BFS Units to Slow Customer Deliveries Due to Storms

(Akron/Tire Review) The lingering effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have forced Firestone Industrial Products to announce plans for reduced shipments of finished products, including its line of air suspension products.

The unit of BFS Diversified Products formally declared “force majeure” for all of its customers effective immediately, citing slowdowns at its raw material suppliers.

“It is our expectation that deliveries of our products will begin to be affected within the next 15-20 business days,” the company said in a statement, “and that it may be at least several weeks before we see our shipments return to normal levels. Certain products will be affected more than others due to a heavier reliance on the specific raw materials that are in short supply.”

The company said it would try to allow “fair and reasonable allocation” of finished products to its customers based on inventory availability.