Pirelli Tire North America (PTNA) Inc. has chosen Rome, Ga., as the site for its first MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System) tire manufacturing plant in North America.
Rome was chosen for two reasons, according to a company spokesman: economic incentives and its proximity to a number of transplanted European vehicle manufacturing sites.
The MIRS facility is expected to produce tires for 2003 model year cars. It reduces the average tire production cycle from 14 steps to three automated steps, and can economically accommodate small runs.
Pirelli announced the opening of its original equipment sales office in Southfield, Mich., a Detroit suburb, on March 15. PTNA President and CEO Carlo Bianconi said the company is "aggressively pursuing new contracts with a number of major car companies based in Detroit."
