More expansion at Bridgestone

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15 April 2008

Bridgestone has unveiled plans to build a new tyre factory in Japan to meet the growing global demand for tyres used on mining and construction equipment. According to Bridgestone, demand for tyres used by the construction and mining sector is expected to grow 40% by 2010.

The new YEN 28.5 billion (US$241 million) facility in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka will be the first new factory built in Japan by Bridgestone for more than 30 years. Construction of the new plant is expected to start in late 2007, with production scheduled to get underway in the second half of 2009.

The announcement of the new factory follows on from work to add extra capacity at Bridgestone's existing Shomonoseki plant, which is expected to come on line by the start of 2008. The Shomonoseki factory is currently the only factory within the Bridgestone group which is producing ultra large radial tyres for mining and construction equipment.

The company has also revealed plans to invest YEN 3.5 billion ($29.6 million) to expand its steel cord production capacity at its Saga factory in southern Japan.

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