
Kal Tire began the move east in Australia when it recently established itself in the area of Muswellbrook, New South Wales, with the opening of a new mining tyre repair facility.
Kal Tire will now be able to offer this repair service, including its Ultra Repair technology and a number of other value-added offerings, to Klinge’s customers.
“We are excited to welcome Klinge’s 200 skilled personnel to the Kal Tire family,” said Robert Foord, Kal Tire’s president.“They bring invaluable experience with Australian miners.”
As part of operations, Kal Tire provides training and learning opportunities to its employees.Its online learning management system contains both the international training standards set by the Tire Industry Association (TIA) as well as the company’s collective experience from 45 years of operations around the world.
The TIA recognised Tom Klinge in 2015 for his contributions and the impact he has had on the industry. The training material he developed and provided to the TIA remains a part of Kal Tire’s training portfolio.