Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Titan to offer free COVID-19 vaccines at Iowa facility
      Bridgestone hosts vaccination events for plant employees
      Cioffi: Will remote working be the new normal?
      Bridgestone Iowa plant navigates pandemic, demand
    • Conti adding dynamic driving simulator at German R&D center
      Yokohama gains OE fitments on BMW, Mercedes-AMG sport utilities
      SEMA picks site in Michigan for 2nd SEMA Garage
      Online retailer CARiD.com looks to triple size of tire/wheel installer network
    • Goodyear goes retro for 'Throwback' NASCAR race at Darlington Raceway
      Keter to expand NeoTerra SKUs through mid-2022
      Federal approved as 5th Formula Drift tire supplier
      Falken, Ohtsu tire prices rising May 1
    • JK Tyre adds radial truck tires to U.S. portfolio
      Mitchell 1 enhances ADAS info access in TruckSeries software
      Apollo isn't planning U.S. plant — yet
      Tire Business livestream to focus on commercial tire industry
    • New York chipping in $3M+ toward Sumitomo factory expansion
      SBA extends and expands COVID-19 loan program
      Stimulus spending should help tire industry
      U.S. agro-science firm gets $1M grant to research sunflower latex
    • Keter to expand NeoTerra SKUs through mid-2022
      Nexen touting manufacturing quality milestone
      Japanese R&D cooperative claims breakthrough in sustainable butadiene sourcing
      Guizhou Tyre starts production at Vietnam plant
    • Goodyear goes retro for 'Throwback' NASCAR race at Darlington Raceway
      Federal approved as 5th Formula Drift tire supplier
      Maxxis offers discount to ChampCar competitors
      Michelin strikes supply deals with new Canadian racing series
    • Bosch adds 22 aftermarket parts in Q1
      Snap-On introduces TreadReader handheld tire scanner
      Vogue Tyre introduces ‘biggest, boldest' red stripe tire
      Cooper adds Rugged Trek all-terrain to Discoverer LT/SUV tire line
    • Epicor service estimator to offer access to TireConnect by Bridgestone
      JK Tyre adds radial truck tires to U.S. portfolio
      Apollo isn't planning U.S. plant — yet
      Telle Tire expands footprint with JBC Tire acquisition
    • Bosch adds 22 aftermarket parts in Q1
      Marinucci: Detailed instructions will save time
      Bartec introduces TPMS software updates
      Snap-On introduces TreadReader handheld tire scanner
    • SEMA picks site in Michigan for 2nd SEMA Garage
      SEMA touts expanded Las Vegas Convention Center ahead of 2021 expo
      TIA seeking nominations for Tire Industry Hall of Fame
      SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
    • SBA extends and expands COVID-19 loan program
      Stimulus spending should help tire industry
      Giti disputes report blasting tire maker for accepting PPP funds
      SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
    • Last Mile: Delivery surge raises demand for medium truck tires
      Nexen touting manufacturing quality milestone
      Apollo isn't planning U.S. plant — yet
      Apollo lands: Tire maker brings commercial portfolio to N.A.
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
      Sponsored By AppointmentPlus
      Three Important Lessons Learned for the Tire Business During a Pandemic
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      An introduction to wheel balancing
      Wheel weights: Balancing form with function
      Choosing the right balancing equipment
    • Video: Demounting
      An introduction to demounting, mounting and inflation
      Staying safe when demounting and mounting tires
      Demounting Equipment
    • Video: Safety
      Introduction: Creating a culture of safety
      Protecting your people with proper hygiene
      Making friends with OSHA
    • Video: Tire Repair
      An introduction to tire repair
      How to properly patch a puncture
      Tire repair: Shining a light on visual inspections
    • Video: TPMS Service
      An introduction to TPMS service
      The importance of proper relearn procedures
      Decoding sensor data for TPMS diagnosis
    • Video: Training
      Intro: Finding and training technicians
      Shop Floor: Scholarships
      Advantages of apprentice program partnerships
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      An introduction to lifts and lift safety
      Recommendations for using a jack
      Jack stands for commercial tire service
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      Introduction to proper wheel installation
      Torque check and recheck recommendations
      Using torque sticks to speed service times
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Awards
    • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Coronavirus
March 19, 2021 09:30 AM

Bridgestone Iowa plant navigates pandemic, demand

David Manley
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    Bridgestone Americas Inc.’s Firestone agricultural tire plant in Des Moines has been in operation for 75 years.

    DES MOINES, Iowa — A year into the pandemic, despite a production stop and COVID-19 cases among employees, Bridgestone Americas Inc.'s Firestone agricultural tire plant in Des Moines ended its 75th year of production at 100% capacity.

    And that's a good thing for what's coming. Demand is strong, and the farm community is optimistic about a good year.

    "While it was a really challenging year at the plant and with everything else going on in the world, we pulled together as a team, and we're really proud of that," said David Gustafson, vice president, commercial manufacturing at Bridgestone Americas.

    As part of an on-going series examining the impact of the pandemic one year later, Tire Business, which previously reported on COVID cases at the plant, reached out to officials for an update.

    The Des Moines plant, which employs around 1,300, had nine positive COVID cases as of late February. In total, the plant has had 179 cases since the pandemic began; the first was April 23, 2020. The company said cases peaked around the mid-30s in summer.

    "We really took it seriously early on," Mr. Gustafson said. "And we were true to our nature. The well-being and safety of our employees, that remained our most important value, and we stuck to that.

    David Gustafson

    "Like the rest of the world, we were surprised by this, but we weren't unprepared."

    As far back as January 2020, a Bridgestone spokesperson said the company was monitoring the outbreak and strategizing crisis management plans at the corporate level.

    Bridgestone suspended production at factories in North America and Latin America on March 21 for between one to four weeks.

    The Des Moines plant restarted April 13 along with other North American commercial tire plants as demand for tires grew for government-deemed "essential" industries, such as the food and supply chains.

    This included Bridgestone truck tire plants in Warren and La Vergne, Tenn., as well as OTR plants in Aiken County, S.C., and Bloomington, lll.

    The Des Moines plant, which turned 75 in 2020, is the No. 1 agricultural tire facility in the country, according to the company. It produces agricultural, construction, forestry and OTR tires. The plant manufactures approximately 90% of all agricultural products that Firestone sells in the U.S. and Canada.

    Prior to the restart, the company put into place its plan (an Environmental Health Safety & Sustainability playbook), that featured benchmarks to restarting production and measures to ensure safety. This included, among other guidelines, wearing face masks, reconfiguring common spaces, temperature checks, increased sanitation and changes to sick leave.

    Listening to the concerns of employees has been important, Mr. Gustafson said, and the company has done that throughout the process and working with United Steelworkers (USW) Local 310L, which represents around 90% of employees at the Des Moines plant.

    Steve Vonk, president of Local 310L, said last year the company had been forthright and included the union in crisis planning from the beginning.

    "The most important part of the plan, looking back, is to make sure that we are following our process and keeping employees informed," Mr. Gustafson said.

    Mitigating the virus has presented challenges, but the plant remains focused on serving its customers, especially now as demand is rising, the company said.

    "The agricultural business in the U.S. provides essential services — feeding the world — we feel fortunate to be able to provide what they need to continue operating," Mr. Gustafson said.

    "Right now, we are seeing strong demand and at sustained levels we haven't seen for years in the agricultural space."

    He noted improved commodity prices creating opportunity.

    "Farmers are feeling optimistic," he said.

    Given that positive outlook, he said, the plant is hiring for more positions.

    "We're looking at positive trends in our markets, and we think we've got the right strategy."

    Manufacturing back to capacity
    Related Article
    Ag tire makers optimistic about 2021
    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].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION
    • Awards
      • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award