Bridgestone to Expand Texas Manufacturing Plant

Bridgestone Americas is making an investment of $60 million to expand its Bridgestone Bandag manufacturing plant in Abilene, Texas, the company announced.

The 50,000-square-foot expansion of the Abilene plant, which is a supplier of retread tires for fleets, is aimed at the growing demand for the company’s tread rubber products, driven by the rapid growth of its retread business, the company said.

The expansion includes an immediate increase in operational activity by running on six and seven-day production schedules, as well as the construction of new mixing operations at the facility. The mixing operations are expected to be completed and in operation by January 2025, Bridgestone said. The investment in the facility and the additional days of operations increase the plant’s output by 16 percent.

“Today we celebrate the growth and commitment of this plant and this community, with new investment and a physical expansion driven by growing demand for our products and, just as fundamentally, by this team’s commitment to delivering innovation and superior quality for our customers here and around the world,” said Barry Owens, senior vice president, Bridgestone Americas Manufacturing Group. “Our company and our Abilene team have a vital role to play in the transformation of mobility brought forth by a desire of building greener retreads, while helping maximize fuel efficiency for fleets.”