Bridgestone invests US$550 mn in TBR tyre plant expansion in US

Bridgestone invests US$550 mn in TBR tyre plant expansion in US

Bridgestone Americas has announced a major expansion and modernisation of its Warren County, Tennessee Truck and Bus Radial (TBR) tyre plant located in Morrison. The US$550 million investment will add 380 new jobs and expand the plant’s existing footprint by 850,000 sq ft to support increased capacity and to accelerate the use of advanced technologies that support cleaner, safer and more efficient commercial truck and bus fleets.

The addition of these new jobs reinforces Bridgestone’s commitment to American manufacturing, bringing the total number of the company’s manufacturing workforce in the U.S. to nearly 10,000. The investment will also allow for all tyres made in Warren to be equipped with RFID (radio frequency identification) tags that enable more efficient asset management and optimisation of fleets’ investments in tyres, including retreading. The plant will incorporate technology for digital readiness in tyres, including the integration of tyre-mounted sensors that support advanced, data-driven insights for more efficient fleet management. Bridgestone will also invest in AI control technology that increases productivity and the application of knowledge and data in a digital manufacturing environment. These technologies combined will help accelerate the company’s progress toward its sustainability goals, including carbon neutrality by 2050.

The expansion of the 32-year-old facility is expected to begin before the end of this year, with construction expected to be substantially completed by May 2024. Employment will grow from 1,100 to more than 1,400 teammates and the plant’s footprint will grow from 1.97 million to more than 2.8 million sq ft.

“With new investment and new jobs, we are moving our Warren County Plant forward, driven by growing demand for our products, our commitment to investing in US manufacturing, and our Warren team’s dedication to innovation, efficiency and quality for our customers. We appreciate the state of Tennessee and Warren County’s committed partnership, which we celebrate today as an essential element of this plant’s continued success,” said Paolo Ferrari, President/CEO, Bridgestone Americas. “Our Warren County Plant team plays a vital role in supporting our company’s commitment to providing safe and sustainable mobility solutions.”

“Bridgestone’s expansion in Morrison is a great example of Tennessee’s economic vitality and our ability to attract new investment across a broad range of industries. I am proud that Bridgestone’s talented workforce manufactures high quality products at its Warren County, Tennessee, facility that are used by consumers around the globe,” said Governor Bill Lee.

The Warren County Tyre Plant is one of the company’s most productive operations globally. The plant has a long history of outstanding performance and best practices in manufacturing. The facility shipped its 1 millionth tyre in 1993, only three years after it opened. That same year, the plant produced nearly 2,500 tyres/day. The plant produced its 70 millionth tyre in October 2021.

“Our production and manufacturing capabilities continue to evolve with our products to meet the needs of our customers,” said Scott Damon, chief operating officer, Bridgestone Americas. “We are proud of our team for their 32 years of manufacturing excellence in Warren County, and our continued success is a tribute to the Warren teammates who remain driven and committed to providing our customers with the best truck and bus tyres in the world. This investment will further improve the plant’s global competitive position and secure our future growth.”

In 2004, the plant became a certified wildlife habitat site with 680 acres devoted to providing natural areas and grasses. Community and environmental partnerships led to the creation of the Bridgestone Environmental Education Classroom and Habitat (BEECH), which now serves as an educational classroom for area students as part of Warren County Schools’ science curriculum. Since its inception, thousands of local students have visited the site to take environmental classes and experience educational nature trails.