Bridgestone Corp. will expand production capacity of large OTR tires used in mining, construction and other applications in order to address surging demand.
Scheduled capacity increases include a 20% boost at Bridgestone's Shimonoseki, Japan, plant in 2008, plus a 5% increase at the company's steel cord plant in Saga, Japan, and an increase at its OTR tire parts facility in Hofu, Japan.
New construction at the plants will start during the second half of 2005, say Bridgestone officials. Products made at the factories will be shipped worldwide.
Demand for large OTR tires "is growing worldwide in step with expanded mining activity and management at Bridgestone expects that trend to continue."
