Pirelli
49662
223643878
2008-07-05T01:28:15Z
Lightbot
7178666
Units/dates/other
{{Infobox_Company
| company_name = Pirelli & C. SpA
| company_logo = [[Image:Pirelli.gif]]
| company_type = [[Public company|Public]] ({{ISE|IT0000072725|PC}})
| foundation = 1872
| location = {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Milan]], [[Italy]]
| founder = [[Giovanni Battista Pirelli]]
| key_people = [[Marco Tronchetti Provera]], <small>[[Chairman]]</small>,<br>[[Alberto Pirelli]], <small>Deputy Chairman</small>,<br>[[Carlo Alessandro Puri Negri]], <small>Deputy Chairman</small>
| industry = Diverse Multi-national
| revenue = {{profit}} [[euro|€]]4.8 billion (2006)<ref name="africa.reuters.com">{{Cite web|url=http://africa.reuters.com/instrument/gan.php?i=25205759|title=Pirelli|accessdate=2007-09-22|work=africa.reuters.com}}</ref>
| products = tires, broadband, real estate, robotics
| num_employees = 31,502(2007)
| subsid = Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.<br>Pirelli Broadband Solutions S.p.A<br>Pirelli & C. Real Estate S.p.A<br>Pirelli Labs S.p.A.<br>Olimpia S.p.A.<br>
| homepage = [http://www.pirelli.com Pirelli.com]
}}
{{Expert|date=April 2008}}
'''Pirelli & C. SpA''' ({{ISE|IT0000072725|PC}}) is a diverse [[multinational company]] based in [[Milan]], [[Italy]].
==History==
Founded 1872 in [[Milan]], by '''Giovanni Battista Pirelli''', Pirelli initially specialized in [[rubber]] and derivative processes. Effectively, Pirelli's activities are still primarily focused on the production of [[tire]]s, and [[cable]]s (for [[energy]] and [[telecommunications]]). In 2005 Pirelli sold its cable division to [[Goldman Sachs]], which changed the new group's name to [[Prysmian]].
In the 1950s, Alberto Pirelli commissioned the building of a famous Milanese [[skyscraper]] in the same area that housed the very first Pirelli factory during the 19th century: see [[Pirelli Tower]]{{Fact|date=April 2008}}.
In 1974, Pirelli invented the "wide radial tyre", upon a request from the [[Lancia]] rally racing team for a tire strong enough to resist the power of the new [[Lancia Stratos]] car.
At that time, racing tires were either [[slick tire]]s made with the [[cross ply]] technique (very wide tires with a reduced sidewall height), or [[radial tire]]s, which were too narrow to withstand the Stratos' power and did not provide enough grip. Both were unusable for the Lancia Stratos, as the radials were destroyed within 10km, and the slicks too stiff. Lancia asked Pirelli for a solution, and in 1974 Pirelli created a wide tire with a reduced sidewall height like a slick, but with a radial structure.
Subsequently, Porsche started using the same tires with the award-winning [[Porsche 911 Turbo]].<ref>http://www.enzociliberto.it/aisastoryauto/fascicoli/mono68/68mezzanotte.pdf</ref>.
Today, the wide tyres are still the standard in sport & racing cars worldwide.
Since late 2007, Pirelli is the contol tyre for the [[World Rally Championship]], the [[British Rally Championship]], the [[Superbike World Championship]] and the [[British Superbike Championship]].
==Marketing==
The [[Pirelli Calendar]] is published annually, and regularly features famous actresses and fashion models.
The [[Pirelli Internetional Award|Pirelli ''Internet''ional Award]] is given annually for the best international multimedia involving the communication of Science & Technology conducted entirely on the Internet.
''Power is nothing without control'' is the well known slogan of Pirelli Tyre Company, and is featured in numerous television and print advertisements.
==Trivia==
{{Trivia|date=October 2007}}
They formerly made scuba diving [[rebreather]]s.
Pirelli is the primary sponsor of the Italian football club [[Internazionale Milano F.C.|Internazionale]], the Brazilian football club [[Palmeiras]], the Argentinian football club [[Velez]], the Uruguayan football club [[Penarol]], and of Maltese club [[Valletta FC|Valletta]] for a short time.
Pirelli has a factory in [[Burton-upon-Trent]], [[Staffordshire]], [[England]]. [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion Football Club]] (of the [[Conference National]]) built a new stadium next to the factory in 2005, and Pirelli agreed to sponsor the stadium and allow it to be called the [[Pirelli Stadium]].
Pirelli also have a major manufacturing site in [[Carlisle]], UK.
Pirelli is the only allowed tyre brand in the FIM World Superbike Championship in 2007.
Pirelli has also been awarded the contract for the control tyre supply in the [[British Superbike Championship]] from 2008 until at least 2010.<ref>[http://www.britishsuperbike.com/html/newsarticle.php?id=1203 British Superbikes 2007]</ref>
Pirelli is also the official tyre supplier of the World Rally Championship replacing BF Goodrich for the 2008 season, with all cars using Pirelli tyres and having Pirelli decals on the cars.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
*[[List of Italian companies]]
*[[Formula One tyres]] <!-- this should be incorporated into the article when possible -->
==External links==
{{commonscat|Pirelli}}
*[http://www.pirelli.com Pirelli.com] Pirelli Group
*[http://www.pirelliaward.com Pirelli ''Internet''ional Award]
*[http://www.pirellityre.com PirelliTyre.com] Pirelli Tyres Worldwide
*[http://www.pirellifilm.com PirelliFilm.com] Pirelli Film
*[http://www.pirellical.com PirelliCalendar.com] Pirelli Calendar
*[http://www.pirellire.com/eng/homepage/index.asp PirelliRE.com] Pirelli Real Estate
*[http://www.pirellibedding.com PirelliBedding.com] Pirelli Bedding (latex mattresses)
*[http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/41/41369.html Yahoo!] Pirelli & C. SpA Company Profile
<br>
{{S&P/MIB companies}}
[[Category:Automotive companies of Italy]]
[[Category:Tire manufacturers]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1872]]
[[Category:Rebreather makers]]
[[Category:Italian brands]]
[[de:Pirelli]]
[[es:Pirelli]]
[[fr:Pirelli]]
[[id:Pirelli]]
[[it:Pirelli & C.]]
[[nl:Pirelli]]
[[ja:ピレリ]]
[[no:Pirelli]]
[[pl:Pirelli]]
[[pt:Pirelli]]
[[ro:Pirelli]]
[[ru:Пирелли]]
[[sk:Pirelli]]
[[fi:Pirelli]]
[[sv:Pirelli]]
[[tr:Pirelli]]
[[zh:倍耐力]]