Bridgestone breaks ground on N.C. plant expansion

WILSON, N.C. (March 9, 2016) — Company and political dignitaries were on hand today as Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations broke ground on the five-year, $164 million expansion of its tire plant in Wilson.

“Today is a momentous day for all of us at the Wilson plant and across Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, as we break ground on this important expansion that will allow us to grow our production and manufacturing capabilities to meet the changing needs of our customers,” said Plant Manager Michael Darr.

“We'd like to thank the Wilson community for its support over the last 42 years, and we're excited to begin this next chapter in our plant's history.”

Other Bridgestone executives who joined Mr. Darr at the event included;

• Christine Karbowiak, chief administrative officer, chief risk officer and executive vice president, Bridgestone Americas, Inc.;
• Barry Owens, vice president, manufacturing;
• T.J. Higgins, president, Integrated Consumer Tire Division, U.S.  and Canada; and
• Mike Martini, president, original equipment, U.S. and Canada Consumer Tire Sales Division.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory and Wilson Mayor C. Bruce Rose also attended.

Bridgestone said the expansion at the 42-year-old plant, which it claimed is one of the company's most environmentally sustainable plants, will improve the plant's global competitive position by installing new technology, expanding production capacity and lowering costs.

Phases I and II of the investment, which the company said will total nearly $100 million, will add 167,000 square feet of manufacturing space to accommodate new tire assembly machines, materials-handling systems, curing presses and associated equipment. The expansion will increase plant capacity by 3,000 tires per day, bringing daily production to 35,000 by 2018.

The company said the equipment also will allow the plant to respond to more global demand for higher rim size tires, as well as improve quality and productivity while reducing costs.

Wilson was the company's first tire manufacturing facility to produce run-flat tires, and this year it will begin to produce Bridgestone's DriveGuard line, a premium, all-season replacement tires..

The plant last had an expansion in 1999, when it added 85,000 square feet to the facility.