Industrial Tyre Expert Thomas Philip Buckley Dies

Thomas Philip Buckley, founder and owner of Industrial Tires Ltd (ITL) in Mississauga, Canda, died on 14 January. "It was with sad hearts that we learned of Tom's passing," said John Ryder, a vice president with prominent materials handling equipment dealership JH Ryder Machinery Ltd in Mississauga. "Our relationship with Tom and the ITL organisation spanned four decades. His unique blend of a colourful personality, visionary leadership and intuitive business savvy will leave a significant legacy in the materials handling industry."

Buckley was born in Arlington, Massachusetts, emigrated at the age of three from the US to Canada and, at 21, took out Canadian citizenship. Buckley worked initially for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co and, in 1958, formed a business to import and distribute tyres in Canada. He was involved in technology developments for making tyres for forklifts, acquisition of the Uniroyal Tire Corp industrial tyre division, expansion of tyre marketing into the US and technical collaboration with Germany-based solid rubber tyremakers Gumasol-Werke and Vorwerk & Co KG.