Bridgestone expanding air suspension parts production

Nashville, Tennessee – Bridgestone Americas is expanding its air springs manufacturing plant in Williamsburg, Kentucky, the company announced 27 May.

The $51 million (€42 million) investment in the Firestone Industrial Products' (FSIP) plant is aimed to support demand in the automotive vehicle market with a focus on the electric vehicle (EV) sector. 

Bridgestone expects to break ground on the expansion in the second quarter of the year and complete the project by the end of 2022. 

The investment will see the addition of 68,000 square feet of manufacturing space to raise plant capacity, and will also include increasing the workforce at the factory by 250 employees.

The plant currently spans 375,000 square feet and employs 500 people. 

"With the increase in vehicle electrification, Firestone air suspension systems are in high demand among… original equipment manufacturers globally," said Emily Poladian, president, Firestone Industrial Products. 

According to the official, Firestone air suspensions are “optimally designed with electric vehicles in mind.”

“Compared to traditional coil spring suspensions, our air suspensions are designed to help improve the handling and comfort of heavier electric vehicles and can even help improve EV range by lowering the vehicle,” she said. 

In addition to Williamsburg plant, FSIP also operates another US factory in Dyersburg, Tennessee, where air springs are assembled. 

FSIP designs, tests, and manufactures air suspensions at its location in Williamsburg, Kentucky, as well as in Brazil, China, Costa Rica and its newly expanded facility in Poland.