Bridgestone consolidating manufacture of rubber products at Japan plant

Tokyo – Bridgestone Corp. is restructuring the manufacturing of some rubber products in line with its mid-term business plan which aims to streamline operations and reform global cost-structure.

As part of the move the production of precision components for office equipment will be discontinued at its diversified products plant in Iwata, Japan, Bridgestone told ERJ 2 Aug.

The production of the goods will be shifted to Bridgestone companies in China and the Philippines in the second half of 2023, said the group in a written statement.

As of July 2021, the operation has 198 employees.

Meanwhile, the production of anti-vibration rubber will continue at the plant, but the management of the operation will be transferred from Bridgestone Corp. to subsidiary Bridgestone Elastech Co. Ltd from January 2022.

This business currently employs 158 people at the factory.

The Iwata factory will also start producing fittings for piping systems in the second half of 2022.

The operation is being transferred from Japan-based subsidiary Bridgestone Flowtech Corp. and the Philippines-based subsidiary BPMP. 

Bridgestone said the consolidation of manufacturing plants for each product will contribute to the improvement of competitiveness and will reinforce the business structure of each product.

The Japanese group said it expects all of the employees of Iwata Plant, who are “highly skilled and experienced”, to continue to work at Bridgestone following the restructuring.