Pirelli: Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc inaugurates the extension of tyre factory in Slatina with Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera
Over 450 million euros of investment by the group in the country between 2005 and 2014
The Prime Minister of Romania, Emil Boc, inaugurated the extension of the tyre factory in Slatina, accompanied by the Chairman of Pirelli, Marco Tronchetti Provera, and the Italian ambassador in Bucharest Mario Cospito. At the inauguration, along with the Romanian government delegation, composed of Secretary of State for Finances Bogdan Dargoi, Secretary of State for the Economy Karoly Borbely, regional prefect Olt Leonid Moisiu and the mayor of Slatina Darius Valcov, the event also saw the participation of Pirelli Tyre CEO Francesco Gori, director of operations Giovanni Pomati and director general of Pirelli Tyres Romania, Giuseppe Cangelosi.
Between 2005, the year of its arrival in Romania, and 2010, Pirelli invested 300 million euros, which will climb to over 450 million euros by 2014, in the industrial hub at Slatina which includes a factory for car tyres and a factory for the production of steelcord (the metallic ribbon used in radial tyres) and in Bumbesti Jiu-Gorj where there is a factory for anti-particulate filters for diesel engines.
Of the investment, 160 million euros are destined to the planned extension of the tyre factory – begun in 2008 and to be concluded in 2013 – with the aim of increasing production capacity and enhancing Pirelli overall competitiveness in Europe. The extension project received the support of of the Romanian government through funding of approximately 28 million euros, as foreseen by the governmental order HG 1165/2007 within the context of Pirelli’s cooperation with the Romanian government.
Thanks to additional investments, the car tyre factory in Slatina will see its annual production rise from the 7 million pieces expected at the end of 2011 to 10 million pieces by the end of the extension project and the extension of its area, initially 100,000 square metres and already today grown to 160,000 square metres, will increase to 175,000 square metres. The Slatina tyre factory, already one of the most modern car tyres factories, will become Pirelli’s biggest car factory. It has been equipped with the highest non-robotic production technology for the production of premium tyres, the segment in which Pirelli is a leader: Winter, Uhp Winter, High-Performance, Ultra-High-Performance, Runflat and SUV.
Today the Slatina hub employs 2,400 people between tyre and steelcord activities, and this is destined to grow to 2,700 by the end of the project thanks to 1,000 new hires, of which 70% have already been made, linked to the extension investment.
Beginning from 2005, the Italian group has made industrial investments in different provinces of Romania and has signed agreements in scientific research, professional training and the social development of the territory.
During today’s conference, chairman Tronchetti Provera illustrated for prime minister Boc the numerous social and cultural activities launched by Pirelli in Romania, from the partnership with the University of Craiova in the area of technological innovation, to the project for the dissemination of Italian culture in Slatina, from support for the cooperation between Milan’s Niguarda hospital and Slatina’s to the InterCampus initiative with FC Internazionale Milano, a project dedicated to children from different social backgrounds.
“Prime Minister Boc’s visit is for Pirelli a source of pride and shows the deep relationship that exists between our group and the government and local institutions. From 2005 to today, Pirelli has become a significant presence in Romania, which for Pirelli is an important source of productive processes and products of excellence not only for the local market but also for the emerging markets of Eastern Europe”, said Pirelli chairman, Marco Tronchetti Provera.
“Romania, where we are already well established on both the industrial and social levels, is a key country for Pirelli’s worldwide growth. The car tyre and steelcord factories in Slatina constitute a point of strength in the group’s industrial strategy. The tyre facility is one of the biggest car tyre factories in the world and allows Pirelli to satisfy the market’s demands in the premium segments, which are growing at a fast pace both in Europe and the rest of the world”, added Giuseppe Cangelosi, director general of Pirelli Tyres Romania.
Categories: Sustainability