Bridgestone Americas plans to make an additional investment of $27.3 million for a second expansion project at its off-the-road plant in Bloomington, Ill. The announcement follows news in April of a $19.5 million investment in the plant to increase production of tires used in heavy industry. Most of that first investment will go toward new machinery.
Most of this second investment will go toward new machinery for the production of giant loader tires. The Bloomington plant currently specializes in giant loader tire bias production. Bridgestone anticipates the expansion will create about 47 new jobs.
“The strong demand for giant loader tires is currently exceeding supply,” says Ken Weaver, president of Bridgestone’s U.S. and Canada Commercial Tire Sales Division.
