SEOUL, KOREA - Hankook Tire, the seventh largest and one of the fastest growing tire companies in the world, unveiled its plan to build a new Main R&D Center in Daejeon, Korea.
Today, Hankook Tire Vice Chairman and CEO Mr. Seung Hwa Suh and Daejeon Metropolitan City Mayor Mr. Hong-chul Yum signed an MOU regarding the relocation and construction of Hankook Tire’s new research site in the Daedeok Innopolis, Korea’s premier research complex. Following this agreement, Hankook Tire will build the largest tire R&D center in Korea covering an area of 66,000m2.
Upon completion in 2013, the facility is slated to house Hankook Tire’s Research and Development division as the company’s Main R&D Center. The current R&D center will be used for production technology research and various tire tests that are now based in the Geumsan plant.
“The driving force for Hankook Tire’s continuous growth is our investment in technical expertise at the global level and our consistent focus on research and development,” stated Mr. Seung Hwa Suh, Vice Chairman & CEO of Hankook Tire. “Hankook is aiming to become the world’s fifth largest tire company, and the expansion of the main R&D Center will help us in achieving this goal. Strengthening our technical prowess will ensure we continue to provide high quality products to our global customers,” he added.
The new R&D center will also be a major step for green initiative research. Hankook Tire has been focused on making the framework for sustainable growth in recent years with efforts to develop green technology and compounds; 2008 saw priority given to the development of eco-friendly tires. Moreover, Hankook Tire’s enhanced research in innovative technology will help fulfill the growing demand for premium high-performance tires in the global market.
Hankook Tire’s R&D history began in 1970. The current Daejeon R&D Center, which has been the base of the company’s success, was built in 1992. This then led to full-scale operations of five research centers internationally including China, Germany, Japan and the United States. Hankook Tire has been investing 5% of its total sales into research and development annually. Currently 6% of its total workforce solely focuses on R&D; there are 639 staff members in Korea and 200 staff members overseas. The center is equipped with state-of-the art facilities and topnotch engineers engaged in highly creative research activities.
Today, Hankook Tire Vice Chairman and CEO Mr. Seung Hwa Suh and Daejeon Metropolitan City Mayor Mr. Hong-chul Yum signed an MOU regarding the relocation and construction of Hankook Tire’s new research site in the Daedeok Innopolis, Korea’s premier research complex. Following this agreement, Hankook Tire will build the largest tire R&D center in Korea covering an area of 66,000m2.
Upon completion in 2013, the facility is slated to house Hankook Tire’s Research and Development division as the company’s Main R&D Center. The current R&D center will be used for production technology research and various tire tests that are now based in the Geumsan plant.
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| Hankook Tire Vice Chairman and CEO Mr. Seung Hwa Suh (left) and Daejeon Metropolitan City Mayor Mr. Hong-chul Yum (right) signs MOU for the relocation and expansion of the company’s Main R&D Center in Korea (Photo: Hankook Tire) |
“The driving force for Hankook Tire’s continuous growth is our investment in technical expertise at the global level and our consistent focus on research and development,” stated Mr. Seung Hwa Suh, Vice Chairman & CEO of Hankook Tire. “Hankook is aiming to become the world’s fifth largest tire company, and the expansion of the main R&D Center will help us in achieving this goal. Strengthening our technical prowess will ensure we continue to provide high quality products to our global customers,” he added.
The new R&D center will also be a major step for green initiative research. Hankook Tire has been focused on making the framework for sustainable growth in recent years with efforts to develop green technology and compounds; 2008 saw priority given to the development of eco-friendly tires. Moreover, Hankook Tire’s enhanced research in innovative technology will help fulfill the growing demand for premium high-performance tires in the global market.
Hankook Tire’s R&D history began in 1970. The current Daejeon R&D Center, which has been the base of the company’s success, was built in 1992. This then led to full-scale operations of five research centers internationally including China, Germany, Japan and the United States. Hankook Tire has been investing 5% of its total sales into research and development annually. Currently 6% of its total workforce solely focuses on R&D; there are 639 staff members in Korea and 200 staff members overseas. The center is equipped with state-of-the art facilities and topnotch engineers engaged in highly creative research activities.