Bridgestone investing $135 million in US tyre plant

ERJ staff report (TB)

Nashville, Tennessee -- Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) will invest $135 million to expand capacity at its Aiken County, South Carolina, passenger and light truck tyre plant by up to 4,750 units per day before mid-2013.

The expansion represents a 19-percent boost in the plant´s daily capacity to about 29,750 units per day beginning in the second quarter of 2013 and will add 122 full-time and contractor positions. Bridgestone Americas said it will expand the facility by 266,000 square feet in the main plant and mixing areas.

“With demand steadily increasing over the last couple of years, now is the right time to increase capacity to meet the needs of our customers,” said Larry Magee, president, Consumer Tire US & Canada, BATO.

Site preparation and construction will begin in the fourth quarter with the manufacturing equipment to be installed in the third quarter of 2012. Construction is expected to be complete by the first quarter of 2013 with production commencing early in the second quarter of the same year, the Nashville-based tyre maker said.

“Bridgestone Americas has given Aiken County and our state another reason to celebrate,” said Gov. Nikki Haley. “Our administration is working tirelessly to make South Carolina's business climate second to none and to ensure that companies like Bridgestone Americas understand there is no better place in our country to expand and create new jobs.”

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)

Press release from Bridgestone Americas