Saudi Media Delegates visit New Central R&D “Hankook Technodome” in Daejeon

the invitation of Bin Shihon Group, the exclusive distributor for Hankook tires in Saudi Arabia; a delegation of Saudi press and media paid an official visit to Hankook new central research and development center (Hankook Technodome) in Daejeon, South Korea.

A media conference was held at Hankook Technodome, where Hankook senior officials welcomed the delegation and gave a briefing regarding Hankook latest tire production technologies and strategic globalization as well. Hankook CTO and Vice President of Global Marketing Strategy Division of Hankook Tire made a presentation about R&D investment and Mid East sales marketing strategy respectively.

The delegation, as well, visited Hankook tire main plant to check the tire production lines, as well as to experience Hankook’s technology leadership and quality control through test-drives on the special Hankook track called g’trac.

On this occasion, Marwan Bin Shihon, VP of Bin Shihon Group, exclusive distributor of Hankook Tire in Saudi Arabia, said: "The long lasting and beneficial cooperation between us and Hankook Tire Company and the strategic partnership, today confirmed through this important visit of the Saudi media delegation. The visit forms and important occasion for the Saudi media and press to emphasize the importance of this relationship.

Visiting Technodome is very important for us as it would be reflected positively on our business and clients in Saudi Arabia.

Hankook Technodome is an embodiment of Hankook Tire’s strong commitment in R&D innovation, and will act as a core instrument of the company’s global R&D infrastructure. At the high-tech facility providing optimized research environment, Hankook Tire plans to focus on securing original technology for the future of Hankook Tire’s mid-long-term R&D plans, and to lead the latest tire technology and world class quality. The new R&D center will also play a pivotal role in implementing Hankook Tire’s proactive corporate culture by innovating the working process, and continuously strengthen the company’s R&D capability to step towards top-tier Company.

In addition, Hankook Technodome is ready to further strengthen its technological leadership to effectively tackle rapid changing business environment of automotive industry as new technologies such as electric vehicles and self-driving cars prevail. It is equipped with various state-of-the-art research and testing facilities. The R&D center has introduced Driving Simulation system as well as 'SPMM (Suspension Parameter Measuring Machine)' to carry out virtual tests and record digital results. At the Hankook Technodome, Hankook Tire will showcase future technology integrating eco-friendly material, new material development, and simulation technology as well as networking technology.

“Hankook Technodome is equipped with the high-tech facilities and the optimal work environment to strengthen our global competitiveness through innovation, while actively dealing with rapid changes in the business environment and delivering products optimized for various customers’ needs.”

Technodome Center in Daejeon:

Hankook Tire is consistently strengthening quality competitiveness through technology innovation, and has been ceaselessly focusing on investment in R&D and production facilities. As the technological leadership and quality have improved to reach the level of global top-tier tire companies, Hankook Tire’s is shifting focus to adding brand value.

By one way of adding its brand value, Hankook Tire is actively engaging in motorsports to showcase its state-of-the-art technology and quality, and expose its brand to automotive fans around the world. Hankook Tire is also an active global sports marketing player, sponsoring Real Madrid, one of the finest football teams of the world. Among the similar efforts, Hankook Tire is also expanding its portfolio of original equipped (OE) tries to premium carmakers. As more and more premium carmakers of the world are choosing Hankook Tire as their OE supplier, it is a solid reflection of Hankook Tire’s top-quality products as well as premium brand value. Hankook Tire is also implementing marketing activities to reflect characteristics of regional markets, and reinforcement of distribution network. Hankook Tire expects to see fruitful outcomes the efforts will bear in the foreseeable future.

At Hankook Tire, a global leading tire company, the competitiveness behind the strides of success lies in the technological leadership. Under the strategy dubbed ‘Quality Level Up’, Hankook Tire has been committed to broad scale investment in R&D and aggressive strategic movements, and it has consistently introduced leading technology and solutions to meet the future demands for safety, performance, durability, and quality excellence.

As new technologies such as electric vehicles and self-driving cars prevail, the automotive industry faces new challenges. Hankook Tire plans to lead the changes in the automotive industry by strengthening global R&D capabilities and by incorporating new corporate culture. In the midst of all the changes, Hankook Technodome plans to take the center stage.

Hankook Technodome represents a significant step for Hankook Tire’s R&D infrastructure in order to build a higher level of technology leadership and quality competitiveness in the future. Hankook Tire plans to achieve sustainable growth by strengthening research on original and applied technologies to enhance future technology and finally become global top tier company to lead the automotive industry.

SOURCE OF NEW CORPORATE INNOVATION THROUGH HIGH-TECH ARCHITECTURE

Hankook Technodome was designed by Foster + Partners, an architectural firm founded by Sir Norman Foster, to reflect innovation and technology leadership. Hankook Tire’s commitment in high-tech architecture, is well represented by incorporating the latest technology and materials with architecture design. Hankook Technodome will be able to exhibit Hankook Tire’s vision and culture through architecture and design.

Hankook Technodome is an outcome of a total investment of KRW 266.4 billion. Located in Daeduk Innopolis, Daejeon, Korea, the R&D center stands in six floors, built on a massive floor space of 96,328㎡ and a total land area of 70,387㎡.

Through the efforts, Hankook Technodome achieved green certification, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED is one of the most prestigious green building certification system by USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council), U.S.-based non-profit organization. LEED encourages alternatives for sustainable life and suggests design guidelines, setting objectives of the optimal building management process. Hankook Technodome received the Gold certification, after following a series of thorough monitoring process and strict guidelines. Hankook Tire will be continuously committed to building a sustainable future by realizing environmental value.

Hankook Tire is leading the ‘Proactive Culture’, which represents a corporate culture characterized by active and innovative agents of work. Hankook Tire achieved space optimization to enable employees to achieve their best in a creative environment through effective communication and interaction.

Communication is one of Hankook Technodome’s core values. The flow of human traffic at the R&D center was carefully designed to facilitate optimal communication among researchers to realize proactive culture. Under the 'One Company Concept', 90 separate laboratories are housed under the same roof to symbolize that all the offices are of one company. Also, the center arena was created for employees to enjoy comfortable and active communication.

The innovative work environment enhances employees’ pride and concentration. The newly introduced ‘Tire Workshop’, is an area designed to create a pleasant research environment without the need of bringing tire specimen to desks. The ‘Focus Box’ located in the office area helps employees concentrate on work and perform personal duties without distraction.

Hankook Technodome represents all technical aspects that Hankook Tire aims to provide to lead the future.

It has integrated Driving Simulation system as well as 'SPMM (Suspension Parameter Measuring Machine)' to carry out a virtual test and record digital results. Also, it will be equipped with an anechoic chamber, a world-class tire noise tester.

The R&D center will play a central role in research and development with the cooperation with Technical Centers in North America, Europe, China and Japan etc., equipped with the state-of-the-art facility and work friendly environment. At Hankook Technodome, a global scale R&D plans will be incubated in cooperation with other global R&D centers of Hankook Tire. Hankook Tire plans to focus on tire development for new OE, RE connecting between production plants and product development at the new R&D facility, as Hankook Technodome will serve as both as a hub for the global R&D network and a symbol for Hankook Tire's innovation, while developing human resources.

Geumsan Plant & G’trac

World Class Production Facility, Hankook Tire Geumsan Plant

Equipped with cutting-edge automation system and road-test tracks, Hankook Tire Geumsan Plant boasts one of the largest production volume as a single production facility.

Standing at 919,702㎡ and housing 2,970 workers on 3 shifts around the clock, the plant underwent 4 additional expansions since its establishment in 1997 with the investment size of more than KRW 1 trillion (USD 1 billion). In 2017, 21.6 million units of tires would be produced at Geumsan Plant, which accounts for approximately 22% of Hankook Tire’s global production volume.

The majority of the facility is operated by automation system, to meet global standards for high quality tires. At the plant, numerous tests take place all day including at the state-of-the-art testing tracks dubbed G’trac that enables systematic evaluation for tire’s rotational capacity, braking power, grip force and noise on wet and dry road conditions. In the investment size of KRW 20 billion, the tracks opened in 2005.

Among the 22 million tires produced at the Geumsan Plant, many of them are supplied to global luxury cars including Mercedes-Benz New S-class, BMW 5 series, BMW X5, and others. Based on Hankook Tire’s technology leadership, high performance tires such as Ultra-High Performance (UHP) tires, and runflat tires are not only in high demand, but also effective leverage for the company’s sales and partnership with world’s premium automakers.

Overview

• Completion date: October 17, 1997

• Location: Jewon-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea

• Scale: 919,702m² (appx. 227 ac)

• Personnel: 2,970 (4 teams in 3 shifts)

G’trac, Proving Ground to Road Test Tire Performance

Hankook Tire introduced Korea’s first proving ground in 1985 and has been developing products via thorough test at its proving grounds ever since. With continuous innovation in its technology-driven development, the company established G'trac - Korea’s ultimate testing facility – in 2005. Located right next door to Hankook Tire’s Geumsan Plant, G’trac is equipped with an array of features designed to replicate real life driving situations. Every tire that Hankook Tire develops undergoes rigorous testing at the G'trac to ensure that customers receive a proven product with excellent quality.

As a part of Hankook Tire Geumsan Plant, the road-test track enables thorough tire performance tests. With the investment amount of approximately KRW 20 billion in total, G’trac was first established with Dry Proving Ground in 2005, and followed by ‘G’trac Aqua’ in 2007 for wet road condition testing.

It has state-of-the-art facilities that enables systematic evaluation for tire’s rotational capacity, braking power, grip force and noise. G’trac Aqua is the one and only scientifically watered wet tracks, which allows tire performance tests under various conditions including wet roads in the summer season and icy roads in the winter season.