Production Of MIRS Tyres In Höchst, Germany Going According To Plan

Pirelli’s German MIRS factory is now producing OE tyres for the Mini-Cooper car in size 205/45 17 Eufori@. Production is running with three lines and two others are being built, which will be producing tyres at the end of the year. Ultimately, in late 2004 or early 2005, there will be 13 lines producing 1.

5 million high performance tyres a year, mainly for OE. At present, there are 50 people working in the MIRS factory and this will eventually rise to 250, including service staff. Total costs will be more than 100 million Euro and possibly as high as 120 million; Pirelli will not reveal the exact figure.

MIRS makes it relatively easy for Pirelli to grow steadily in certain markets over a period of time, and this is the main advantage of the process, as it is not necessarily cheaper than the conventional production of UHP tyres. The first MIRS factory in Milan is a prototype plant, which develops and creates opportunities for new products. As well as Höchst, there is a MIRS factory at Burton-on-Trent, UK, which is not as large, and another MIRS plant at Rome, Georgia, USA is under construction.