Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC Breaks Ground On World-Class Technical Center$100 million state-of-the-art facility to be built in company’s birthplace
AKRON, Ohio (Feb. 18, 2010) - Almost 110 years ago, Harvey S. Firestone founded The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. Today, the Akron community celebrated a new chapter in the legendary Firestone legacy: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (BATO) broke ground on the company’s $100 million state-of-the-art Technical Center. The investment will keep hundreds of jobs in the community.
“From the first non-skid tread to the Firestone balloon tire, some of the world’s most creative, innovative concepts in the tire industry have come from behind these doors and down the street at our Technical Center,” said Mark A. Emkes, Chairman, CEO and President, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM), BATO’s parent company, during a ceremony at the Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology. “There is no better place to continue our proud tradition of innovation than right here in Akron.”
Emkes helped to break ground on the new Technical Center in front of the legendary Harvey Firestone Memorial Statue. He was joined by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland; Ohio Lt. Governor Lee Fisher; U.S. Representatives Betty Sutton and Tim Ryan of Ohio; Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic; Summit County Executive Russ Pry; Asahiko Nishiyama, Chairman, CEO and President, BATO; Yasutaka Enoki, Executive Vice President, Research and Development, BATO; Bob Handlos, Vice President of Product Development, BATO; and Christine Karbowiak, Executive Vice President of Community and Corporate Relations, BSAM.
“Bridgestone Americas is an iconic Ohio company that helped shape Akron’s history of innovation and manufacturing and will be a vital partner in strengthening Northeast Ohio’s economic future,” Strickland said. “I believe in Ohio because of great companies like Bridgestone Americas that are innovating and creating jobs while demonstrating pride and passion for their work and their community.”
In July 2008 the company announced it would build the center in Akron during a celebration of the 1988 alliance of The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company with Bridgestone Corporation that transformed the companies’ combined operations into the world’s largest tire and rubber company. The decision to construct the facility in Akron was made after receiving commitments of support from the state of Ohio, Summit County, the Summit County Port Authority and the city of Akron. The new facility is expected to be complete at the end of 2011.
“Everyone here today shares a common bond; we all care about the city of Akron,” said Handlos. “Today, we break ground on a firstclass facility that will be home to the next generation of innovation. Around the world, people will ride on tires that were designed and engineered right here by our teammates in Akron, Ohio.”
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.
About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations, the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses and the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.