Michelin: "we sell performance, not rubber"
ERJ staff report (DS)
Paris -- Michelin has set out a strategic vision under the banner: “Michelin sells performance, not rubberâ€.
The company has issued a package which outlines the DNA behind the brand, including research and innovation; capturing maximum value of tyre technology and setting out the challenges of the modern tyre world.
Michelin said it employs 6000 in its R&D process and budgets around euro 592 million to employ them fund their activities. Paradoxically, the company claims just a single technical centre. Michelin clams that although there are three buildings and centres, these act in an integrated way sharing data and knowledge to act as a single unit. The company said it employs 400 different computer simulation tools, a also carries out tests in four categories: Labtests on components; tests on machines; objective and subjective road tests and customer testing. There are also 700 certified test methods spanning the temperature range from -30 up to 50C. In total the company drives tyres for a total distance of 1800 million km every year and carries out 75,000 customer tests every year.
When driving over a pothole or up onto a curb, some areas of the tyre will deform by more than 150%
Michelin say that tyres are a high-tech composite of 200 different materials, including elastomers,
plasticizers, chemical additives, reinforcing agents and metal and textile
reinforcements. The challenge is to blend the various materials together as
seamlessly as possible to ensure that the tyre delivers all of its safety, grip, durability
and mileage performance.
The document coincides with the launch in Europe of two tyre lines: ch of two new tyres, the Energy Saver+ and
the Agilis+.
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Press release (strategy) from Michelin
Fact sheet (strategy) from Michelin
Press release (new tyres) from Michelin
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