After much testing, Bridgestone Corp. has decided to deploy its BIRD (Bridgestone Innovation and Rational Development) automated tire production system at the company´s Hikone, Japan, plant, according to a report from Tyres & Accessories magazine.
The BIRD system is scheduled to start operating in January 2005.
Bridgestone has earmarked 26 billion yen for investment in the process at the Hikone facility. A new building will be constructed to house the technology.
Tyres & Accessories reports that Bridgestone is targeting BIRD production at 12,000 passenger tires a day by early 2007. The system had been tested under mass production conditions at a pilot installation.
