Sumitomo Rubber Focuses on Winter Tires with New Test Facility in Sweden

Sumitomo Rubber Europe (SREU), Sumitomo Rubber’s subsidiary in Europe has strengthened its focus on winter tires with the opening of a new test facility in Sweden. The company’s new testing facility, which is located in Arnemark, Sweden will be used to evaluate its winter tires made under the Falken brand.
Sumitomo formally opened the new test facility on December 16, 2019, and it comprises two groomed snow areas, each approximately 15,000 square meters, two 1,600 meter snow handling courses and a 600 meter ice handling track.

Throughout the winter season, the Sumitomo team at the facility will collaborate with Finnish engineers at BD Testing to rigorously test Falken range of winter tires meant for European replacement business and the OE market on the demanding course. Test engineers, including those from the company’s will be available on-site during the December to March period to check out the performance of the new Falken winter tires which will be fitted on commonly used medium and premium vehicles under extreme conditions of snow and ice.

Commenting on the new testing facility, Dr Bernd Löwenhaupt, managing director of Sumitomo Rubber Europe said, “We are much more flexible and can undertake tire development efficiently and thoroughly with our new test track. It is not just that the test track is ideally suited to our purposes, but the excellent transport links and infrastructure are also ideal for us,” commented.