Pirelli to add technology centre at Mexican tire plant

Silao, Mexico — Pirelli & C. SpA is investing $15 million (€14 million) in a new technology and digitalisation centre at its tire plant in Silao, Guanajuato, the tire maker said 3 May.

The investment, over the next two years, and will involve the intrduction of technologies to support future mobility trends, including electric, sustainable and connected tires. 

Spanning 6,680 square metres, the facility will feature units for virtual modelling, testing, digitalisation and “specialities” such as robotic application technologies.

The new project follows Pirelli’s announcement last year that it was investing €30 million at Silao to raise production capacity from 6.6 million units per year to 7.2 million.

Inaugurated in 2012, the Silao plant manufactures high performance and ultra high performance tires, currently dedicated to the local market and North America.

The plant currently has over 2,700 employees and is claimed to meet the “highest eco-safety performance” standards in terms of production.

The site, according to Pirelli, taps sustainable technologies for the reduction of water and energy-consumption and the recycling of process waste.