ROME, Ga. (Aug. 19, 2002) — Pirelli Tire North America dedicated its Rome headquarters, along with its first MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System) tire manufacturing plant, on Aug. 17.
PTNA President and CEO Gaetano Mannino and Georgia Gov. Roy E. Barnes presided over the ribbon cutting at the 400,000-sq.-ft. facility, which will employ approximately 300, including 250 in production and 50 corporate personnel.
Georgia's long history of automotive industry leadership was a key determining factor for locating our headquarters in Rome,” Mr. Mannino said. “Georgia's infrastructure, highly skilled workforce and business-friendly climate were all factors, plus the citizens and leadership of Rome and the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism assisted every step of the process.”
The plant actually has been operational for two months, but the Gov. Barnes was honored with pressing the button to start production on Module 1. The MIRS system requires only one-fifth as much space as conventional production methods, uses one-third less energy, and cuts a product change-over time to 20 minutes from as much as six hours with conventional tire manufacturing methods.
The Rome facility will begin production with three MIRS modules. The company said it plans to increase that number “substantially” by next year. Pirelli said its facility was built on sufficient land to add as many MIRS modules as the market commands.