Bridgestone opens new US race tyre production site

An opening ceremony took place yesterday for Bridgestone’s new racing tyre manufacturing facility in the USA. The inauguration of the Advanced Tire Production Center (ATPC) in Akron, Ohio provides Bridgestone Americas with the means of enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of its race tyre production. Housing a team of 60, the US$21 million plant will manufacture all Firestone Firehawk race tyres for the NTT IndyCar Series.

The ATPC continues a legacy of tyre manufacturing in Akron that began with the founding of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in 1900, and is the first new tyre plant in Akron for more than 70 years. This home for Bridgestone’s race tyre production includes both new construction and the redevelopment of an existing structure.

Located across the street from the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center, one of three major R&D centres for Bridgestone globally, the 80,000 square-foot (74,300 square metre) ATPC features state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies to advance innovation in race tyres. It will also manufacture small batches of specialty, prototype tyres for testing and development purposes for both racing and on-road applications.

“The new ATPC is a reflection of both our proud history in Akron and racing while also exemplifying our company’s vision for sustainability in all aspects of our business,” says Paolo Ferrari, president and chief executive officer, Bridgestone Americas. “For more than a century, Akron has been where our most advanced tyres have been conceived, designed and built, and now we are furthering this legacy in a more sustainable production environment where the world’s best engineers, technicians and master tyre builders will shape the future of tyres and racing.”

Commitment to sustainability

Designed for more efficient and sustainable race tyre production, the ATPC uses 60 per cent less energy than the company’s previous race tyre manufacturing facility. Design and specification enhancements contributing to the increased efficiency include a more compact building footprint, insulated roofing, a more efficient boiler system, and high-mounted LED lighting throughout the plant. Additionally, Bridgestone has purchased carbon offsets to cover the balance of its energy use to achieve carbon neutral operations at the ATPC, supporting the company’s global goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Commitment to Akron

The ATPC is part of a series of investments Bridgestone is making in its Akron operations. In November 2021, the company announced a $6 million investment for the construction of a new test track adjacent to the ATPC to support passenger tyre testing and development. Bridgestone anticipates completing this track in autumn 2022. Bridgestone has invested more than $125 million in its Akron operations since 2012, when the company opened the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center.

To celebrate the company’s recent investments in Akron and the official opening of this premier production facility, Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan and other regional and state representatives joined Bridgestone leaders and employees at a grand opening event. Racing legend Mario Andretti, who started his career on Firestone tyres nearly 60 years ago, was also in attendance.

“I’d like to thank Bridgestone for their ongoing commitment to the city of Akron,” said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. “Akron’s history is undoubtedly intertwined with Bridgestone’s and I’m honoured to help open the new Advanced Tire Production Center here. I look forward to Bridgestone’s continued success in Akron.”

Commitment to motorsports

Each season, Bridgestone makes more than 25,000 Firestone Firehawk race tyres in Akron and supplies these to the NTT IndyCar Series. Part of Bridgestone since 1988, Firestone has been exclusive tyre supplier for the premier open-wheel racing series in North America for the past 23 seasons, and its history in racing dates back to winning the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911.

As further proof of its commitment to motorsports, Firestone has announced it will become the sole tyre supplier for the Indy Lights Series starting in 2023. The ATPC will manufacture all tyres for the Indy Lights Series.

The grand opening of the ATPC aligns with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, which expresses the company’s commitment to a more sustainable world through eight values that start with the letter ‘E’ – the commencement of operations at the ATPC aligns with the commitment’s ‘Emotion’ and ‘Energy’ values.