Hankook Technodome receives ISO accreditation

DAEJEON, South Korea — Hankook Technodome, Hankook Tire's $260 million research and technology center in Daejeon, has received ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).

The ISO/IEC 17025:2017 specifies the general requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of laboratories, according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The accreditation is applicable to all organizations performing laboratory activities, regardless of the number of personnel.

Hankook said gaining this label means that test results from Hankook Technodome can be acknowledged globally, Hankook said.

Hankook Tire has now officially been recognized for its methodical test management system and established its own testing system at a global top-tier level," the company said.

"Furthermore, Hankook Tire is striving to gain global recognition and product reliability by securing a globally credible testing laboratory," Hankook said. "With the increasing competitiveness, the company is planning to expand its premium original equipment tire business."

Hankook christened the Technodome R&D center in Deajeon in October 2016, calling it a "cornerstone" of its global R&D infrastructure and a key part of its strategy to become a "top-tier" brand in the tire and automotive industry.

The six-story structure occupies a floor space of 1 million square feet and will house up to 1,000 technicians by 2020 and is coupled with an eight-storey residence building equipped with employee accommodations such as a fitness center.

Daejeon is considered South Korea's fifth-largest metro area with a population of over 1.5 million.