Bridgestone to modernise Joliette plant

ERJ staff report (TB)

Montreal, Canada -- Bridgestone Canada Inc. plans to invest $38 million over three years in its car and light truck tyre plant in Joliette, Quebec, to modernize the facility and improve productivity.

The Quebec provincial government is contributing $4.6 million toward the project, which will address productivity, safety and environmental aspects of the plant, a Bridgestone Americas spokesman said.

The modernisation project involves new machinery and other measures to enhance productivity at the 44-year-old plant, which specializes in low-profile, larger-diameter tyres.

Bridgestone Canada employs 1200 at the plant, which is rated at 15 800 tyres a day.

“By partnering with the Quebec government, we contribute to consolidating and enhancing the excellent reputation of our manufacturing facility,” said Bridgestone Joliette General Manager Robert Verreault, in a statement released by Invest Quebec, the province's industrial development agency.

“When a company like Bridgestone Canada wishes to negotiate for new mandates and maintenance activities in Quebec, the government is there to support it in its efforts,” Economic Development Minister Clément Gignac said.

The company last invested heavily in the plant in 2005-07, when it spent $42 million to expand capacity for high-performance and larger diameter tyres.

Workers at the plant are represented by the Syndicat des Travailleurs de Bridgestone/Firestone de Joliette. Their current six-year labor agreement runs through 2011.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)