Pirelli names VMI, Asahi Kasei among top suppliers

Milan, Italy – Pirelli has awarded its top seven suppliers for 2024, selected from among 80 strategic suppliers representing 40% of the group’s annual purchases.

During a ceremony held 10 Oct, Pirelli honoured Dutch tire machinery supplier VMI with ‘process innovation award’, while Japanese rubber maker Asahi Kasei Corp. won the top award for ‘materials innovation.’

The Italian tire maker’s sustainability award went to Italy-based Pibra Trasporti, a logistics supplier that is using alternative-fuel trucks for its Pirelli-related operations.

Three Chinese suppliers were included in the top awards, including ‘quality award’ winner Shandong Yanggu Huatai Chemical, a supplier of tire compound chemicals.

‘Service level award’ went to Chinese polyurethanes manufacturer Shanghai Inoac Polymer Products, while Jiangsu Xingda Steel Tyre Cord Group took the ‘excellence award’.

Salesforce, a San Fransisco, California-based supplier of CRM solutions for processes and platforms, was recognised for ‘digital transformation’ by Pirelli.

Pirelli highlighted its sustainability ambitions during the event, including a recently approved Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) net zero goal by 2040.

In the near-term, the Italian tire maker eyes an 80% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2018 (Scopes 1 and 2), and a 30% reduction in emissions resulting from the purchase of raw materials, services and transport.

In addition to sustainability, two other key themes emerged at the Supplier Day: innovation and quality.

Pirelli said innovation was particularly reflected in its R&D work, with a “broader digital transformation programme” aiming to improve all process and products.