MONTREAL (Nov. 16, 2009) — Bridgestone Canada Inc. plans to invest $38 million over three years in its car and light truck tire plant in Joliette, Quebec, to modernize the facility and improve productivity.
The Quebec provincial government is contributing $4.6 million toward the project, which will address productivity, safety and environmental aspects of the plant, a Bridgestone Americas spokesman said.
The modernization project involves new machinery and other measures to enhance productivity at the 44-year-old plant, which specializes in low-profile, larger-diameter tires.
Bridgestone Canada employs 1,200 at the plant, which is rated at 15,800 tires a day.
“By partnering with the Quebec government, we contribute to consolidating and enhancing the excellent reputation of our manufacturing facility,” said Bridgestone Joliette General Manager Robert Verreault, in a statement released by Invest Quebec, the province's industrial development agency.
“When a company like Bridgestone Canada wishes to negotiate for new mandates and maintenance activities in Quebec, the government is there to support it in its efforts,” Economic Development Minister ClÃ&Copy;ment Gignac said.
The company last invested heavily in the plant in 2005-07, when it spent $42 million to expand capacity for high-performance and larger diameter tires.
Workers at the plant are represented by the Syndicat des Travailleurs de Bridgestone/Firestone de Joliette. Their current six-year labor agreement runs through 2011.