Sustainability Channel

EIB and Pirelli: 100 million euro financing agreement signed in support of R&D for 2009-2012

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Pirelli signed a financing agreement today for a 100 million euros loan from EIB for support of projects in the area of Pirelli Group research and development for 2009-2012.

The loan is for support of research and development in the field of product and manufacturing process innovation for reduction of the environmental impact of tyres, among other things, improving their performance and safety standards thanks to identification of innovative materials and components. The project regards activities of the various research and development centers of Pirelli in Italy and abroad, and was finalized as part of the 200 million euros credit line resolved upon by EIB last July.

The new loan consolidates the relationship between Pirelli and EIB, which in the past contributed to the Group’s constant commitment to innovation and development of its competitiveness on a global scale.

“We are happy to continue in our tradition of supporting the Pirelli Group, which makes investment in research one of the pillars of its policy for growth in international markets, placing great attention on the goal of reduction of polluting emissions – which is a priority for EIB,” said Dario Scannapieco, EIB vice president in charge of Italy, Malta and the Western Balkans.

“The loan from EIB,” said Marco Tronchetti Provera, chairman of Pirelli “represents a contribution to and an important recognition of the research activity of Pirelli, which has always been strongly committed in this direction with the aim of improving quality of products for the benefit of consumers and the competitiveness of the Group on the market. Today, in particular, this effort shows us committed to development of products and processes that are more and more eco-compatible, that is, oriented towards adopting technologies that offer customers not only safety and high performance, but also solutions which are respectful of the environment.”

Download EIB and Pirelli joint press release(pdf)

INTER CAMPUS ROMANIA: THE SEASON BEGINS!

Yesterday (10 November) at Slatina the Sports Lyceum of Inter Campus Romania was inaugurated, the programme that uses the game of football as an instrument of social integration, developed by FC Internazionale in collaboration with Pirelli and the New Community Association. 

Those attending the ceremony included Enrico Malerba, CEO of Pirelli Tyre Romania, Darius Diaclov, Mayor of Slatina, Aldo Montinaro, technical director of Inter Campus and Don Gino Rigoldi, president of the New Community.

“For Pirelli, after substantial investments in the Slatina production centre, to participate in the improvement of the local community’s social situation is a moral duty. The people who work for Pirelli live in Slatina, so it is right that we contribute to the development of their city. Through this project, we wanted to help all the children, both those who are well-off and those less so”, declared Enrico Malerba, CEO of Pirelli Tyres Romania.

“Pirelli is an example of commitment in the social and sporting life of Slatina”, said Darius Dialcov, Mayor of the city. “They train and educate the young generation, help them to develop themselves. I am pleased to see that 50 children from Slatina have been rewarded in this way”.

It was Christian Chivu who opened the 2009-2010 season of Inter Campus Romania, the Inter champion and Rumanian national player who is the star testimonial of this initiative, which aims at the social integration of boys from eight to 14 years-old through the activity and values of the sport.

PIRELLI LATIN AMERICA STARTS THE WEEK OF QUALITY

Pirelli Latin America has launched a quality week. A packed programme of activities concentrated on the subject of quality with a 360° approach is taking place from 9-13 November in the factories of Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela.

Guided visits of production, to the test facility at Sumaré, to Pirelli dealers and suppliers; the five days will also include special lessons devoted to ‘effective actions’ for quality and how to motivate a people toward their realisation.

An innovative way to manage the subject of quality. The main objective of this week is to increase the attention and knowledge of everyone concerning quality, which is an integral part of the companies’ daily lives.