The Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC manufacturing facility in Wilson County, N.C. has produced its 400 millionth tire.
The passenger and light truck tire manufacturing plant achieved the milestone on Oct. 21, 2015. The plant produces 32,000 passenger tires a day and still has the first tire produced at the site. It soon will go on display next to the 400 millionth tire, the company says.
“This is a very special occasion for all of us and a remarkable accomplishment,” says Michael Darr, plant manager of the Wilson facility. “This milestone speaks to the commitment, dedication and diligence of each and every one of our current and retired teammates who put their heart, soul and elbow grease into their work every day at this plant. Every one of them should be proud of their contributions to this impressive achievement.”
The Wilson plant was established in 1974, and it currently manufactures seven rim sizes. In 2006 it became the first Bridgestone facility in the United States to produce run-flat tires. These tires originally were developed by the Bridgestone Technical Center in Japan and then re-developed for production in the Wilson plant by Bridgestone Americas’ Akron Technical Center engineers. Today, the plant is advancing the latest generation of Bridgestone DriveGuard run-flat tires.
The plant also has received numerous accolades in recent years for its community and environmental efforts, including earning certification earlier this year as a Rising Star facility from the North Carolina Department of Labor. The Rising Star Program is part of North Carolina’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Carolina Star Program, which is similar to the federal government’s OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).
With respect to its environmental efforts, the Bridgestone Wilson Plant received three Green Factory Environmental Achievement Recognitions at Honda’s 22nd annual Environmental, Safety and Ergonomics Symposium last year. In addition, it was the first tire plant to earn ISO 50001 certification, reach Superior Energy Performance (SEP) Mature Pathway certification and achieve Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) landfill waste diversion claim validation for Zero Waste to Landfill.
To learn more about Bridgestone, and the Wilson, N.C. plant, visit www.bridgestoneamericas.com.
