Pirelli facility in Slatina opens

Italy-based Pirelli and German Continental in Slatina on Friday opened a metal cord factory for tyres that will require a total of 40 million-euro investments over the next few years in order to reach its maximum capacity of 30,000 tonnes a year. The two companies issued a joint release saying that the new unit Cord Romania SRL established at the end of last year was held 80% by Pirelli Pneumatici, whilst Continental had 20% in it. The production of the facility that takes up 100,000 square metres will go to rising Eastern European markets, where demand for metal cords is almost twice higher than the supply. This investment will enable Pirelli to consolidate its position in the European metal cord production sector, with the Italian company already controlling similar facilities in Figline Valdarno, Italy, Merzig, Germany and Izmir, Turkey. The construction of the factory in Slatina, the first such project in SE Europe is part of the company”s strategy to expand on the Romanian market. ZF