Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations is expanding the company’s Wilson, North Carolina, passenger tire manufacturing facility as part of a five-year, $164 million investment to meet market demands and invest in newer, more efficient technology. The multi-phase expansion of the 42-year-old, nationally recognized facility is expected to break ground in early 2016.
The investment is part of the company’s global commitment to develop innovative new products that meet growing and evolving market demand, and will improve the Wilson plant’s global competitive position by adding capacity and more technologically advanced equipment. Phases one and two, which will total nearly $100 million, will focus on the addition of 167,000 square feet of 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, bringing daily production to 35,000 by 2018. The new equipment also will allow the plant to respond to the increase in global demand for higher rim size tires, as well as improve quality and productivity while reducing costs.
The Wilson plant has been a leader in tire manufacturing innovation during its 42-year history, and currently manufactures 32,000 passenger tires a day. It was the first Bridgestone tire manufacturing facility to produce run-flat tires, and in 2016, will begin producing the company’s DriveGuard tires, the first full line of premium, all-season replacement tires engineered to go up to 50 miles to safety after a puncture.*
*At a maximum speed of 50 mph. Reparability depends on the tire damage, amount of pressure loss and vehicle operating conditions.
