Bridgestone resumes production at quake-hit plant

Kumamoto, Japan – Bridgestone has resumed production at its Kumamoto plant on Kyushu after a series of earthquakes hit the island earlier last week.

The facility mainly produces rubber track and industrial rubber hose.

“The plant halted its production when it was hit by the earthquake on 14 April, however it restarted production in the morning of 21 April,” confirmed Yoichiro Oda of Bridgestone Japan PR department in a written statement to ERJ.

The plant, said Oda, stopped production to ensure safety but damage there was “not so big, no buildings or equipment were destroyed”.

Oda did not disclose financial costs of the production halt and damages.

In terms of supply interruptions, Oda said, the plant had little problem as the inventory covered it.