Hankook expands testing capacity in Spain     

Neu-Isenburg, Germany – Hankook has ‘significantly expanded’ its testing and development capabilities in Europe with a new centre in Spain.

In a 21 June statement, the tire maker said it had commissioned the new test centre on the premises of long-time partner Applus+ IDIADA Group, an engineering company providing design, testing and homologation services to the automotive industry.

The site is located 60 km south-west of Barcelona and includes a wet handling track which was developed based on Hankook’s recommendations.

According to Hankook, the facility also serves European premium car manufacturers, which will use the tracks for their own demanding tests. 

The centre, Hankook said, has been equipped with "the most modern, automated and completely paperless test logistics, from the recording of results to storage and transport processing,” it added. 

The office space accommodates a team of 20 Hankook technicians in Spain, affiliated to the Hankook Europe Technical Centre in Germany.

"With the further expansion of our testing capacities in Spain, we are reaching the next level together with our local partner Applus+ IDIADA," said Klaus Krause, head of the European R&D Centre in Hanover. 

The facility, he added, will enable Hankook to “conduct significantly more tests on site."