Hankook opens winter test site in Finland

IVALO, Finland (Feb. 28, 2017) — Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. has opened a winter tire test facility near Ivalo, which it considers an integral part of its global research and development strategy and part of an "integrated approach" to its growth in Europe.

The new facility, dubbed "Technotrac Ivalo," comprises three flat tracks used for testing braking, traction and lateral stability on snow or ice, as well as two snow handling tracks for subjective tire evaluation, Hankook said, that have been designed specifically to meet the needs of the German premium vehicle makers.

"Europe is one of Hankook's largest and most important markets globally, which is why we have spent a long time working towards regional product development," said Ho-Youl Pae, head of Hankook Tire Europe.

"Having our very own winter test facility, means that we can consolidate our position as one of Europe's leading tire makers."

Hankook contracted Finnish tire testing company Test World Oy in late 2015 to build the facility in Ivalo, a town located about 180 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

The site also has offices, conference rooms and workshops and a large cold-storage warehouse. The stable and prolonged winter conditions in Ivalo was one of the factors that influenced the decision to build the most northerly winter test facility in the world in this location.

Hankook did not disclose its investment in the facility, but noted that it devotes approximately 5 percent of annual sales toward research and development.