Bridgestone Corporation has invested ¥25bn (US$170m) to upgrade its Kitakyushu Plant in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, focusing on the production of off-the-road (OTR) tires for mining and construction vehicles.
The Kitakyushu plant, a production site for Bridgestone’s OTR tires, including the Mastercore series, will receive equipment upgrades. These upgrades – part of Bridgestone’s Mid Term Business Plan (2024-2026) – are designed to improve safety, disaster prevention, environmental friendliness, quality and productivity, according to the company.
The company says it also plans to expand its mining solutions to maximize productivity by integrating physical capabilities with digital technologies, such as AI-driven tire and vehicle data analytics. This approach is supported by field engineering services and a global service solution network that aids tire maintenance and optimal use at mining sites.
Recently, Bridgestone introduced a new mining service that aims to improve tire maintenance timing and vehicle operation routes using AI-based tire durability prediction models, which debuted at the Spence copper mine in Chile.
Operational since June 2009, the Kitakyushu Plant reportedly produces 170 tons of OTR radial tires per day for mining and construction vehicles.
