Manufacturer Bridgestone is set to invest US$60m to expand the Bridgestone Bandag manufacturing facility in Texas.
The investment will be used to expand the existing 200,000ft2 site by a further 50,000ft2 and will immediately increase the site’s operational activities by running on six and seven-day production schedules. New mixing operations will also be constructed as part of the expansion plans. Upon scheduled completion of the mixing operations in January 2025, the plant’s output will be increased by an estimated 16%.
The expansion at the Abilene plant will address the growing demand for Bridgestone tread rubber products, driven by the rapid growth of the company’s retread business.
Since 1957, Bandag has kept an estimated 300 million tires out of the waste system, helping to reduce material emissions and water and energy usage needed for tire production. The company’s retreading process has also saved four billion gallons of oil to date.
“Today we celebrate the growth and commitment of this plant and this community, with new investment and a physical expansion driven by growing demand for our products and, just as fundamentally, by this team’s commitment to delivering innovation and superior quality for our customers here and around the world,” said Barry Owens, senior vice president, Bridgestone Americas Manufacturing Group.
“Our company and our Abilene team have a vital role to play in the transformation of mobility brought forth by a desire of building greener retreads, while helping maximize fuel efficiency for fleets.”
