Bridgestone Voted Manufacturer of Year at Cologne Expo

At this year’s Tire Technology Expo, held in Cologne, Germany, a new series of awards acknowledging excellence in the tyre industry was launched, and Bridgestone was named the inaugural “Tyre Manufacturer of the Year”. This honour was announced at the 2008 Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence ceremony and gala dinner, held on February 20.

The awards were organised by Tire Technology International magazine, a publication specialising in tyre design, materials and manufacturing technology, and international jury of 15 tyre professionals, engineers and academics evaluated nominations for each of the five award categories. The categories voted upon for the 2008 awards were tyre manufacturing and design innovation; environmental achievement; tyre technology of the year; tyre industry supplier of the year; and tyre manufacturer of the year.

The jury cited reasons for Bridgestone’s selection as tyre manufacturer of the year as, amongst other achievements, the expansion of both its Technical Centre and Proving Ground in Europe – a facility, comments Bridgestone, unrivalled in Europe for its capability to test all types of tyre configuration on all types of road surfaces. Bridgestone was also cited for its production of advanced radial tyres for the first Airbus A380, projects to improve the ecological balance of its activities and work on the global road safety campaign Think Before You Drive.

As jury member Dr Roger Williams, consultant and former Dunlop Tyres technical director, explained: “With its European Technical Centre in Rome, Bridgestone shows its recognition of Europe’s importance in the development of vehicles and tyres. It is very important that the company works in Europe, and it’s amazing to see the major tyre manufacturer in the east developing its research in Europe.”

“We are extremely proud to have won the 2008 award for Manufacturer of the Year” commented Takashi Urano, chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone Europe. “Bridgestone’s achievements on a European and international level will consolidate our position as a truly global leader in the rubber and tyre business, both in name and reality.”