10 Dec 2015 Test World Strengthens its World Leading Position
Rutland is pleased to announce that Millbrook’s winter test facility, Test World, has signed a cooperation agreement with South Korean tyre manufacturer, Hankook, to build a winter tyre testing centre in Ivalo. The new test centre will be built close to Test World’s Mellatracks in Ivalo and will be for Hankook’s exclusive use.
Seung Hwa Suh, Vice Chairman and CEO of Hankook Tire, said: “Hankook Tire constantly invests to enhance its competitiveness in the global market. With our improved technological capability and production facility based on our technology leadership management, Hankook tire will acquire more robust, more advance R&D capabilities to become a global top-tier tire brand. The new proving ground in Ivalo where various winter tests will be made shall boost effectiveness of our winter tyres to provide maximum satisfaction for our customers.”
Alex Burns, Millbrook Group CEO, is delighted with the new agreement and commented: “Hankook is one of our long-term customers and a great company in the global tyre market. The contract for the construction of a new winter tire 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. Combine this with flexible air services and a wide range of ancillary services and you can see why Test World is an ever more interesting and attractive place for winter testing.
Hankook Tire’s investment in the world’s most northerly winter proving ground area has been made partly due to the increasingly varying conditions and uncertain winter weather in more southerly Scandinavian or Alpine areas. Ivalo’s location, however, offers stable and long winter conditions, which extends the time available for testing. Once established Hankook Tire’s global R&D Centre, in cooperation with the company’s German based R&D unit, Europe Technical Centre, will be responsible for managing the new winter testing site.
Hankook’s new testing centre will be built with fully equipped garage facilities, as well as offices, meeting and social rooms. In addition, the dedicated Hankook area will be securely fenced and incorporate new test tracks for different test situations with the necessary connecting roads. Preparations for the construction and design work started immediately following the signing of the agreement. The new premises will be handed to Hankook in December 2016.