Bridgestone increases large earthmover tyre capacity

Tokyo--Bridgestone Corp. has announced that it will expand production capacity for large and ultralarge radial tyres for mining and construction equipment and other off-the-road equipment. This move is in response to growing global demand for those tyres, according to the announcement. It becomes part of a sweeping capital spending program that the Bridgestone Group is undertaking worldwide.

The capacity increase in off-the-road tyres will center on expanding tyre-production capacity at Bridgestone's Shimonoseki Plant about 20 percent by the beginning of 2008. It will also include expanding production capacity for steel cord about 5 percent at the company's Saga Plant and for off-the-road tyre parts at the Hofu Plant. Bridgestone reports that it has earmarked ¥17 000 million for investment in the expansion work at those three plants.