Hankook Tire Develops 'Damaged Parts Restoration 3D Printing Technology' with Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Hankook Tire & Technology announced on the 19th that it has developed 3D printing technology for additive restoration of damaged parts in collaboration with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and the 3D printing startup ‘HM3 DP’.

This technology is a spin-off that applies 3D printing, originally developed for manufacturing nuclear-grade material parts, to the restoration of special metal parts for non-nuclear industries.

Researchers from Korea Technodome, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, and others successfully restored damaged areas of Ti alloy blades used in Hankook Tire’s production line using the DED (Directed Energy Deposition) method. The blades are parts that repeatedly cut tire resin with hardened materials added.

Previously, finished products were supplied and inevitably discarded when wear and damage occurred. However, with this blade damage restoration technology, repair has become possible, allowing for repeated use. In particular, since the blades are made of ‘Ti alloy,’ which is more expensive than stainless steel, it is now possible to improve economic efficiency by reducing unnecessary material consumption and costs.

Furthermore, through the adoption of this technology, Hankook Tire has reduced carbon emissions generated during parts manufacturing, fulfilling its corporate social responsibility while significantly contributing to the creation of an eco-friendly carbon reduction parts manufacturing industry ecosystem. The blades restored by 3D printing technology are currently installed in production equipment at Hankook Tire’s Daejeon plant and are undergoing demonstration.

Hankook Tire proactively introduced industrial metal 3D printers in 2015. It was the first domestic tire company to complete a 3D printing-based three-dimensional sipes mass production system (tire mold parts that engrave fine patterns on tires), continuously researching the innovation and potential of 3D printing technology. Moving forward, the company plans to continue collaborating with domestic and international experts to pursue further technological innovations using the revolutionary manufacturing technology of 3D printing.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.