BFNAT Discusses New Tech Centre

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire wants a new technical centre, and is considering either building new facilities in Akron, Ohio or Nashville, Tennessee, or trying to rehabilitate its nearly 100-year-old existing facility in south Akron. The tyremaker, which has some 1,000 employees in Akron and about 600 working in the technical centre, has begun talks with Akron and Nashville officials about possible solutions. BFNAT plans to reach a final recommendation in May, and, with the approval of the boards of both Bridgestone Americas Holding and parent Bridgestone Corporation, announce its plans this autumn.

BFNAT’s current technical centre is housed in the company’s former headquarters on South Main St. in Akron, which were once the world headquarters for Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., and a working tyre plant. The four-story building was opened in 1911. Bob Handlos, vice president of materials and racing technology, said BFNAT’s move is unrelated to the deal Goodyear recently received from state and local governments late last year that will give it a new world headquarters campus in east Akron.

Handlos said BFNAT began considering the technical centre issue two years ago, and considered multiple options before settling on three potential choices. BFNAT would not say what kind of government assistance – if any – it might be seeking to either keep the centre in Akron or move it to the Nashville area, closer to its headquarters. “We are looking strongly at all three options,” Handlos said. “We will make a good business decision.

Handlos admits that the 97-year-old Akron facility is “expensive to operate” and is “not the kind of facility our people deserve.” He said it would take “tens of millions of dollars” to rework the current facility, but said all three options will be considered equally.

In a published statement, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic admitted that BFNAT approached the city in late 2007 on the issue and outlined its options. ”Over the last several months, we have been meeting with their team to review the preliminary concepts that would address Bridgestone/Firestone’s needs. We have identified possible sites for new construction, and have begun the identification of possible vehicles to assist with funding the necessary public improvements that would accompany a large construction project,” he said in the statement. (Tire Review/Akron)