Bridgestone expands OTR tire production with $12M infusion to Ill. plant

Updated Jul 23, 2018
Bridgestone Americas Aiken ORR opening
Once the tire is vulcanized during the curing process, it undergoes a physical inspection as well as x-ray and ultrasound tests before being sent to the customer.
Bridgestone has announced a $12 million expansion to its Bloomington facility, along with the addition of 30 employees to support additional OTR tire production.Bridgestone has announced a $12 million expansion to its Bloomington facility, along with the addition of 30 employees to support additional OTR tire production.

Bridgestone says its Bloomington, Illinois, tire plant will soon be expanded to support the manufacturing of more off-the-road tires for mining and construction.

The planned $12 million investment into the facility will add the production of multiple sizes and patters in 29-, 33- and 35-inch OTR tires, the company says, adding that these tires have until now only been manufactured by Bridgestone in Japan.

“The addition of the three tire sizes to the Bloomington production line combined with our Aiken County, South Carolina, Off Road Tire Plant, allows us to support North American customers with regional supply of our key products,” Bridgestone Americas president Bridget Neal said in a statement.

In addition to needed expansion of the Bloomington facility itself, Bridgestone’s investment will hire an additional 30 employees to support the expanded production.

“This investment is about increasing our flexibility to produce high-quality radial or bias tires – whatever our customers demand,” said Monty Greutman, the Bloomington plant manager.