Bridgestone Expands in Thailand

Bridgestone has officially opened its third tyre plant in Thailand. The newly completed site, situated in the city of Chonburi, is predicted to produce 2,500 radial truck and bus tyres a day by the end of June 2005. What’s more the company estimates a further production capacity of 5,000 tyres a day by the end of 2006.

The Chonburi plant is the latest addition to the corporation’s global production expansion programme and means that the group now operates 46 tyre plants in 23 nations.

A total of ¥24 billion (£119 million) has been invested in the Chonburi Plant. Approximately ¥17 billion of this was taken up in the initial building and equipment plans, and ¥7 billion in expanded production systems, decided during construction.

The plant operates as Bridgestone Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co Ltd, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation. Another of the company’s subsidiaries, Thai Bridgestone Co Ltd, operates the two existing tyre plants in Rangsit, Pathum Thani, and Nong Khae, Saraburi.