Pirelli’s Silao plant reaches million milestone

Pirelli’s factory in Silao, Mexico, which was inaugurated in May 2012, has produced its millionth tyre and is gearing up to become the Italian tyre maker’s dominant NAFTA region supplier. Covering an area of 135,000 square metres, the Silao plant’s capacity will reach 3.5 million tyres in 2015. When fully operational in 2017, production is expected to reach 5.5 million pieces, according to Pirelli. The tyre maker’s total investment through 2017 will amount to approximately US$400 million.

Several Pirelli executives and local politicians were on hand to commemorate the milestone: Pirelli NAFTA Region CEO Paolo Ferrari; Pirelli industrial operations director Giuliano Menassi; Pirelli Mexico CEO Tom Gravalos; Pirelli Mexico industrial director Fernando Madeira Toledo; Guanajuato Governor Miguel Márquez Márquez; and Guanajuato Secretary for Economic Development Héctor López Santillana.

“We were able to complete the start-up phase and produce our first million tyres in record time, thanks to the hard work of our local team,” said Ferrari. “We are grateful to all the local, state and federal authorities who have been our partners along the way.”

 The Silao plant, Pirelli’s first in Mexico and 22nd worldwide, produces premium HP and UHP passenger and light truck tyres for the US, Canadian and Mexican markets – according to the company, roughly 60 per cent of Pirelli tyres sold in the NAFTA region will eventually be produced in Silao.  Tire Review