Pirelli inaugurated the first research and development center of the Italian group in Silao, Mexico, just over a year after the announcement of its creation.
As a result of an investment of $15 million over a period of two years, as outlined in its 2021-2022|2025 Business Plan, the new advanced technology and digitalization pole for tire production has an area of more than 6,000 square meters, in addition to the previous 200,000 square meters of the Mexican plant, according to Pirelli.
Adopting the principles of Industry 4.0, Pirelli said its new technology hub will strengthen the ecosystem of innovation, continuous learning and development in what is already called “the Valley of the Mind” in Guanajuato.
“Mexico represents a strategic area for Pirelli’s activities in North and Central America. Over the years, the Silao plant has made an important contribution to the success of Pirelli’s global strategy: a strategy focused on high value, which has made our company the undisputed leader in the Premium and Prestige segments,” said Claudio Zanardo, president and CEO of Pirelli North America. “With the inauguration of this new research and development center, our goal is to increase Pirelli’s technological competitiveness throughout North America.”
“Over the past 11 years, the Silao plant has grown at an incredible speed, going from a production capacity of around 1.5 million tires to a capacity today of 7.6 million tires. The new R&D center will allow us to develop premium products using cutting-edge and increasingly sustainable technologies, but also to attract and develop new, highly specialized local talent,” said Enrico Verdino, CEO of Pirelli Mexico.
