Bridgestone to boost US production with $135M investment
A US$135 million investment being made in Bridgestone’s Aiken County factory in the US is expected to increase its output of passenger car and light truck tyres by an additional 4,750 units a day starting from the second quarter of 2013. Plans to expand the South Carolina-based plant were announced on July 20; along with increased output, the investment will create 122 new full-time and contractor positions and expand the main Aiken County plant and mixing buildings by 266,000 square feet (25,000 square metres).
“With demand steadily increasing over the last couple of years, now is the right time to increase capacity to meet the needs of our customers,” said Larry Magee, president, Consumer Tire U.S. & Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. “Aiken County is the right place to expand our manufacturing footprint, and we thank Governor Haley, Secretary Hitt and the Aiken County officials who worked nonstop to create a business environment that makes this expansion and the jobs it will create a reality.”
Site preparation and construction at Aiken County is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2011 and new manufacturing equipment will be installed in the third quarter of 2012. Construction is expected to be complete by the first quarter of 2013 with production commencing early in following quarter.
“Bridgestone Americas has given Aiken County and our state another reason to celebrate,” said South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. “Our administration is working tirelessly to make South Carolina’s business climate second to none and to ensure that companies like Bridgestone Americas understand there is no better place in our country to expand and create new jobs.”
Bobby Hitt, South Carolina’s Secretary of Commerce, added: “Bridgestone Americas has many choices where to invest and expand their business. Choosing South Carolina is a clear indication that the workers at Bridgestone Americas are world class. The quality workforce in our state is our greatest asset in recruiting new companies and making South Carolina the first choice for expansions.”
The Aiken County facility produced its first tyre in August 1998 and was producing 25,000 tyres a day within ten years. In 2009 the site earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification from the US Green Building Council. This certification recognises outstanding environmental building design and utilisation, and is rarely given to established manufacturing sites.
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