SAN JOSE, Costa Rica-Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. has purchased a 20-percent share in Industria Akron de Costa Rica, which is being renamed Firestone de Costa Rica, S.A. In addition to providing its new affiliate with technical assistance, BFS has appointed Firestone de Costa Rica the distributor of Firestone brand tires in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvadore, Guatemala and Honduras.
Firestone de Costa Rica produces 2,400 Firestone passenger and light truck tires per day at its plant in San Jose.
S. African Dunlop expanding
LADYSMITH, South Africa-Dunlop Tyres Ltd. is expanding production capacity by 25 percent at its Ladysmith car and light truck tire plant as part of a $27.5 million project.
The several-year-long project will dramatically increase the South African tire maker's export capabilities, according to company officials. The 24-year-old Ladysmith plant has a reported monthly capacity of 1,125 metric tons.
Dunlop Tyres Ltd. is a subsidiary of London-based BTR Dunlop Ltd. and receives technical assistance from Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. as a member of the worldwide Dunlop group.