Hankook will build its new European Wintertyre Testing Centre in Ivalo/Finnland

Hankook Tire has contracted Finnish tyre testing company Test World to build the tyre maker’s first Europe-based winter testing facility. The new test centre will be located close to Test World in Ivalo, Finnland and will be Hankook’s exclusive venue for the expansion of the company’s future winter product testing from December 2016 onwards. Neu-Isenburg, Germany, December 10, 2015 – Premium tyre maker Hankook has decided to establish its own European wintertyre testing facility in Ivalo, Finland, some 300 km/h north of the polar circle. The company has recently signed a contract to build the facility with the Finnish tyre testing company Test World Oy next to their own testing area Mellatracks. Hankook Tire’s designated proving ground area will incorporate new test tracks for different test situations and will be securely fenced, as well as equipped with the necessary connecting and service roads. The testing centre will be built with state-of-the-art workshop facilities, as well as offices, meeting and social rooms. Preparations for the construction and design work had started immediately after the signing of the agreement. Hankook expects the entire site to be operational from December 2016. “Our company has been putting emphasis towards the regionalized product development ever since,” explained Ho-Youl Pae, Head of Hankook Tire in Europe. “We strongly believe that Hankook premium products must be developed and tested within their designated region, reflecting their specific road and weather conditions to fit exactly to the local market needs during the entire year. As also a product’s time to market is a key decisive factor nowadays, the new proving ground in Ivalo shall boost effectiveness of our winter testing here in Europe.” The tyre maker’s investment in the world’s most northerly winter proving ground area has been made partly also due to the increasingly varying conditions and the uncertain winter in more southerly Scandinavian or Alpine areas these days. Ivalo’s location offers very stable and long winter conditions which extends the time available for testing. Furthermore flexible air services and a wide range of ancillary services have been identified as additional benefits. Once established, Hankook Tire’s Germany-based R&D unit, the Hankook Tire Europe Technical Centre (ETC) in Hanover will be responsible to manage the new winter testing site. “Hankook Tire has largely expanded R&D in Europe since the initial opening of our facility in 1997,” added Dipl-Ing. Klaus Krause, Head of the ETC. “Now we are one of the main suppliers to many premium vehicle manufacturers, including all German brands Audi, BMW, MAN, Mercedes-Benz Car and Truck, MINI, and Porsche. This requires a drastic increase in testing capacity, also for the expansion of our future winter original equipment business. Our long standing, successful and trustable partnership with Test World has convinced us to establish the new venue in Ivalo for the best possible results. Thus I am sure, the new exclusive facility will help us to fulfill our future requirements on time and without compromises.” “Hankook is our long-term customer and a premium player in the global tyre market”, commented Millbrook Group CEO Alex Burns. “The contract for the construction of their new winter tyre testing centre in Ivalo is an indication of confidence in Test World and at the same time strengthens its position as the world's leading winter tyre test facility.” About Test World Test World Oy was founded in 1991 and is an independent vehicle and tyre testing company. Test World is a subsidiary of Millbrook Group Ltd. Millbrook provides vehicle test, validation and engineering services to customers in the automotive, transport, petrochemical, defense and security industries. It is independent and impartial in everything it does. For further information about the companies please see www.testworld.fi and www.millbrook.co.uk.