Bridgestone makes major investment in Illinois plant

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire is making a significant financial investment in its Bloomington, Ill., Off Road Tire plant that will allow the plant to produce new off road tire sizes and double the facility’s giant loader tire curing capacity. The investment will result in the addition of new jobs at the facility.

Total capital expenditure is expected to be a minimum of $12 million over the next five years. The facility will also hire nearly 50 teammates in 2008.

“As we have stated many times, we will continue to invest in our key facilities where there is stability, high productivity and an opportunity to make a reasonable return on investment,” said Shawn Rasey, vice president, Bridgestone Firestone Off Road Tire Company, a division of BFNT. “The Bloomington plant is playing an important role in helping the company serve the needs of our customers who demand world-class heavy-duty tires.”

The global demand for off road tires remains strong. This new investment ensures that BFNT customers will continue to receive the products they need to maintain their success in the global marketplace.

“We are expanding our capacity to meet our customers’ requirements now and in the future,” Rasey said. “With the strong global demand for off road tires, it’s clear that our customers can rely on our proven technology and products for all of their needs.”

Hourly teammates at the Bloomington, Ill., facility recently approved a labor contract extension through 2012. The agreement between BFNT and Local 787 of the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW) covers 300 teammates at the plant, which makes large heavy-duty off road tires for construction and mining applications. Under the agreement, Bloomington teammates will receive the same wage and benefit provisions contained in a separate “master” contract between the USW and the company covering other BFNT locations and have agreed to a no-strike clause during the entire term of the extension.

Bridgestone Firestone operates under four separate union contracts. The master contract covers tire production facilities in Akron, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; LaVergne, Tenn.; as well as union teammates at the Firestone tube plant in Russellville, Ark., and the Firestone air spring plant in Noblesville, Ind. The master contract expires in July of 2009. The company also has separate union contracts with plant teammates in Warren County, Tenn.; maintenance teammates in LaVergne, Tenn.; and the Bloomington, Ill., contract, which is the subject of this extension agreement.

The new investment to bring in curing presses that will double the plant’s giant tire loader capacity has already begun and the project is expected to be completed this year. Additional projects that will allow the plant to produce new sizes and types of off road tires are currently under review and those details are expected to be finalized in the near future.

“We’re very excited about this investment in our facility and our ability to better serve the needs of our customers,” said Greg Halford, Bloomington plant manager. “Our team is dedicated to building world-class tires and this will certainly help us compete and win in a fiercely competitive global marketplace.”

About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America.

About Bridgestone Firestone Off Road Tire Company
Bridgestone Firestone Off Road Tire Company (BFOR), a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, manufactures, markets and sells off the road (OTR) tires used in heavy duty applications for construction, mining, aggregates and industrial operations. Today, BFOR is a significant supplier to most original equipment manufacturers as well as most major global mining and construction companies, supplying nearly 40 percent of the domestic replacement and original equipment markets. BFOR offers the industry’s most comprehensive selection of radial and bias OTR products; a dedicated sales and engineering staff; sales and distribution through 1,000 dealers as well as the company’s commercial outlets; and the proprietary software, TreadStat Tire and Rim Management System.