Neu-Isenburg, 19 October 2016 – Premium tyre maker Hankook and Schmitz Cargobull AG, Europe's leading manufacturer of truck trailers, have extended their cooperation earlier than planned until 2019 on the occasion of the 66th IAA for Commercial Vehicles in Hanover. The innovative manufacturing and intelligent production technologies used by the company, which specialises in the production of semitrailers for heavy-duty trucks, set benchmarks for especially efficient transport solutions. Hankook TBR trailer tyres have been available at Schmitz Cargobull as original fitment tyres for years as premium products for all trailer types. The cooperation announced at the IAA includes extending the existing supply contracts in the OE segment, increasing the strategic cooperation on a European level in the fleet business, expanding the full-service range as well as developing the spare parts business of Hankook trailer tyres through the existing sales cooperation between the Schmitz Cargobull Service Partner network and joint service partner Pneunet. This cooperation offers the trailer manufacturer's contract customers full-service concepts, including standardised conditions both for tyres as well as for tyre services and tyre management in the vehicle fleet. It also covers tyre changes due to wear, punctures, deadline monitoring and fleet checks (air pressure adjustments). In addition, comprehensive cost and mileage analyses can be made available to fleet operators.
Tony Lee, Vice President for Sales and Marketing of Hankook Tire Europe agrees: “Stepping up our partnership with Schmitz Cargobull is of strategic importance to us, particularly since it boosts both our OE and spare parts business in the trailer segment.”
“The further, long-term extension of the strategic partnership with Hankook is the right logical step for us, since Hankook's strategy effectively supports the Schmitz Cargobull strategy,” says Bernhard Schmitz, shareholder and Deputy General Manager - Purchasing. “We feel that the long-term cooperation with Hankook will complement our premium products so that we can deliver optimum transport solutions to our customers.”
Premium tyre maker Hankook supplies Schmitz Cargobull AG with its complete range of state-of-the-art trailer tyres for original fitment. These have been adapted for European conditions, are particularly eco-friendly and economic, and include the Hankook ranges e-cube MAX and SmartWork. The original fitment business for national and international heavy duty traffic with Hankook TBR trailer tyres for Schmitz Cargobull is initially concentrating on the European market and currently covers 11 trailer sizes in the 19.5 and 22.5 inch range, including the mega-trailer size 445/45R19.5, 435/50R19.5 and 455/40R22.5 of the Hankook e-cube family. All Hankook tyres are delivered directly to the production plants of the trailer manufacturer, which is based in Altenberge in North Rhine-Westphalia.