The world’s biggest tire maker will invest another $550 million to expand and upgrade its truck and bus radial tire plant in Morrison, Tennessee, to begin making tires equipped with radio frequency identification tags.
Bridgestone Americas officials announced the 850,000-square-foot expansion Thursday, promising to add 380 more jobs at its Warren County facility to boost the plant’s staff to 1,400 workers. Nationwide, Japan-based Bridgestone has nearly 10,000 workers in its U.S. manufacturing facilities.
“Our production and manufacturing capabilities continue to evolve with our products to meet the needs of our customers,” Scott Damon, chief operating officer of Bridgestone Americas, said in a statement. “This investment will further improve the plant’s global competitive position and secure our future growth.”
Once completed by spring 2024, the plant addition will allow Bridgestone to incorporate technology for digital readiness in tires, including the integration of tire-mounted sensors that support advanced, data-driven insights for more efficient fleet management. Bridgestone will also invest in artificial intelligence control technology that increases productivity and the application of knowledge and data in a digital manufacturing environment.
Bridgestone said the new technologies are part of the company’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
“With new investment and new jobs, we are moving our Warren County plant forward, driven by growing demand for our products, our commitment to investing in U.S. manufacturing and our Warren County team’s dedication to innovation, efficient and quality for our customers,” Paolo Ferrari, president and CEO of Bridgestone Americas, said in an announcement of the plant addition.
Work on the plant addition is expected to begin before the end of the year, with construction expected to be substantially completed by May 2024.
Once finished, the facility’s footprint will grow from 1.97 million square feet to 2.8 million square feet.
“Bridgestone’s expansion in Morrison is a great example of Tennessee’s economic vitality and our ability to attract new investment across a broad range of industries,” Gov. Bill Lee said in a statement Thursday.
– Compiled by Dave Flessner