Aircraft Tyre Production Begins at Bridgestone’s Tokyo Plant

Production of new aircraft radial tyres has begun at Bridgestone’s Tokyo Plant in August, reports the company following the completion of the facility’s initial phase. Once the Tokyo Plant is fully completed, which will likely occur by the end of 2011, Bridgestone estimates the factory’s overall production capacity of new aircraft tyres will be approximately 2.5 times the current level.

Historically, Bridgestone has produced new radial tyres for aircraft only at its Kurume Plant in Japan, but however to meet growth in global demand the company made the decision to also commence production at its Tokyo Plant. Bridgestone radial aircraft tyres have been fitted on the new Airbus A380, and are also standard equipment on all next-generation Boeing 787 aeroplanes. The Tokyo Plant will produce and supply tyres for both of these aircraft.

In addition to the new tyres supplied by the Tokyo and Kurume facilities, Bridgestone supplies retread tyres and services through plants in North America, Europe, Asia and Japan. The Bridgestone group reports that it considers radial aircraft tyres as strategic products and will focus on ‘aggressively increasing its presence’ in this growing market and expand its business by leveraging the company’s competitive advantages.