Updated: Bridgestone investing over €200m in Spanish tire plant

Brussels – Bridgestone EMEA is to invest “up to €207 million” at its Burgos passenger car tire plant in Spain, the tire maker announced 1 March.

One of the group’s largest ever investments in Europe, the project is intended to "evolve" the manufacturing-mix at Burgos to higher-value tires.

Increasing output of high-rim-diameter (HRD) tires (18” and above), the investment – between now and 2030 – is also expected to raise productivity there by around 20%.

Already one of the group’s largest passenger car tire plants globally, Burgos will see a 75% increase in HRD tire capacity to over 7 million units/year, said Bridgestone.

In addition, the investment will see the 1320-employee facility become one of Bridgestone’s biggest producers of van tires in Europe, the statement added.

Productivity gains are to be delivered via: automation; increased vulcanisation capacity; and the creation of an automated warehouse to enhance production flexibility.

Introduction of Bridgestone 'communality modularity architecture' (BCMA) “will also improve efficiency and agility of production processes” at the site.

Regarding employment, Bridgestone informed ERJ associate publication Tire Business that "the automation will increase productivity, therefore, our employee numbers will remain flat."

The increase in manufacturing capacity will help Bridgestone Europe meet customers' demand for premium and high-tech tires, the group further stated.

Bridgestone added that its modernisation plans at Burgos will save 410 tonnes of CO2 per year compared to current levels – a reduction of about 2,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2030.

"We are moving into a new phase of European and global growth by combining innovation and sustainability at our Burgos facility,” said Emilio Tiberio, CTO of newly established Bridgestone West unit.

The investment is "aimed at strengthening our premium tire business by increasing our productivity, logistics autonomy and tire offering in high-value segments,” noted Tiberio.