Hankook Receives OE Green Light for Extended European VW Supply

The Volkswagen T5 van, produced at the company’s factory in Hannover, Germany, has the distinction of being fitted with the first tyres delivered to a European manufacturer directly from Hankook Tire’s plant in Rácalmás, Hungary. Supply of the Hankook Radial RA 28 in sizes 205/65 R 16 C and 215/65 R 16 C began following a Volkswagen audit held a year ago. A new audit of the Rácalmás facility has now been conducted, and Hankook has received an ‘A’ certification, the highest rating available.

The most recent audit, conducted successfully in February this year, means that from now on Hankook Tire’s Hungarian plant can supply tyres to all models manufactured by the Volkswagen Group, where the tyre manufacturer holds original equipment approvals. For Hankook the extension of the cooperation with Volkswagen, one of its key European original equipment customers, marks another milestone on its course of growth. “We are satisfied with the results, and we are very proud that we are able to extend the range of our products supplied to the biggest car manufacturer in Europe” said Jin Wook Choi, Hankook Tire executive vice-president and COO in Europe. “Hankook Tire is a reliable partner and supplier of high-quality tyres to Volkswagen around the globe, and we are convinced that we will be able to strengthen this relationship in the future.”

During the audit Volkswagen’s team checked all the manufacturing processes looking for production risks. The audit was extended to the products and their conformity with the drawings. “The Hungarian plant is working on the right lines, and we believe Hankook Tire and Volkswagen will continue to have a very successful supplier relationship in the future”, said Volkswagen’s Ralph Biniasch who conducted the audit of the Hungarian plant.

As a pre-requirement of the audit, Rácalmás plant received ISO/TS 16949:2009 certification in recent past. According to ISO/TS 16949 Quality Management System automotive suppliers have to fulfil the requirements of ISO/TS 16949:2009 standard. The first ISO audit was conducted in 2008, when the plant received a letter of conformance, which qualified Hankook Tire’s Rácalmás factory to deliver products to car manufacturers and to get the yearlong tyre supplier experience, which is necessary for receiving ISO/TS 16949:2009 certification.

In January 2009, Hankook’s European plant was certified to ISO/TS 16949:2002 and thus already met all standards European vehicle manufacturers expect from their OEM suppliers. The Rácalmás factory started its operation in 2007 and currently produces about 15,000 tyres a day (approximately five million per year) in more than 350 passenger car, SUV, van and light commercial vehicle dimensions. In addition to its Volkswagen OE commitments, Hankook’s Hungarian plant currently supplies tyres to Hyundai for its i30 model manufactured in Czech Republic.