This division is entirely dedicated to design and it is in a position to create unique objects, under license agreements for production and distribution, in partnership with other prestigious brands. This is the mission of Pirelli Design, which is currently working on projects accomplished with numerous partners including Montblanc, Roger Dubuis and Blossom, each one a company of excellence in its field. These partnerships have led to the launch of pens and trolley cases, watches and skis which, thanks to the know-how and technology of Pirelli, boast even more sophisticated features. Francesco Romani, Innovative materials and compounding manager at Pirelli, previously in charge of research and innovation behind Formula 1™ tyres and now, among other things, engaged in the search for new sustainable materials, explains how this process takes place.
How does Pirelli work with partners to create unique objects?
The first phase consists in identifying the possible convergences and opportunities between Pirelli and another brand, in order to verify that new, more performing features can be included in the partner's product and thus give it a very strong distinctive characteristic.
This is an important phase because it creates engagement between us and our partner.
Can you give us an example?
Let's take Blossom™ skis. The convergence was found in the use of rubber inside the ski, with the aim of having an enhanced impact. The aim was to find a damping element, a component designed in such a way as to attenuate the stresses during the descent without affecting the precision of the skiing. So we studied the layers of the actual ski - there are 5 or 6 and they are made of metal, fibre and wood - to understand between which layers we should insert the rubber designed in our laboratories to dampen up to 60% of the stresses which the ski is subjected to during the descent. What's more, in addition to trying to have the best possible technical advantage, we studied how to make this element visible, in order to have a distinctive design mark on the ski. In short, it involved studying processes and integrating research conducted together with the partner.
Have you also had experiences in which you needed a particular type of rubber?
Yes with MV Agusta. We produced a rubber tank pad for a special edition of the motorcycle manufacturer that replicated the design of our motorcycle product, Diablo™. In addition to being aesthetically beautiful, the tank pad had to protect against knocks and scratches, but above all it had to resist the petrol, which normally dissolves the rubber.
You never stop innovating...
It also happened with our Wtt, the scale reproduction of our Formula 1™ tyre that was used to design an exclusive sound speaker with iXOOST, a company based in Modena that makes audio systems for the motoring world. When we decided to turn it into a speaker to listen to music, we found that sound vibrations caused some ingredients of the compound to migrate to the surface of the rubber, creating an unwanted aesthetic effect. We were able to develop a rubber by reformulating the compounds in order to prevent these migration effects.
With Montblanc, were you playing on home turf by producing the wheels of the trolley case?
We worked on both the mould and the material. The mould was developed by our mould department, replicating the P Zero™ tyre in scale and using the same digital technologies. As for the materials, we needed to produce a rubber that was able to combat wear and at the same time reduce noise. The work on the compound was crucial. Having a silent trolley case with hard-wearing wheels was the goal we set ourselves and on which Pirelli succeeded in supporting the partner.
Do you have a special division that works on these projects or are they the same engineers who design your tyres?
Those who work on these processes are the same engineers who are dedicated to our tyres. Know-how is our strength and development does not only concern materials, but also our production processes. We generally process rubber, but we are able, based on our technologies and skills, to offer solutions also for other materials, such as steel, nylon or aramid fibre cords, which we generally use for our tyres.
How long does it take to achieve these unique products?
There are several steps involved. It usually takes two months to see the various points of contact with partners, which are required to fine-tune the interaction between our technology and the product. Then it takes another six months to reach the prototyping stage. Overall, it takes at least 18 months, a year and a half, from when we start thinking about a project to when it is actually launched.
