Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations’s Wilson County, N.C., manufacturing plant has produced its 400 millionth tyre since its establishment in 1974.
The plant achieved this milestone just more than a year and a half after celebrating its 40-year anniversary in the Wilson community. The, which produces more than 32,000 passenger tyres each day, still has the first tyre it produced and will put it on display in the plant alongside the 400-millionth tyre.
“This is a very special occasion for all of us and a remarkable accomplishment,” said Michael Darr, plant manager of the Wilson facility. “This milestone speaks to the commitment, dedication and diligence of each and every one of our current and retired teammates who put their heart, soul and elbow grease into their work every day at this plant. Every one of them should be proud of their contributions to this impressive achievement.”
During the past 40 years, the Wilson plant has been at the forefront of tyre innovation. The Wilson plant manufactures seven rim sizes and, in 2006, was the first Bridgestone facility in the United States to produce run-flat tyres. These tyres originally were developed by the Bridgestone Technical Center in Japan and then re-developed for production in the Wilson plant by Bridgestone Americas’ Akron Technical Center engineers. Today, the plant is advancing the latest generation of Bridgestone DriveGuard run-flat tyres.