On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Silao factory, Pirelli will invest 114-million-euro investment - already envisaged in the 2021-2022 - 2025 industrial plan. 

The construction – planned for the two-year period 2022- 2023 – is aimed at further increasing high value production at the Mexican site. The investment confirms the strategic importance of the plant and will see an increase in production capacity of over one million pieces for a total of 8.5 million tyres by 2025 when fully operational (from 7.2 million at the end of 2022). With an expansion of the production area of 16,000 square meters to over 220,000 and further improvement of the mix, the investment will also create of 400 new jobs for a total of 3,200 employees when fully operational. 

The investment was announced during the visit by the governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato, Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo, to the Silao factory for the celebration of its tenth anniversary. The ceremony also saw the participation of the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli, Marco Tronchetti Provera, via video message and was attended by the Ambassador of Italy to Mexico, Luigi De Chiara, the President and CEO of Pirelli North America, Claudio Zanardo and the CEO and General Manager of Pirelli Neumaticos SA Mexico, Paolo Benea.

“The Silao plant has made an important contribution to the success of Pirelli’s global strategy of becoming the leader in the High Value segment. When we chose Silao, and the Guanajuato region, as the location for a new plant 10 years ago, our expectations were very high. Today I am happy to say that we have achieved our goals and that the factory and the people who work there have exceeded our expectations. In fact, the Silao plant is one of the most technologically advanced in the Group and will soon host a new Pirelli R&D Centre. As we have for 10 years, we continue to strongly believe in Silao and its people”, said Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli.

“Mexico is a strategic area for Pirelli for all its activities in North and Central America and with this investment we will further increase Pirelli’s technological and industrial competitiveness. I wish to thank all the people and the institutions, who over these years have contributed to the growth of the Silao factory”, said Claudio Zanardo, President and CEO of Pirelli North America.

“In Guanajuato we are very proud to have Pirelli in our state, and to celebrate its tenth anniversary of the Silao plant, as well as the 150th anniversary of its foundation worldwide.

The presence of Pirelli in Guanajuato, one of the most advanced companies in innovation and technology, supports our continued advancement from manufacturing to mindfacture.

Pirelli and Guanajuato, share values and a vision of the future, enabling us to build a success story together. Constant investments confirm the strategic importance of this plant and ratifies the confidence that Pirelli has in our state. We are thankful for this commitment which will strengthen our development and generate more jobs for Guanajuato families”, said Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo, the Governor of the Mexican state of Guanajuato.

Located within the Silao “Puerto Interior” industrial hub, in the state of Guanajuato, one of Mexico’s major logistics centers and key economic and technology hubs, Pirelli inaugurated the plant in 2012 to serve the local and North American markets.

In the last ten years, the Silao plant has grown at a remarkable speed, progressing from a capacity of around 1.5 million tyres and a staff of 300 people at the end of 2012 to a capacity of 7.2 million tyres at the end of 2022 and around 2,800 employees. Its production is focused on the High Value segment, producing High Performance and Ultra-High Performance tyres for passenger cars, electric vehicles, SUVs and Light Trucks.

The Mexican plant has always delivered the most innovative Pirelli solutions, like Cyber Tyre, PNCS (Pirelli Noise Cancelling System™), and RFID writing, aimed at tracking tyres to provide product information to the entyre logistics chain. Equipped with the group’s most advanced production processes, in recent years the Mexican factory has implemented the principles of Industry 4.0, in addition to a growing engagement with environmental care, adopting international standards that promote electricity and water savings, and ensure the recycling of waste from the plant.

The commitment announced today brings Pirelli’s investment in the Mexican plant since its foundation to more than 800 million euro and follows the announcement in May 2022 of the creation of the Italian company’s first Research and Development Center in Mexico, which is in addition to the 13 existing centers around the world. Innovation is in fact an essential element of Pirelli’s strategy and the company annually invests around 6% of its revenue from High Value products in R&D and has over 6,700 patents.

 “PIRELLI, THE CULTURE OF INNOVATION”, A BOOK CELEBRATING THE 10th ANNIVERSARY.

To celebrate a milestone as important as the tenth anniversary of its foundation, Pirelli Mexico has published a book entitled “Pirelli, the culture of innovation,” edited by Trilce Ediciones and realised also thanks to the contribution from Fondazione Pirelli and the material housed in the company’s Historical Archives: a way to commemorate the local legacy of a company that in January 2022 marked 150 years of activity with worldwide celebrations. The book retraces the development stages of the Silao plant, its rapid growth, deep roots in the territory and among local communities, and Pirelli’s contribution to the development of the Guanajuato Region.

The celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Silao plant takes on particular importance in a year when Pirelli is commemorating 150 years since its foundation in Milan, where on January 28, 1872, the 23-year-old Giovanni Battista Pirelli founded a rubber factory that would become one of the most innovative and technologically advanced companies in the world. Known for its production excellence and as a lifestyle brand, active in culture, sport and motorsport at the highest levels, Pirelli today has 18 production plants in 12 countries and a commercial reach in over 160 countries.

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MAXAM is set to showcase its advanced agricultural tyre solutions at Agritechnica 2025 in Hannover from 9 to 15 November. Visitors can find the company at Stand A04 in Hall 20, where the exhibition theme ‘More Pull. Less Fuel’ will guide the presentation. This philosophy underscores the company's dedication to developing tyres that enhance operational efficiency and contribute to more sustainable farming practices by reducing fuel consumption and soil compaction. The event provides a significant opportunity for MAXAM to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and the expansion of its product portfolio.

On display will be a range of DLG-awarded tyres, including robust models for high-horsepower tractors and versatile options for specialised implements, illustrating the company's technical breadth. Beyond presenting products, MAXAM considers the trade fair a vital meeting point for industry collaboration. It serves as a platform for direct engagement with farmers, partners and machine manufacturers, whose feedback provides invaluable, real-world insights that directly influence the future direction of product and service development, ensuring they remain precisely aligned with evolving market needs.

As a part of SAILUN Group, one of the 10 largest tyre manufacturers in the world, MAXAM leverages its extensive international presence and collaborative research initiatives to drive continuous innovation. The company is dedicated to advancing agricultural tyre technology, creating sophisticated solutions that directly address the evolving demands of modern farming. This focus encompasses critical areas such as enhanced sustainability, improved cost-efficiency and superior field performance.

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Radar Tires has expanded its US distribution network with the opening of two new domestic distribution centres in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, as part of efforts to strengthen product accessibility and service reliability for its growing customer base.

The expansion increases the brand’s domestic distribution centres from one to three. It aims to improve delivery efficiency and inventory availability across key regions, particularly in the Southeast and Northeast of the United States.

“Stocking domestic tyre inventory is a key part of the Radar strategy going forward,” said Rob Montasser, Vice President of Sales for Radar Tires, USA. “It ensures our distributors and retailers have easy access to the products that their customers need, without the long lead times or supply chain uncertainty. These new locations allow us to be faster, more flexible, and more dependable.”

The company said the additional facilities will reduce delivery times and ensure that its core product range remains readily available to meet rising market demand.

With existing operations in Texas, the addition of centres in Tennessee and Pennsylvania underscores Radar Tires’ long-term strategy to enhance supply chain responsiveness and reinforce its position as one of the most customer-focused distribution networks in the tyre industry.

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Cabot Corporation reported lower quarterly earnings, as weaker demand in its Reinforcement Materials segment and softer volumes in Performance Chemicals weighed on results. However, the company ended fiscal 2025 with solid cash flow and continued shareholder returns.

For the fourth quarter ended 30 September, Cabot posted net income of USD 43 million, or USD 0.79 per share, compared with USD 137 million, or USD 2.43 per share, in the same period a year earlier.

Full-year diluted earnings per share were USD 6.02, while adjusted earnings per share rose 3 percent year-on-year to USD 7.25.

“I am very pleased with another strong year of Adjusted EPS growth where we achieved USD 7.25, up 3 percent year over year, in a year with a challenging macroeconomic backdrop,” said Sean Keohane, Cabot’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This performance was driven by higher EBIT in our Performance Chemicals segment, which increased 18 percent year over year, partially offset by EBIT in our Reinforcement Materials segment, which declined 5 percent.”

Cabot’s revenue for the quarter fell to USD 899 million from USD 1.0 billion a year earlier, while full-year sales declined to USD 3.7 billion from USD 4.0 billion.

The Boston-based speciality chemicals manufacturer said fourth-quarter cash flow from operations totalled USD 219 million, enabling USD 64 million in shareholder returns through dividends and share buybacks. For the full fiscal year, Cabot generated USD 665 million in operating cash flow, funding USD 274 million in capital investments, USD 96 million in dividend payments and USD 168 million in share repurchases.

Keohane said the company’s balance sheet remained strong, with a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 1.2 times, providing flexibility to invest in growth while continuing to return capital to shareholders.

The company’s Reinforcement Materials segment reported a USD 4 million decline in EBIT from the prior-year quarter, reflecting lower volumes in the Americas and Asia Pacific, partly offset by cost efficiencies. Global volumes fell 5 percent, including a 7 percent drop in the Americas, where lower tyre production by customers was attributed to increased Asian tyre imports.

Performance Chemicals EBIT decreased USD 2 million year-over-year, mainly due to a 5 percent drop in volumes led by weaker demand in Europe, particularly from construction-related applications.

Cabot ended the quarter with  percent 258 million in cash and spent percent 64 million on capital expenditures. The company recorded a 55 percent effective tax rate in the fourth quarter and an operating tax rate of 27 percent for fiscal 2025.

Looking ahead, Keohane cautioned that market conditions remain challenging, particularly in the Reinforcement Materials sector. “We do not yet see signs of improvement in the external environment, particularly as it relates to regional demand trends in Reinforcement Materials due to the impact of elevated Asian tire imports into western regions,” he said.

The company anticipates improvement in Performance Chemicals, led by growth in battery materials and infrastructure-related applications, while maintaining strong cash flow to support investment and shareholder returns.

“While market conditions remain challenging, we continue to execute on our foundation of commercial and operational excellence, and we remain focused on managing costs, strengthening operations, and positioning the company for long-term growth,” Keohane said.

In fiscal 2025, Cabot also announced an agreement to acquire Bridgestone Corporation’s reinforcing carbons plant in Mexico and released its 2024 Sustainability Report, noting it had achieved 11 of its 15 sustainability goals ahead of schedule and established new 2030 targets.

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The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) has responded positively to the 'Berlin Declaration’, characterising it as an essential and long-awaited political signal. From the wdk's perspective, the declaration represents a crucial commitment from the ‘Friends of Industry’ to bolster the manufacturing sector, which is fundamental to preserving Germany's industrial core and the multitude of upstream and downstream jobs it sustains. The association's Managing Director, Boris Engelhardt, emphasised that this initiative correctly identifies the urgent need for Europe to recognise and champion industrial value creation.

The wdk finds it particularly significant that the impetus for this declaration originated from a coalition of 17 member states, a fact that underscores a shared political priority independent of the EU Commission's agenda. While the declaration's broad framework allows for various interpretations, the wdk has identified the reduction of bureaucratic burdens as its paramount objective. On this specific point, the association reports being in complete alignment with Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche. The wdk now asserts that the true measure of the declaration's success will lie in its translation from a political statement into actionable policy, urging the addressed EU institutions to move beyond acknowledgment and proceed with swift and decisive implementation.

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