Pirelli R&D chief to give ITEC keynote address

Akron, Ohio -- Maurizio Boiocchi, senior vice president and director of research and development for tyres at Pirelli Pneumatici SpA, will give the keynote address at this year's International Tyre Exhibition and Conference (ITEC), which will take place in Akron on Sep 12-14.

The program features a variety of papers for tyre industry participants and an exhibition by suppliers.

A 26-year veteran of Pirelli, Boiocchi is known for his role in helping the company become a force in high and ultra-high performance passenger tyres.

He joined the firm as a tyre engineer and moved up to manager of advanced car tyre development.

He was later made in charge of car tyre research and development (R&D) and then director of R&D and a member of the management board at Pirelli Germany.

He was appointed to his current post in 2001.

Under Boiocchi's leadership Pirelli developed such notable products as the P6, P6000, PZero, Scorpion Zero and Winter Sport tyres.

He also played a key role in the development of the innovative mixing process CCM (continuous compound mixing) and the automated manufacturing system for tyres called MIRS (modular integrated robotised system).

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)