TOKYO (Nov. 1, 2013) — Bridgestone Corp. plans to consolidate steel cord production in Japan at its Saga plant, which will mean the end of production of tire cord and bead wire at a 42-year-old plant in Kuroiso.
Bridgestone said consolidating this production at one plant will enhance efficiencies and strengthen its global competitiveness. The consolidation process is expected to be completed in late September 2014, at which time the Kuroiso facility will close.
Bridgestone said its decision to consolidate came despite a number of initiatives taken to help strengthen the competitiveness and overall profitability of the Kuroiso plant, whose daily capacities are listed as 135 metric tons of steel cord, 18 tons of hose wire and 85 tons of bead wire.
The closing will affect 355 employees at Kuroiso.
Bridgestone lists the Saga plant's daily capacities as 263 tons of steel cord, and 2 tons of cable bead wire. It did not say what it expects the plant's capacities to be after the consolidation.
Bridgestone did not disclose any cost estimates for the project.