Pedro Pacheco, vice president operations at Kal Tire Latin America, said: “Kal Tire has been supporting the Chilean mining industry for many years. Our customers here have been asking us for the ability to retread their tyres, so we’re looking forward to delivering this service to help them grow and remain competitive.”

The new facility, which is approximately 20,000m², was built in La Negra, an industrial complex east of Antofagasta, and conveniently located between the port city and an important mining region. Like any Kal Tire OTR retread and repair facility, it will accommodate all tyres sizes up to 63in (1.6m). There is also room allocated for tyre storage, office space and support services.

Pacheco added: “This modern facility will bring to Chile’s mining industry the same value-added services our customers enjoy in Canada, Ghana and England.”

Kal Tire already has four earthmover and retreading plants across three continents. As plans were drawn for a fifth to open in Chile, plant manager Jorge Cardenas spent one and a half years training at Kal Tire’s retread facility in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.

Kal Tire began operating in Chile almost 20 years ago. It was the first international expansion for the organisation. Year over year the company has seen growth in both tyre services and sales.

Pacheco explained: “We’ve been doing tyre repairs and retreading truck tyres for approximately 16 years. But our new facility will enable us to add to our capacity, now offer OTR retread services and deliver in shorter times.”

Additionally, Kal Tire’s new facility in Chile will offer the organisation’s ‘Ultra Repair Technology’ for ultra-class mining tyres. Developed by Kal Tire mining tyre experts in Canada, the ultra-repair patches are handmade and installed with new technology in order to replace steel belts and restore the tyre to its original strength and integrity, with no sidewall bulging. The process has been tested in the most challenging environments and conditions with excellent results.