Work is underway on a $19.5-million expansion project at Bridgestone’s off-the-road tire (OTR) factory in Bloomington, Ill.
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“With increasing demand in the market, we are very excited about this expansion of our OTR tire production capacity in Bloomington,” said Ken Weaver, President, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales Division, Bridgestone Americas.
“This expansion will better position us to respond to changing market conditions and to support our customers’ growth strategies in markets around the world,” reports Ken Weaver, commercial tire division president. “At the same time, this new capacity will also allow us to be more responsive to the domestic market.”
Expected to be completed in mid-2013, new machinery will be among the key enhancements; the additional capacity will go primarily to the production of tires used in heavy industry. With a current employment roster of 420 people, the expansion is expected to result in at least 40 new jobs.
“This is great news for our teammates and community partners in Bloomington,” says plant manager Monty Greutman.
“An expansion of this size can be challenging and we are very grateful for the support we’ve received from the Economic Development Council of Bloomington-Normal for this project, which will create new jobs and provide an economic boost in our community,” he notes.
In addition to the project in Bloomington, the company is making $1.3 billion investment in tire plants in Aiken County, S.C.; Warren County, Tenn.; and Des Moines, Iowa; as well as an expansion by Bridgestone Americas’ parent company, Bridgestone Corp., at its steel cord plant in Clarksville, Tenn.
For more information, visit www.bridgestone-firestone.com.
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