MIRS: Marriage of E-Tire and E-Commerce Merits Pirelli Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Award
Asset Caption: MIRS, Pirelli Tire's online e-factory technology allows tire manufacturing to occur within a 72-minute time frame.
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SAN JOSE, Calif.--Jan. 3, 2002--Nothing is virtual about the 2001 Frost & Sullivan Market Engineering Technology Innovation Award bestowed upon Pirelli Tires for its Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) manufacturing technology.
This prestigious award was given to Pirelli for demonstrating technological superiority within the tire manufacturing industry. Pirelli is featured as the first to implement a tire e-factory and is noted for its ability to manage its entire business cycle on line, slashing production and labor costs.
MIRS is a software-based system that controls the manufacturing process from order inception to delivery. The process begins with a segmented aluminum drum that is transferred through a series of stations by the MIRS robots. Various tire components are applied to the drum as it passes from station to station. The final assembly robot then physically hands the drum with the constructed tire to the curing press for vulcanization. The system accepts orders and starts the manufacturing process from one of many MIRS sites.
According to new market information from Frost & Sullivan, North American Tire and Wheel Aftermarket, Pirelli can increase its current production capacity with the new system allowing the company to increase revenue. Profitability is greater on MIRS-produced products compared to tires produced using traditional manufacturing methods. Pirelli's productivity has increased an estimated 80% by utilizing robots, saving money on labor costs, vital petroleum and manufacturing material costs. The average tire can take up to six days to produce, in contrast to MIRS taking 72 minutes.
"Bringing MIRS to North America will encourage other tire makers to follow Pirelli's manufacturing leadership," says Alfred Ortiz, Frost & Sullivan industry research analyst. "As the sole owner of MIRS Technology, Pirelli has demonstrated they are on the forefront of tire manufacturing worldwide."
About Pirelli Tires
Pirelli S.p.A. is the holding Company that owns and controls all the Group's operations worldwide; it assures maximum coordination of the different affiliates in 24 countries and across the 5 continents. The Group's activities are focused on three core businesses, Energy and Telecom Cables and Systems and Tyres. Over the last few years the Group has started and consolidated an international re-launch phase, which has resulted in the constant improvement of all main economic indicators. With sales revenues in year 2000 of Euro 7,477 million, Pirelli has 87 factories and employs more than 41,900 people all around the world. More detailed information about the Group can be found at pirelli.com.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, a global leader in international strategic market consulting and training, presents Market Engineering Awards to companies that demonstrate the diligence, perseverance, and dedication required to develop a successful business plan and excel in the increasingly competitive global marketplace. Frost & Sullivan rigorously analyzes specific criteria to determine Market Engineering Award recipients in a variety of regional and global market landscapes. Founded in 1961, Frost & Sullivan is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., with offices located worldwide. For further information, visit http://awards.frost.com.
Report 7822-18
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