Bridgestone investing $180M in N.C. plant

WILSON, N.C. (Jan. 9, 2017) — Bridgestone Americas Inc. is making an additional $180 million investment to its car and light truck tire facility in Wilson, bringing its investment during the next 10 years to $344 million.

The company said this investment is in addition to the $164 million previously announced a year ago. The investment includes a new rubber mixer, the expected addition of 16 jobs and funding for innovative manufacturing processes and technology.

Groundbreaking for the 50,000-sq.-ft. facility to house the next mixer is projected for the spring, with production slated for fall of 2018. The plant spans 2.5 million square feet and was last expanded in 1999, when the company added 85,000 square feet to the facility.

Bridgestone said the multi-phase expansion will allow the plant to meet global demand for higher rim diameter tires, improve quality and productivity, and reduce costs. The project is adding manufacturing space to accommodate new tire assembly machines, materials handling systems, curing presses and associated equipment to increase plant capacity by 3,000 tires per day.

It will bring daily production to 35,000 tires by 2018. The plant was the first Bridgestone facility to produce run-flat tires. The company said it began producing its DriveGuard run-flat tires in 2016.

"This total investment reflects Bridgestone's global commitment to meeting marketplace demands, increasing capacity and utilizing innovative manufacturing processes," Plant Manager Michael Darr said in a statement. "These are investments not only in the customers of Bridgestone products but also in our local community and in our team members."

Bridgestone Tires Americas is the U.S. subsidiary of Japan-based Bridgestone Corp.

Most Popular
1
New firm proposes U.S. tire factory in Oklahoma
2
Sumitomo extends closing of Tonawanda plant to May
3
Goodyear, Michelin, Hankook lead J.D. Power survey
4
Bridgestone recalls R123 Ecopia trailer tires
5
Atlanta mourns slain tire shop owner Maurice Davis
SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
Letter
to the
Editor

Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].