Hankook is expanding its Europe Technical Centre (ETC) and will officially inaugurate its new facilities in Hannover this Friday. Hankook’s European R&D focuses on the development of tyres for the European markets as well as original equipment. According to the company, the expansion reflects the growing importance of Hankook’s OE supplies in Europe.
Hankook has further its European passenger car tyre production facility in Hungary with a total investment of around 8.6 million euros. The company says it will install a new compound mixing unit, thus significantly increasing the factory’s effectiveness particularly in the first phase of tyre production. The ground breaking took place on 1 October 2012 and, according to preliminary plans, installation will be completed in the second half of 2013.
Independent tyre wholesaler, RH Claydon may have built a name for itself as a distributor of larger agricultural and commercial vehicle tyres, with the longest authorised distributor deal for BKT in the UK, but the company also sees itself as a true “one-stop shop”, whether the customer needs consumer, off-highway or truck tyres. Business director, John Parker explains the company’s wide range of brands and fitments allows it to meet the requirements of the distributor/service provider and end user alike for the UK and Northern Ireland market place.
It’s only a few months since German financial daily the Handelsblatt referred to Hankook as “an aggressive challenger” to Continental. On 9 October the newspaper reported on a challenge facing the German tyre maker from other quarters. In an interview, a senior Bridgestone manager let it be known that the global market leader also wants to play a leading role in Europe in future.
Hankook Tyre UK recently hosted its 4th annual Hankook Golf Classic at the Staverton Park Golf Club, located close to the tyre manufacturer's UK headquarters. Over 80 guests, including tyre retailers, fleet managers and Hankook personnel showed off their golfing skills. A special guest was Calum Clark, a senior player for Northampton Saints Rugby Club, of which Hankook is the sponsor.
During the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Germany, Hankook UK sales director Barrie Horrocks shared with Tyres & Accessories that the tyre maker plans on launching its own bead-to-bead retreads in the first quarter of 2013, and the UK has been chosen as the pilot market for the new range. The retreaded products will be marketed under the ‘Hankook Alphatread’ name and will be initially available in three sizes that mirror new tyre patterns.
A further development of Hankook’s e-cube range is currently on display at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Germany. The new tyres are promoted as e-cube Max products, and Hankook Tyre UK sales director Barrie Horrocks told Tyres & Accessories that the e-cube Max will eventually replace Hankook’s current e-cube line-up.
Several new Chrysler models in the US will be fitted with Hankook tyres as original equipment; the tyre maker says it will supply Chrysler Group with its Optimo H725 touring all-season tyre as original equipment for the 2013 Chrysler 300 AWD models and 2013 Dodge Charger SXT, SXT Plus, and R/T AWD models. The tyres supplied will be for the Pentastar V-6 and V-8 versions of these Chrysler and Dodge AWD flagship saloons in size P235/55R19H.
Following the preview of AA-labeled and close-to-production prototypes of Hankook’s core products, the Ventus S1 evo² and the Kinergy Eco, the manufacturer reports that both AA-labelled versions are to be launched in 2013.
Hankook is intent on meeting labelling legislation head-on with its latest winter tyre, the Winter i*cept RS. The tyre, designed for small city vehicles up to MPVs is optimised for the moderate climate of Central and Western Europe, the manufacturer says, designed for wet, snowy, slushy and also dry roads. The directional, V-shaped five-rib tread features 14 per cent more kerfs (otherwise known as sipes), which are arranged at lateral angles between 0° in the centre-tread and 15° in the shoulder for greater traction. The tread is wider compared to the previous model, increasing the contact patch. Grip on snow and slush is improved by blocks in a staggered arrangement along the middle of the tread, while corrugated 3D kerfs increase traction and braking performance on all smooth surfaces.
Last year’s IAA show in Frankfurt, Germany drew tens of thousands to view the latest cars and automotive technology. This year the IAA focuses on commercial vehicles, and at the 2012 exhibition – which takes place in Hannover between 20 and 27 September – several leading tyre makers will show off their latest products and developments. At Hankook’s exhibition space, in Hall 16, Stand A30, the Korean manufacturer will hold the world premiere for the latest additions to its ‘e-cube’ concept. These new products, says Hankook, take “into account the current spirit of the times” and thus the range has “correspondingly been developed further in regard to the increasing demands in the area of environmental friendliness.”
Hankook has expressed its delight at the start of a new partnership with the UEFA Europa League, which “kicked off” on 3 September. Representatives from the tyre maker and the football league celebrated the arrangement at a ceremony prior to the official 2012/13 UEFA Europa League Group Stage draw at the Monegasque Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Reporting the occasion, Hankook said the new partnership represents “yet another milestone in the company’s European marketing approach to sustainably increase brand awareness in one of the tyre manufacturer’s most important markets and reinforces Hankook’s long-standing engagement in European football.”
When Rhys Millen finished his journey through the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb course in a record time of 9:46, he ran on Hankook tyres – and these tyres were wrapped around HRE Performance Wheels. In congratulating Millen on his win, the German wheel manufacturer notes that he and his team have ”been relying upon HRE Performance Wheels as their trusted partner of choice for years.”
A Hankook-commissioned fuel consumption test comparing the Korean tyre maker’s e-cube truck range with the Michelin X Energy and its own standard truck tyre range has delivered favourable results for the e-cube. The test, carried out by DEKRA’s Automobil Test Center in Klettwitz, Germany, pitted identical Scania G420 4×2’ tractor units and Schmitz Cargobull trailers against each other; these were respectively fitted with Hankook e-cube AL10, Michelin XZA 2 and Hankook AL02 on the steering axle, e-cube DL10, XDA 2+ and DL02 on the drive axle – all size 315/80 R 22 – and e-cube TL10, XTA 2+ and TH02 in size 385/65 R 22.5 on the trailer.
Bridgestone staff raised more than £700 for Acorns Children’s Hospice at the company’s recent Olympic-themed sports day. The fundraiser saw staff at the company offices in Leamington Spa competing in events such as rowing, cycling and archery. Local paralympian Anna Turney, who is currently being sponsored by Bridgestone, was invited to award prizes for each individual discipline, as well as an overall team winner.
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