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Mr. Boiocchi highly deserves the award among his peers in the tire industry. Very rarely one encounters a tire engineer who has very good knowledge of all facets of tires: materials, processing, testing, manufacturing, and marketing.

It has been said that design starts with an idea—sometimes distinct, sometimes tentative—which can be imagined on a mind’s screen, then observed and manipulated by the mind’s eye. Mr. Boiocchi combines the spirit of an artist, the curiosity of a scientist, the vision of a renaissance man and the practicality of an engineer.

The crowning achievement of Mr. Boiocchi’s inventive ability was the pioneering development of low section height ultra high speed performance tire lines, now famously called the “P Zero System.” These tires have become the standard against which other tires are judged. These tires are very low in section height with double steel bead reinforcement and exhibit outstanding high speed performance and durability. Several tread pattern designs and constructions were developed for high speed handling, noise, and dry and wet traction. These tires have been approved and fitted in all high performance cars such as Ferrari Super 40, Lamborghini, Porsche, Jaguar, etc. In the last 15 years, the P Zero system technology has resulted in tires capable of ultra high speed performance using directional tread pattern on the front and “asymmetric” in the rear. Three outstanding high performance tire lines, P Zero Rosso, Nero, and Corsa have become the tires of choice for high performance cars.

Mr. Boiocchi has been a great ambassador of tire science and technology by teaching and nurturing young scientists, engineers and technologists to become a creative force for the betterment of society and safety of transportation. He has presented talks at universities and research institutes on innovation processes. He was a keynote speaker at the ITEC 2006, Rubber Division (2007) and TyreTech (2008).

The inaugural ITEC Distinguished Technology Achievement Medal will be presented by Syed K. Mowdood, Ph.D.,Consultant, Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. on Tuesday, September 16. This presentation is open to ITEC attendees.

Mr. Boiocchi’s lecture on Wednesday, September 17 will focus on how his creativity, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence in design, performance and safety has been the creative force behind Pirelli’s dominance in high performance tires. . ITEC Full Three Day Conference delegates or the Wednesday, September 17 Single Day Conference registrants may attend Mr. Boiocchi’s lecture on Wednesday, September 17.

SELECTION PROTOCOL
The nylon overlay concept was ideally suited for high speed performance, safety and durability. The overlay prevented an increase in the diameter of the tire due to centrifugal force and maintained the radial profile of the tread area leading to less heat generation, better footprint pressure distribution, improved handling and comfort. Another of Mr. Boiocchi’s key achievements was the development of single-end winding of the Nylon cords to form joinless 0º overlay to improve tire uniformity and high speed performance. This concept was successfully introduced in one of the most commercially successful high performance tires, the P6000, of which more than 100 million units have been sold.

The concept of 0º Nylon overlay was applied to the development of a series of high performance tires designed by Mr. Boiocchi, which have become the reference point for performance by the tire and car companies. Cognizant of the environmental impact of green house gases, Mr. Boiocchi developed in the 80’s, P8, the low RR tire line via innovation in design and materials.

Mr. Boiocchi continues to augment the performance of these P Zero system tires by the novel use of hybrid zero degree overlay, Kevlar bead reinforcement, use of Kevlar pulp in compounds and novel steel cord construction and use of new materials.

Mr. Boiocchi’s achievement is not limited to summer car tires; it has also encompassed winter tires, resulting in the development of ultra high performance winter tires capable of speeds up to 270 km/hr. These tires have received rave reviews by consumers. The conceptual efforts have also been fruitful in the development of high performance tires for SUVs, all-season tires for family sedans, and high performance zero pressure also known as run flat tires

Some of the recent pioneering developments have been the concept of zero degree overlay system based on shape-memory alloys and a modification of MIRS robotized tire production technology to manufacture zero pressure high performance tires.