Bridgestone to grow PCR capacity in China

In order to meet growing medium to long-term demand for passenger car radials, Bridgestone intends to increase production capacity at two of its factories in China. The Japanese company will invest a total of around RMB 1,617 million (£153 million) to lift capacity at its Tianjin, Bridgestone (Tianjin) Tire Co., Ltd and Bridgestone (Wuxi) Tire Co., Ltd facilities. The part of this additional capacity is expected to be available in May 2012 when a further 4,100 tyres per day capacity will be added to capacity at the Wuxi plant; this increase will be funded through a RMB 563 million investment and give the facility a total daily capacity of 16,300 tyres. Extra capacity at the Tianjin plant is expected to be available as of July 2012; the RMB 1,054 investment there will lift the factory’s production capacity by 8,800 tyres a day to a total of 25,300 per day. Bridgestone says it intends to particularly focus upon increasing production capacity for ‘eco-friendly’ tyres, such as its Ecopia range, at both facilities. It will also begin winter tyre production at the Tianjin plant.

Along with this project to meet increasing demand for passenger car radials in China, Bridgestone intends to develop systems to enhance its “speed to market”, thereby improving its ability to quickly meet the product needs of its Chinese market customers.