Pirelli signed a memorandum of understanding with the Hixih Group, a pneumatic manufacturer partner of the Pirelli Group since 2005; the agreement concerns the realization of a filter production plant in Yanzhou. The understanding falls within the scope of memorandums signed with the Italian Ministry of Territorial Protection, Water and Environment and will lead to the realization of a new factory, whose construction is expected for the first quarter of 2010. This new facility will be located in province of Shandong, where the two truck and car tyre production sites are located, hence creating a new diversified industrial development centre, capable of using the synergy from the production and from the commercialisation of the two products. The expended investment according to the 2009-2011 industrial plan, could arrive to 50 million euros within this three-year period (15-20 million euros for Eco Technology), entailing a productive capacity of about 100 thousand filters per year and about 1,200 employees.