United States. Bridgestone Americas recently celebrated the expansion of the company's Bridgestone Bandag LLC manufacturing facility in Abilene, Texas, with an official groundbreaking ceremony.
The 50,000-square-foot, $60 million expansion of the Abilene plant targets growing demand for the company's rubber tread products, driven by the rapid growth of its retreading business, according to the company.
The expansion includes an immediate increase in operational activity through six- and seven-day production schedules, as well as the construction of new mixing operations at the facility. Blending operations are expected to be complete and operational by January 2025.
The investment in the facility and additional days of operations increase the plant's output by 16 percent, reinforcing Bridgestone's commitment to sustainable solutions, the company said.
"Today is an important day for all of us at the Abilene Bandag plant and Bridgestone Americas as we begin this major expansion that will allow us to increase our production capabilities to meet the needs of our customers," said Abilene plant manager Billy Fralick.
"We would like to thank the Abilene community for their support over the past 52 years. We are excited to begin this next chapter in our plant's history."
Fralick was joined at the event by several Bridgestone leaders, including Chris Daniel, CEO of Bandag Manufacturing, and Jason Roanhouse, Vice President of Bandag North America Operations.
Also attending the event were Weldon Hurt, Mayor of Abilene; Misty Mayo, president and CEO of the Development Corporation of Abilene; and Shane Price, Abilene City Council member.
"Today we celebrate the growth and commitment of this plant and this community, with new investments and physical expansion driven by the growing demand for our products and, crucially, by this team's commitment to delivering innovation and superior quality to our customers here and there. around the world," said Bandag Manufacturing CEO Bridgestone Americas Chris Daniel.
"Our company and our Abilene team have a vital role to play in the mobility transformation that stems from the desire to build greener retreads, while helping to maximize fuel efficiency for fleets."
According to the company, retreaded tires not only provide fleets with an economic benefit, but are also an environmentally responsible way to extend tire life in any fleet.
Since 1957, Bandag has been responsible for keeping approximately 300 million tires out of the waste system, helping to reduce the material, water and energy emissions associated with producing a new tire. Bandag's retreading process has also saved 4 billion gallons of oil since it began 50 years ago, according to the company.
The Bandag plant in Abilene, which celebrated 50 years of operations in 2021, continues to be a fixture in the production of high-quality pre-cured truck treads, rubber cement and solvent packaging. Bridgestone's investment will build on the plant's existing 200,000-square-foot blueprint and provide the capacity needed for future production.
