Pirelli Slatina factory extension to make car tyre plant its biggest

The Prime Minister of Romania, Emil Boc has inaugurated the extension of Pirelli’s tyre factory in Slatina, accompanied by the Italian manufacturer’s chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera, and the Italian ambassador in Bucharest Mario Cospito. The full 160 million euro extension, begun in 2008 and to be concluded in 2013, will increase production capacity from 7 million passenger car units at the end of 2011 to 10 million by the end of the extension project and the extension of its area. Pirelli says the plant is already one of its most modern, and will become its biggest passenger car tyre plant when the extension is complete.

Today the Slatina hub employs 2,400 people between tyre and steel cord 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 per cent have already been made. Initially 100,000 sqm and already today grown to 160,000 sqm, the concluded extension will increase the Slatina factory’s to 175,000 sqm. It has been equipped with the highest non-robotic production technology for the production of premium tyres, including winter, UHP winter, high performance, ultra-high performance, runflat and SUV.

Between 2005, the year of its arrival in Romania, and 2010, Pirelli has 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 steel cord, 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 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.

Beginning in 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 the press 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.

A 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 joined Pirelli Tyre CEO Francesco Gori, director of operations Giovanni Pomati and director general of Pirelli Tyres Romania, Giuseppe Cangelosi at the inauguration of the extension.

Pirelli’s Romanian investment:

• Pirelli Renews Slatina Hospital Aid Programme
• Pirelli Negotiates Financing to Increase Slatina Plant Capacity
• Romanian Hospital to Benefit from Pirelli Sponsored Training
• Pirelli Announces Further Investment in Romania
• Pirelli to Spend £150 Million on Additional Romanian Plant