TURIN, Italy (Feb. 26, 2008) — Pirelli S.p.A. said it will develop new technologies and install them at its Settimo Torinese plant in Turin with help from the city and Turin Polytechnic University.
The Italian tire maker is budgeting $190 million for the project. The new technologies will include:
- A next-generation MIRS (modular integrated robotized system), described as "a significant evolution of the robotized process of tire manufacturing":
- The cyber tire, which Pirelli claims is the future "intelligent" tire with sensors that will be able to transmit information useful for driving and control of the vehicle; and
- TSM, which Pirelli described as a new process for mixing materials with high levels of quality and reliability.
The revamped facility will be Pirelli's most advanced plant. Work is expected to begin in or after the second quarter of 2008.
The project has been shared with unions, with whom an agreement was signed in November, and the municipality of Settimo Torinese also will be involved in creating an adequate urban planning solution, Pirelli said.