The products and activities of three tiremakers have been acknowledged at the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence 2011, presented in Cologne, Germany on Feb. 16.
Hankook Tire earned the "Tire Manufacturer of the Year" award, while Goodyear took the award for "Tire Technology of the Year" and Yokohama Rubber Co. was awarded "Environmental Achievement of the Year."
Hankook was given the award in recognition of its strong financial growth, and for its significant investment in production sites and technologies to ensure world-class products, and to raise the company’s world ranking from seventh, to fifth. Judges were impressed by Hankook’s “advances over the past 12 months” growth that may see the company become the world’s fifth largest tiremaker over the coming years.
After Hankook’s receipt of the award, Jin Wook Choi, executive vice president and European head of Hankook Tire, said, “2010 has been a very successful year for us and I accept this award with great joy. We consider this award as recognition toward our philosophy of sustainable global growth and of our commitment for our production sites. My gratitude goes to all our staff, without whose exemplary commitment, such progress would not have been possible.”
Runners up in this category were Apollo Tyres and Bridgestone.
Speaking on the UltraGrip Ice+, the studless winter tire that landed Goodyear its recognition, the awards organizer said, “This impressive tire has been engineered to master some of the world’s most challenging roads – freezing Nordic winter roads. If this tire can cope with these conditions, it can cope anywhere.”
The UltraGrip Ice+ features, among other technologies, ActiveGrip Technology, which combines a dual cap compound with hybrid sipes. Marc Junio, general director of the Goodyear Innovation Center Luxembourg, where the tire was designed, said, “This award acknowledges the outstanding performance of the UltraGrip Ice+ tire. We are delighted with these outstanding test results, which confirm our industry-leading role of top-performing winter tires. Our team can be proud of this achievement and this award will further boost the motivation and innovative spirit of our development teams.”
Runners up in this category were Ecosil, TMSI and Continental.
Commenting on the choice of Yokohama Rubber in the environmental section, the awards organizer said, “It has been a remarkable year for Yokohama in terms of environmental initiatives, which have not gone unrewarded. Among its environmental work over the past 12 months that impressed the jury, the company has formulated guidelines for the preservation of biodiversity.”
These guidelines involve investigations to determine whether its activities adversely affect the natural environments around its business locations, and any remedial actions that may be needed. The company is also seeking to reduce the environmental effects of its use of natural rubber and mineral resources. A major project for Yokohama continues to be its Forever Forest Project, which aims to plant 500,000 seedlings at seven domestic and 11 overseas production sites.
Category runners up were Clean Lasersysteme GmbH and Continental Carbon Co.
