Pirelli names ZF, Kuraray among top suppliers as it narrows focus on 'innovation'

Milan – Pirelli & C. SpA has named seven companies as its top suppliers for 2025, selected from among 13,000 global partners.

In its supplier day 2025 held 24 Oct, Pirelli named ZF as its top supplier for ‘process innovation’.

Pirelli recognised ZF, a supplier of indoor testing machinery, for its “high level of precision, reliability, and innovations,” which it said helped Pirelli "accelerate the synergies between indoor, outdoor, and virtual testing."

In the materials category, the ‘material innovation’ title was won by Kuraray, for the supply of its liquid polymers and ‘high-performance solutions’.

The ‘digital transformation award’ went to ServiceNow, a California-based provider of solutions for digitalisation of IT processes.

Pirelli's sustainability award went to Zincol Ossidi for the supply of “100% recycled materials” with a reduced carbon footprint.

Process oil producer Ergon won the ‘quality award’ while textile reinforcement supplier Helon Polytex was recognised for its ‘excellence’.

Pirelli’s ‘service level award’ went to Kuehne + Nagel Romania for its successful start-up of operations at the Pirelli distribution centre in Slatina, Romania.

The Italian tire maker said one of its key criteria in selecting the winners was "the ability to innovate," as the Pirelli moves towards large-scale use of new technologies and artificial intelligence.

The new P Zero, for instance, has been designed using virtual development techniques and artificial intelligence, said Pirelli.

In materials development, the tire maker said it has introduced “the virtual compounder”, developed by Pirelli and based on generative AI.

The tool “accelerates the identification of the best material combinations for new compounds," according to the tire maker.

It helps 'maximise' process efficiency from the laboratory to the factory and reduce the need for physical prototypes, it added.

Furthermore, Pirelli said it has integrated artificial intelligence into its industrial processes.

This will help the tire maker “optimise planning, detect developments that could impact the quality of the finished product in real time, and improve safety and efficiency in factories.”