Bridgestone doubles investment in farm tyre expansion

ERJ staff report (TB)

Des Moines, Iowa - Bridgestone Americas Inc. is nearly doubling the size of an investment to expand capacity at its Des Moines agricultural tyre plant to $151 million through 2013.

The investment will be used to enhance the core manufacturing areas of tyre building, curing and support equipment, Bridgestone said, and will allow the company to meet the growing demand for Firestone-brand radial farm tyres both domestically and abroad.

The $74 million investment disclosed today complements $77 million the company committed in April 2010 and will allow Bridgestone to increase its market position and develop advanced solutions, said Ken Allen, president, agricultural tyre, US & Canada Commercial Tire Sales.

Bridgestone did not disclose specifics on the scale of the capacity expansion, saying only the farming industry is demanding larger and wider tyres that also minimise ground compaction for larger and more efficient farm equipment.

Plant capacity is listed at 12,100 units a day of farm, forestry and construction equipment tyres. Employment stands at 1,673.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of Harvey Firestone's introduction of pneumatic tyres for agricultural use.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)