Bridgestone breaks ground on Joliette expansion

JOLIETTE, Quebec (Aug. 19, 2016) — Bridgestone Canada Inc. has broken ground on the previously announced $250 million, five-year expansion of capacity at its 50-year-old Joliette car and light truck tire plant.

Bridgestone announced plans in February for the project, which calls for boosting capacity nearly 18 percent to 20,000 units a day by 2023.

The investment will involve installing “technologically advanced” equipment to support a shift in the plant's product mix to 18- to 22-inch SKUs, Bridgestone said, from the current 15- to 18-inch mix.

The ground-breaking was part of 50th anniversary celebrations at the plant, which was opened in 1966 by Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. and reached a milestone of 150 million tires produced in 2014, Bridgestone said.

Its employment of 1,300 makes it the largest private employer in Quebec's Lanaudière region, just northeast of Montreal. The plant's workers are represented by the Syndicat des Travailleurs de Bridgestone/Firestone de Joliette.

The ceremony was hosted by Robert Verreault, plant manager, and included several Bridgestone executives, led by Gordon Knapp, chief operating officer, Bridgestone Americas Inc. and chairman, CEO and president, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations; Jan Steinmetz, chief human resources officer, Bridgestone Americas; Barry Owens, vice president, manufacturing, BATO; and Mitch Burke, executive director, consumer manufacturing, BATO.

Other attendees included Gabriel Ste-Marie, Joliette federal deputy; and Alain Beaudry, mayor of the City of Joliette.

“I'd like to congratulate the Joliette teammates and retirees on their hard work and contributions to the plant's success,” Mr. Knapp said. “With its long-standing relationship to the Joliette community, as well as its commitment to environmental best practices, I know this plant will continue to showcase the values and priorities of Bridgestone Americas for many years to come.”

Mr. Verreaul called the anniversary and ground-breaking a “momentous day” for the Joliette plant and Bridgestone Canada employees.

“We'd like to thank the Joliette community for its support over the past 50 years, and we're excited to begin this next chapter in our plant's history.”

The multi-phase expansion of the facility will help the plant meet market demand, as well as increase productivity and enhance the plant's global competitive position. The project will increase the size of the plant nearly 13 percent to 1.13 million square feet, but will not create any new jobs, the company said in February.

“Our investment in updated equipment and improved manufacturing processes reflects our ongoing commitment to identifying new, cost-effective and innovative ways to serve consumers, dealers and original equipment manufacturers,” Mr. Verreault said.

“Canada continues to represent an important market for our company, and this investment represents a tremendous opportunity for Bridgestone, Joliette, the Lanaudière region and the North American markets by enhancing the long-term viability of this facility.”

The Joliette facility is one of Bridgestone's most environmentally sustainable plants. The plant team has achieved numerous awards, including the Regional Pride Award given by the Joliette Chamber of Commerce, Productivity Improvement Award and Business of the Year Award by the Fédération des Chambres de commerce du Québec, Grande Mention at the Grand Prix Québécois de la Qualité from the Government of Québec, Silver Award for Quality at the Canada Awards for Excellence, and Recyc-Québec Certification – Gold Level 3 certification given by the Government of Québec to companies that recycle more than 90 percent of their waste.