Advanced composites manufacturer Hankuk Carbon has entered into a strategic partnership with Dymag.
Advanced composites manufacturer Hankuk Carbon Co Ltd. has entered into a strategic partnership with Dymag, known for its carbon fiber composite wheels, to enable mass production of state-of-the-art high-performance carbon fiber composite wheels for automotive OEMs.
The partnership, announced at JEC 2022, will leverage Hankuk Carbon's expertise in advanced materials and industrialization with Dymag's expertise in manufacturing lightweight carbon fiber composite wheels for the high-performance and luxury automotive markets. Taking a scalable and localized approach, both partners report that this combination of resources and technical expertise will reportedly accelerate time-to-market.
Mr. Moonsoo Cho, Chairman of Hankuk Carbon, said: "We share Dymag's view on the growth of the global market potential for high-performance hybrid carbon fiber composite wheels, and our expertise in composite materials and industrialization will accelerate global market growth. Together we will provide automotive OEMs bring unparalleled technical and commercial products to the car of the future."
Hankuk Carbon has been producing composite materials, including carbon fiber textiles and prepregs, since 1984. The business has grown into an international composite solutions provider with factories in Korea and Vietnam, and global offices in China, the UK and Germany. The company provides specialized material solutions for many composite applications, including liquid natural gas (LNG) storage tanks for marine bulk carriers and battery electric vehicles (BEVs), as well as high-quality prefabs for the aerospace, marine and automotive markets. Dip. Hankuk Carbon says it provides full technical support from material supply to engineering and production of composite solutions.
Hankuk Carbon's newest partner, Dymag, has been leading the way in advanced wheel design since 1974 and has a long history of commercializing carbon fiber hybrid composite automotive wheels. Its hubs feature carbon fiber rims with forged aluminum or magnesium centerpieces. Dymag has 15 brands using its technology.
The two companies will work together to expand mass production of Dymag's BX-F composite wheel, which is said to provide high performance, reduce weight by more than 50 percent over conventional cast alloy wheels, and provide optimized durability. Other benefits of using Hankuk materials include improved vehicle range and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), reduced unsprung mass and moments of inertia, improved ride and handling, and aesthetics.
The benefits of Hankuk Carbon's composite materials on Dymag wheels apply to traditional high-performance road cars, high-performance and luxury electric vehicles (EVs), as well as large SUVs and pickups. Hankuk Carbon said these cars are also becoming more electrified. Dymag wheels are available in sizes up to 23 inches — rated at 1,000 kilograms (about 2,204 pounds) — with larger sizes to follow.
"Due to Dymag's technological strengths in improving electric vehicle range and NVH, these wheels will be priced at a premium and performance-oriented road car, especially in the growing premium EV market." Tom de Dymag CEO Lange added, "For all automotive industries, the dynamic, durability and aesthetic benefits of carbon fiber composite wheels will be embraced by more consumers through OEM programs."