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RMT Robotics Key To Accelerated Growth At Korean Tire Giant

August 15, 2005

Setting its sights on becoming one of the top five tire manufacturers in the world, Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. has turned to Korea’s Shin-Heung Machine co. (SMC) and Canada’s RMT Robotics for production process automation.

The Korean company entered into a partnership with SMC and RMT to design and install a gantry robot based green tire buffer for passenger tires. Favouring RMT Robotics’ expertise and proven technological leadership in green and cured tire handling systems, combined with SMC’s solid reputation as a leader in materials handling in the Korean/Asian market place, Hankook Tire required warehouse logistics partners that could keep pace with its aggressive globalization strategy.

This project is part of a planned modernization and expansion at Hankook’s Daejeon facility which will see the RMT / SMC solution exclusively handling over 5,000 passenger tires a day.

The Daejeon facility has served as the main growth engine for Hankook Tire since 1979, and it expects to push annual output past the 23 million tire mark once RMT Robotics completes the installation of its customized gantry robotic tire handling system by the end of 2005.

Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. is one of the world's fastest growing tire companies with compound annual growth of 64 per cent in the last five years. Its products are sold in more than 200 countries, with clients including Volkswagen, Ford, Mitsubishi and Volvo. In addition, Hankook aims to secure 35 per cent of the Chinese market for passenger care tires.

RMT technology is already employed at 14 tire manufacturing facilities around the globe. With more than 200 installations worldwide, RMT is recognized as a trusted innovator in warehouse logistics and handling. The company provides tailored solutions to Fortune 1000 companies in a wide range of industries including tire manufacturing, chemical, paper, food and beverage and plastics.

Aside from its leading-edge, proprietary technology, RMT Robotics offers customers end-to-end service encompassing every aspect of project design, development and support. It's a “one source, one responsibility” relationship that sets RMT apart from other warehouse logistics automation providers.