Michelin opens R&D laboratory in Manesar

French tyremaker Michelin today opened its all-new research and development laboratory in Manesar, Haryana. The formal inauguration was done by Alexandre Ziegler, ambassador of France to India today. The state-of-the-art facility expands Michelin India’s research and innovation capacity.

Ambassador Alexandre Ziegler said, “Our vibrant economic partnership with India is boosted by France’s leading companies such as Michelin which actively contribute to ‘Make in India’ and bring R&D technology expertise here. Along with providing innovative products to India and other emerging markets in the region, this technology centre will also help augment skilling, thus contributing to the Indian government’s National Skill Development Mission, a key parameter for global competitiveness for India.”

With an annual R&D budget of more than 700 million euros (Rs 5,350 crore), Michelin has over 6,000 employees engaged in research, development and process engineering at Technology Centers in Europe, North America and Asia. The sprawling 3,800-square-metre materials test laboratory at Manesar is an essential resource, providing support to the Michelin Technology Center in Gurgaon. This Technology Center is focused on radial truck and bus tyre R&D and provides technical support to the company’s manufacturing facilities in Chennai, China and Thailand.

Focus on robust, fuel-efficient truck and bus tyres
Speaking at the facility inauguration, Philippe Verneuil, president of Michelin Africa, India and Middle East, said: “Michelin Group is committed to bringing innovation quicker to our markets and better delivering on our customers’ expectations. Establishing a Technology Center supported by a materials testing laboratory is a demonstration of the high level of confidence that Michelin Group has for India and the business growth opportunities in the region. This laboratory will provide impetus to our established innovation capabilities in India and will assist with material research for more robust and fuel efficient truck and bus tyres."

Serge Godefroid, MD, Michelin India Technology Center, said: “We have a dynamic team of highly skilled technical experts who have been selected from premier institutes in India. All of them followed intense training at our R&D facilities in France and the US prior to taking their roles in India. Michelin India’s R&D teams are now completely operational to offer our customers across emerging markets more adapted and innovative solutions.”

Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has 111,700 employees and operates 68 production facilities in 17 countries which together produced 187 million tyres in 2016.