During the last few years Hankook has steadily increased its involvement in the European racing calendar, and the Korean manufacturer added the 2009 Le Mans Series and 24 Hours of Le Mans to the list of events in which it participates. The company made its debut appearance in the Le Mans series on the weekend of March 8, at the Paul Ricard Circuit in Southern France.
“Kontrol Technology” is Hankook’s technology philosophy, which reflects how the tyre should perfectly control the interaction between the driver, the car and the road while in motion (the ‘K’ stands for kinetic). It is implemented to ensure that Hankook provides the greatest benefits and driving experiences to customers in terms of safety, driving comfort, handling, performance and environmental friendliness.
As well as a Kontrol Technology information booth at Sema, Hankook showcased its new, environmental tyre – enfren – which has completed the Kontrol Technology cycle and was launched in Korea. Hankook is exploring the possibility of a North American version within three years.
Hankook Tyre UK Ltd has appointed Joe Park as Regional Sales Manager (Commercial) for Scotland. According to Hankook UK commercial vehicle tyre sales manager, Barrie Horrocks, Park will be responsible for developing Hankook Truck Tyre sales throughout Scotland. His main focus will be to promote the benefits of the Hankook brand of truck tyres to the fleet engineers/transport managers of large and medium sized regional and national truck fleets in the Scottish region. Joe Park brings joins Hankook from Michelin and brings with him many years of technical and sales experience.
Hankook Tire has announced that its European facility, located in Rácalmás, near Dunaújváros, Hungary, has achieved full ISO-certification. The certification attained by the plant includes both the factory’s Quality Management System, certified according to ISO/TS 16949:2002 as well as its Environmental Management System certification according to EN ISO 14001:2004. The plant’s 1,200 employees, adds Hankook, are now producing a daily capacity of 15,000 tyres (5 million per annum), and manufacturing over 300 different sizes for European passenger cars, SUVs and light trucks.
Roman, a leading UK shower manufacturer and designer, has appointed ATS Euromaster to manage the tyres across its 78-strong fleet of light commercial vehicles and five company cars. The new agreement will see ATS Euromaster provide a complete range of tyre and fast-fit services on a nationwide basis, supporting a mixture of both short and long-wheelbase 3.5 tonne Mercedes Benz Sprinter vans, which are used to deliver shower equipment to retailers. The contract sees the Roman fleet fit a mixture of Michelin, Avon and Hankook tyres being selected as replacements across its vehicles.
Michael Spink, Logistics Director for Roman, commented: “The fleet leasing company we used to use employed the services of ATS Euromaster. When we recently switched to in-house vehicle management we decided to retain their service as it is second-to-none and we could see the clear cost benefits to us.
Hankook Tire’s figures for 2008 reveal global tyre sales of KRW 4.07 trillion (£2.04 billion) during the year. This is, in the Korean currency, an increase of 25.8 per cent over 2007 tyre sales. Certain regions displayed a significant growth rate in sales: Russia saw an increase of 98 per cent, followed by a 50 per cent increase in Central and South America. In terms of product sales, the company UHP sector sales for 2008 were 35 per cent up on the previous year, and up 48 per cent in Europe.
Hankook’s factory in Dunaujvaros, Hungary resumed production on the afternoon of January 8, following a stoppage the previous day due to gas shortages. The tyre maker had previously anticipated that the factory would remain out of operation until the evening of January 9, reported Hungary’s MTI news agency on January 8.
Production at Hankook Tire’s Dunaujvaros factory in Hungary drew to a halt on January 7, reports the Hungarian MTI news agency, after national restrictions were imposed upon certain industrial users of natural gas. According to MTI, Hankook spokeswoman Katalin Roy said production will restart on the evening of January 9. The restrictions were put in place after supplies of gas from Russia, which reach Hungary via the Ukraine, completely stopped on January 6.
A North Platte, Nebraska man stands accused of committing an unusual, though perhaps understandable, crime of passion; stealing not the heart of a married woman, but the tyres and rims with which he supposedly “fell so much in love.”
Local news source the North Platte Bulletin describes the courtship of a set of four Hankook tyres mounted on Pacer rims (be still, thine heavy-beating heart, dear reader) by area man, Anthony L Bennett. Witnesses at the TO Haas Tires dealership told investigators looking into the theft that Bennett had been to the store several times to view the wheels. It was clear, they say, that he was something of an admirer.
Three of Hankook Tire’s commercial fleet tyres have been certified under the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay Program. According to a company statement, this means the tyres are more environmentally friendly and have reduced rolling resistance by at least 3 per cent. The three certified products are: the AL07+ steer tyre, the Z35a drive tyre and the TL01 trailer tyre.
“Diminishing the carbon footprint, improving fuel economy and reducing costs are the key areas of focus for the commercial fleet industry currently,” said Brian Sheehey, commercial tyres director, Hankook Tire America Corp. “The SmartWay Program specifically addresses those concerns, providing fleet owners a clear means to reduce costs and help the environment. It’s a win-win, and Hankook is privileged to be a part of the solution with our SmartWay compliancy. This certification coupled with our industry-leading warranties and competitive pricing further enhances the value of our product offering to the 1,000 SmartWay Partners. This is a true validation of Hankook’s innovative technology, product and performance.”
Hankook Tire has picked up awards for the design of its enfren and Optimo 4S tyres at the iF Product Design Awards 2009 ceremony, held in the German city of Hanover. The two tyres became the first passenger car tyres to ever win the design award organised by the International Forum Design. They were both awarded in the ‘Transportation’ category, and were judged according to their technology, environment friendliness, functionality, safety and design quality.
The tyres are appraised independently for their quality and performance in terms of the environment and fuel efficiency, and Hankook attributes the tyre’s recognised innovative qualities to its consistent 5 per cent investment into its Kontrol Technology programme, which it states is one of the highest proportional levels of R&D investment in the tyre industry. The enfren tyre was launched in Korea in June 2008 and according to the Korea Automotive Technology Institute reduces rolling resistance by 21 per cent and improves fuel economy by two per cent. The Optimo 4S is currently the only tyre in the world and first all-season tyre ever to receive the famous German eco-label, the Blue Angel (Der Blaue Engel, in use since 1978 and considered to be the world’s first environmental-related label for products and services).
Next year the MSA Scottish Rally Championship will gain the backing of Hankook Tire – and the manufacturer is apparently already considering extending the sponsorship deal further. Hankook replaces the County Saab motor group, following five years’ involvement, as the championship’s main sponsor.
“We are delighted to be focusing our attention in 2009 on the Scottish Rally Championship,” said Hankook motorsport manager Mike Patterson. “The series attracts some intense competition and the enthusiasm and professionalism of the organising team has been instrumental in finalising this deal.”
Reuters reports that South Korean tyre manufacturers began to cut output during November. The news source says that its information has come from the country’s top companies in the field, such as Hankook.
On 25 November, shares in the country’s automotive industry players took a nosedaive, with Kia down 12.07 per cent – falling for the second session in a row – and Hankook down 9.26 per cent.
After undergoing extensive testing, Goodyear’s Assurance tyre has received the 2008 “Annual Product of the Year Award” from Auto Magazine, one of China’s most respected automotive publications. Upon delivering word of this distinction, Goodyear comments that the Assurance, introduced in China last April, provides drivers with outstanding traction and performance – and therefore enhanced confidence. The tyre accomplishes this, says Goodyear, by incorporating Kevlar fibre along with a silica-based sidewall compound to help resist cuts and tears. The Assurance tyre’s ArmorGrip Technology also sports an array of interlocking waffle blades and additional silica-based compounds within its tread that provides enhanced lateral stability and de-coupling power to assist grip over varied road conditions and on both wet and dry surfaces.
Following several years of consistent sales increases, full year 2008 figures may hit show a drop in Russian passenger car tyre sales by value. The profitable premium segment, which is dominated by non-Russian premium manufacturers, is expected to be the first to feel the pinch. On the other hand, the share of the market occupied by budget products is likely to increase, and some sources predict that Chinese and Korean tyre sales will be replaced by domestic Russian tyre makers’ products.
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