Bridgestone Americas Inc. (Bridgestone) will reopen its commercial tyre plants and diversified products plants in North America (NA) as early as April 13 while other manufacturing plants in NA and Latin America will reopen by the first week of May. Company officials revealed the plans to resume operations “reflects the performance trend in several key areas of its commercial and diversified products businesses not as severely affected by the current crisis.”
Bridgestone’s start-up plans will proceed in accordance to the latest safety protocol guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to ensure the health and safety of employees. Bridgestone will also continue to work closely with its customers and partners to ensure adequate supply of its products, while closely monitoring volatility in demand.
Bridgestone said it still has “sufficient supply of original equipment and consumer replacement product to meet customer demand, but continues to align supply to current market demand; their distribution centers, plant warehouses and logistics teams are continuing to fill orders.”
According to Paolo Ferrari, CEO and President, Bridgestone Americas, the leadership is mindful of the need for Bridgestone to do its part in providing critical products and services to operating businesses and agencies: “The start-up of our NA commercial tyre and diversified products operations will allow us to meet the increasing needs of businesses who are going above and beyond to provide essential services in our communities.”
Previously, Bridgestone Bandag’s retread rubber manufacturing plants in NA also resumed operations in the last week of March, due to demand by essential service providers.