AIKEN, SC. -- Ever stop and think about what goes into making a tire? They require nothing more than some rubber, whatever belts are needed and some air – right? However, if it were that simple, Bridgestone would not have seven different plants across North America, technical centers, test facilities, and millions upon millions of square footage dedicated to rubber donuts.
In 15 years, Bridgestone has invested nearly $2.5 billion in South Carolina alone. The initial ground breaking for the passenger and light truck tire plant (PSR/LTR) took place in August of 1997. Today, this nearly 1,000-employee facility turns out 25,200 tires a day in sizes from 15” to 20”.
Of all the tires Bridgestone assembles at the PSR, 35% make their way to retailers such as Costco or a Bridgestone dealer, while the other 65% find themselves as original equipment on brand new Hyundai, Toyota, GM and Ford cars. The end users are you and I, and Bridgestone refers to us as the boss. A novel idea. In the end, we are the ones buying the tires or the cars with the tires on them.
Each tire is the direct result of a combination of between 20 and 25 different compounds mixed in 4,000 hp mixers, followed by more than a dozen steps including a 10- to 26-minute curing period. It’s all very impressive, including the fact that all tires go through manual inspections before they are stacked and delivered. Knowing full well that not all is perfect, Bridgestone admits that 1% of all the tires they produce don't pass the verification stage.
This is a story unto itself, but the reason Bridgestone brought us to Aiken was to tell us about the expansion currently taking place at the PSR plant. Work began a year ago and should be completed by early 2016.
At that time, tire production will rise to 37,750 units per day, and 1,295 people will be employed at the facility which is LEED certified.
What impresses the most, possibly after the near 450,000 tires they currently have in storage (they can hold up to 650,000), is the fact that Bridgestone is putting people and the environment first.
This giant multinational company regularly contributes to the community through local sponsorships of events such as the Special Olympics and Relay for Life. They also award scholarships and allow groups to tour their facilities. In fact, they extend invitations to local students to tour the plants in the hopes of inspiring them and possibly getting them to work for the company one day.
The same can be said about inviting a number of journalists to tour their Aiken plants. They want to put out a message that they are more than just a tire company. They want to demonstrate that they are working to improve the environments in which they work. By having us on hand, we become part of the process as opposed to simply reporting on the final product. Another novel idea.
I must admit that this is a new situation for me. Having spent time in Akron, OH and now, Aiken, SC, I get the sense that Bridgestone may be a company to emulate. Here, sustainability, a balance with nature, and general well being are all important elements that, inevitably, lead to a prosperous business where everybody wins.
In 15 years, Bridgestone has invested nearly $2.5 billion in South Carolina alone. The initial ground breaking for the passenger and light truck tire plant (PSR/LTR) took place in August of 1997. Today, this nearly 1,000-employee facility turns out 25,200 tires a day in sizes from 15” to 20”.
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| Photo: Bridgestone |
Of all the tires Bridgestone assembles at the PSR, 35% make their way to retailers such as Costco or a Bridgestone dealer, while the other 65% find themselves as original equipment on brand new Hyundai, Toyota, GM and Ford cars. The end users are you and I, and Bridgestone refers to us as the boss. A novel idea. In the end, we are the ones buying the tires or the cars with the tires on them.
Each tire is the direct result of a combination of between 20 and 25 different compounds mixed in 4,000 hp mixers, followed by more than a dozen steps including a 10- to 26-minute curing period. It’s all very impressive, including the fact that all tires go through manual inspections before they are stacked and delivered. Knowing full well that not all is perfect, Bridgestone admits that 1% of all the tires they produce don't pass the verification stage.
This is a story unto itself, but the reason Bridgestone brought us to Aiken was to tell us about the expansion currently taking place at the PSR plant. Work began a year ago and should be completed by early 2016.
At that time, tire production will rise to 37,750 units per day, and 1,295 people will be employed at the facility which is LEED certified.
 |
| Photo: Bridgestone |
What impresses the most, possibly after the near 450,000 tires they currently have in storage (they can hold up to 650,000), is the fact that Bridgestone is putting people and the environment first.
This giant multinational company regularly contributes to the community through local sponsorships of events such as the Special Olympics and Relay for Life. They also award scholarships and allow groups to tour their facilities. In fact, they extend invitations to local students to tour the plants in the hopes of inspiring them and possibly getting them to work for the company one day.
The same can be said about inviting a number of journalists to tour their Aiken plants. They want to put out a message that they are more than just a tire company. They want to demonstrate that they are working to improve the environments in which they work. By having us on hand, we become part of the process as opposed to simply reporting on the final product. Another novel idea.
I must admit that this is a new situation for me. Having spent time in Akron, OH and now, Aiken, SC, I get the sense that Bridgestone may be a company to emulate. Here, sustainability, a balance with nature, and general well being are all important elements that, inevitably, lead to a prosperous business where everybody wins.
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