BFS to invest $42 million to expand Joliette car/LT tyre plant

Joliette, Quebec -- Bridgestone/Firestone is investing $42.2 million through January 2007 to expand capacity for high-performance and larger diameter tyres at its car and light truck tyre plant in Joliette.

The Quebec government will contribute another $3 million, bringing the total investment to $45.2 million.

The project will result in a change to the manufacturing flow at the 40-year-old Joliette plant to a more flexible multisize, small-lot production process for an expanded range of products, according to Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc., which disclosed the project along with the Quebec government.

To meet the new production requirements, BFS will invest mainly in new equipment and reorganising production areas.

"In order to ensure that the company can compete at the top ranks at an international level, we have focused our efforts on product diversity and complexity rather than on volume," Isaku Motohashi, general manager of BFCA, said in a prepared statement.

"Accordingly, we are responding to client demand for products that are increasingly more diverse and that offer significant added value for the company," he said. "This strategy, which is based on innovation, production flexibility and labour quality, requires major investments in terms of equipment and training."

The investment will help secure the jobs of the 1250 workers at the plant. BFCA did not say what effect the project will have on the factory's capacity, listed as 15 800 units a day.

Workers at Joliette ratified in June a new six-year labour agreement, which BFCA at the time described as providing terms that would "ensure greater flexibility" in operations.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)