Hankook, Goodyear, Yokohama winners at Tire Technology awards

The products and activities of three tyre makers have been acknowledged at the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence 2011. This year’s awards were presented at a ceremony in Cologne, Germany on February 16 and saw Hankook Tire take the Tire Manufacturer of the Year award and Goodyear the award for Tire Technology of the Year. Last but not least was the Yokohama Rubber Company, whose award was for Environmental Achievement of the Year. Also acknowledged were Oerlikon Saurer and CureSense, who respectively received the Tire Industry Supplier of the Year and Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year awards.

The awards judges were impressed by Hankook’s “advances over the past 12 months,” growth that may see the company become the world’s fifth largest tyre maker over the coming years. After Hankook’s receipt of the award, Jin Wook Choi, executive vice-president and European head of Hankook Tire, commented “2010 has been a very successful year for us and I accept this award with great joy. We consider this award as recognition towards our philosophy of sustainable global growth and of our commitment for our production sites. My gratitude goes to all our staff, without whose exemplary commitment, such progress would not have been possible.” Runners up in this category were Apollo Tyres and Bridgestone.

Speaking on the UltraGrip Ice+, the studless winter tyre that landed Goodyear its gong, the awards organiser said “this impressive tyre has been engineered to master some of the world’s most challenging roads – freezing Nordic winter roads…If this tyre can cope with these conditions, it can cope anywhere.” Marc Junio, general director of the Goodyear Innovation Center Luxembourg, where the tyre was designed, commented “This award acknowledges the outstanding performance of the UltraGrip Ice+ tyre…We are delighted with these outstanding test results which confirm our industry-leading role of top performing winter tyres. Our team can be proud of their achievement and this award will further boost the motivation and innovative spirit of our development teams.” Runners up in this category were Ecosil, TMSI and Continental.

Commenting on the choice of Yokohama Rubber in the environmental section, the awards organiser said “it has been a remarkable year for Yokohama in terms of environmental initiatives, which have not gone unrewarded. Among its environmental work over the past 12 months that impressed the jury, the company has formulated guidelines for the preservation of biodiversity. These guidelines involve investigations to determine whether its activities adversely affect the natural environments around its business locations, and any remedial actions that may be needed. The company is also seeking to reduce the environmental effects of its use of natural rubber and mineral resources.” Category runners up were Clean Lasersysteme GmbH and Continental Carbon Company.