Skip to content

Vernon's Kal Tire inks relationship with UBC

Kal Tire’s mining tire group and the University of B.C. have formed a research partnership
85100vernona-kal22-12-16web
Al Tire's mining branch has established a relationship with the University of B.C.

A major Vernon corporation is rallying behind post-secondary education.

Kal Tire’s mining tire group and the University of B.C. have formed a research partnership that will allow the two organizations to collaborate in developing technology for the mining tire industry.

“We wanted to harness the knowledge and ideas of our team members to advance innovation, and through this partnership with UBC, we now have access to the skills, knowledge and facilities that we didn’t have prior,” said Dan Allan, senior vice-president of Kal Tire’s mining tire group.

“Research like this fuels the innovation that takes great ideas forward.”

A memorandum of understanding lays out an initial three-year term of collaboration on mutually beneficial areas of research as well as Kal Tire’s investment in the partnership. Individual researchers will submit their project ideas for consideration to a small committee that represents both Kal Tire and UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering. The projects may include everything from robotics and metallurgical design to environmentally-responsible ways to use recycled tire crumb.

“As a campus committed to innovation, we look forward to bringing our research expertise to bare in this exciting new partnership,” says Deborah Buszard, UBC Okanagan principal.

“We see this partnership as another key step in our goal of helping to advance economic development opportunities in our region.”

Kal Tire’s mining tire group has been servicing mine sites for more than 40 years in Canada, and now provides service to more than 150 mine sites across five continents.

“Being in so many different countries and geographies has really brought the need to innovate to the surface, and we’re glad that at the same time, we can support local education and opportunities,” said Allan.