The production of cycling tires has started in the Pirelli factory in Bollate, which thus becomes the only factory producing “Made in Italy” bike tires on an industrial scale. The historic structure, a few kilometers from Milan and inaugurated by Pirelli in 1962, has for some time been the subject of a process of modernization and reorganization to house the production of the high-end lines of Pirelli Cycling. The plant will in fact be dedicated to the production of high-tech tires, including all the models of the P Zero Race family, in the updated version with the “Made in Italy” brand and already on sale from March. Both tires intended for amateurs will be made in Bollate, and to the athletes of some of the top UCI cycling teams including Trek-Segafredo, UAE Team Emirates, AG2R Citroën, and MTB teams such as Wilier Triestina-Pirelli and Canyon CLLCTV-Pirelli, all already partners of Pirelli and with an active role in tire development. Moreover, the proximity of the plant to the Pirelli Headquarters and the R&D department will be an accelerator for the development of the next Cycling products.
Thanks to the leadership acquired in the development of Ultra High Performance car tires, Pirelli has been able to transfer a consolidated experience in the world of innovative processes to the field of bicycle tires. The Bollate factory is a unique case in this sector, and innovation is visible at all levels: not only in the robotization of processes, which guarantees extreme qualitative reliability and geometric precision in the product, an even more crucial aspect in a tire of dimensions. and reduced weight like that of a bike; but also, for example, in semi-finished products, for which a unique extrusion system has been tested, which also contributes to obtaining absolute precision in terms of geometry and weight; and in the compounds, developed with a continuous mixing system.
Each process has been conceived and implemented in accordance with the specificities of the Cycling tire, with the highest safety standards and with high automation; thanks to CE certified machinery and together with the consolidated skills of the people, this will guarantee a quality level such as to make the products thus obtained reference models.
The renovation of the spaces for employees also continues, to offer a comfortable environment to those who work in the factory. A complete restyling of the buildings and exteriors is planned, with more contemporary lines. The result will be a modern, efficient and well-integrated industrial complex in the urban context, which allows tires to be manufactured according to the highest quality standards and performance that the market already recognizes Pirelli. Production of the first tires has started, while the complete renovation of the industrial plant is expected to be completed by the beginning of 2023.
“It is a great satisfaction to give a new face and a new function to the Bollate factory by bringing back part of the production of cycling tires to Italy, and it is even more so in the year in which we celebrate the company’s 150th anniversary. For us, the bicycle has a great historical and symbolic value: bike tires were the first type of tires produced by Pirelli and today we bring this part of the business a few kilometers from our headquarters. Furthermore, the Bollate project allows us to add value to the territory , through interventions that aim to make both the plant and the surrounding context modern and sustainable “, declares Andrea Casaluci, General Manager Operations Pirelli.