BFS to cut back North American passenger, truck tyre production

Nashville, Tennessee -- Because of soft demand in the North American original equipment market and certain sectors of the replacement market, Bridgestone/Firestone (BFS) is reducing passenger, light truck and truck and bus tyre production in North America through the end of 2008, according to the company.

Affected BFS facilities include the plants in LaVergne and Warren County, Tennessee; Wilson, North Carolina; Aiken County, S.outh Carolina; and Joliette, Quebec, a company spokesman said. North American off-the-road and agricultural tyre production will not be affected, he added.

Production cutbacks will take different forms based on each plant's production schedules and could include reducing daily unit production, eliminating overtime, extending shutdown dates or shutting down a plant one day a week, according to the company.

“We are addressing production levels in such a way as to avoid layoffs while adhering to responsible inventory management practices,” BFS said in a prepared statement. The company said it will continue to evaluate the market and make production adjustments up or down as needed.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)