Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations is commemorating 25 years of operations at its commercial truck and bus radial (TBR) tire manufacturing facility in Warren County, Tenn. The plant, which produced its first tire in May 1990, now provides work for more than 1,000 people and manufactures approximately 9,000 TBR tires each day.
Bridgestone called the plant one of it most productive operations.
“Our Warren County Tire Plant is a model of excellence,” says Gary Garfield, CEO and president of Bridgestone Americas Inc. “Strong businesses and great communities go hand-in-hand, and we are proud to celebrate this milestone with our teammates, friends, neighbors, customers and elected officials. Together, we have created a production facility that is making a positive and lasting impact on Warren County and delivers world-class tires.”
The Warren County Tire Plant has a long history of outstanding performance and best practices in manufacturing. The facility shipped its one millionth tire in 1993, only three years after it opened. That same year, the plant produced nearly 2,500 tires per day. Expansions and upgrades contributed to additional increases in production to reach the 9,000 tires it now produces daily.
The Warren County Tire Plant and its employees also embody the company’s corporate commitments to education and environmental conservation and preservation. In 2004, the plant became a certified wildlife habitat site with 680 acres devoted to providing natural areas and grasses. Community and environmental partnerships led to the creation of the Bridgestone Environmental Education Classroom and Habitat (BEECH), which now serves as an educational classroom for area students as part of Warren County Schools’ science curriculum. Since its inception, more than 12,000 area students have visited the site to experience classes and educational nature trails.
The Bridgestone facility in Warren County has earned numerous awards for its sustainability initiatives and workplace safety programs. The plant earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification in 2008, becoming the first tire plant in the world to do so. The Warren County Tire Plant also has been recognized as an OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star site. VPP status is awarded to companies that have comprehensive safety and health programs with injury rates below the industry’s national average.
Several events are planned to commemorate the plant’s 25th anniversary, including facility tours and thank you lunches for Bridgestone employees and retirees.
To learn more about commercial truck and bus tires from Bridgestone, visit www.BridgestoneTruckTires.com.
