Thai Retread Plant to Boost Bridgestone’s Asian Activities

Asian markets hold great potential for retreaders. To boost sales within this region and develop its solutions business in Japan, Asia and China, Bridgestone is investing some 5.2 billion yen (£34.7 million) in building a new precure retreading plant in Thailand. Construction at the 43,600 square metre site, located approximately 60 kilometres southeast of Bangkok, begins in July 2009 and the facility is scheduled to enter service in November 2010. The plant will employ around 100 staff when production commences and by the second half of 2013 capacity is anticipated to reach 30 tons per day.

Bridgestone retreads are widely used on commercial vehicles, aircraft, and construction and mining vehicles. While the retread business is mature in both Europe and the United States, Bridgestone states it has positioned Japan, Asia, and China as growth markets. In Japan, it has been developing its Eco Value Pack business and expanding its solutions business, which supports customers as they implement their environmental management activities and work to reduce their total tyre-related costs. In addition, the company has been further expanding its network of Bandag franchises in Asia and China, and the establishment of this new plant will give Bridgestone a retread materials production base that enables further development of its retread and solutions business in each of these markets.