News - 2013

Bridgestone to Realign Steel Cord Manufacturing in Japan

2013/10/17

Tokyo (October 17, 2013) - Bridgestone Corporation announced today that, in order to strengthen global competitiveness, it will realign the company's steel cord manufacturing sites in Japan.

The details of the realignment are as follows:

1．Domestic Japanese steel cord production sites will be consolidated into the Saga Plant
The Bridgestone Group currently produces steel cord used in the manufacture of tires at two sites in Japan: the Kuroiso Plant and the Saga Plant. By consolidating the company's domestic steel cord production to the Saga Plant, Bridgestone will enhance production efficiencies and strengthen its global competitiveness.
Consolidation of two plants will begin immediately, and is expected to be completed in late September 2014.

2．Closure of the Kuroiso Plant
Upon completion of the Saga Plant consolidation, the Kuroiso Plant will be closed. Closure of the Kuroiso Plant is expected to occur in late September 2014.
Bridgestone has implemented a number of initiatives to help strengthen the competitiveness and overall profitability of the Kuroiso Plant. However, due to intense competition in the steel cord production industry and ongoing competitiveness issues at the plant, the decision was made to close the Kuroiso facility and consolidate production to the Saga Plant.

To meet the growing demand for tires and rubber products, the Bridgestone Group will continue to enhance its global product supply system so the group can respond rapidly to market demand trends and continue to supply our customers with high-quality products in a timely manner.

1. Location	: 800 Shimonakano Nasushiobara-shi Tochigi
2. Start of operation	: January 1971
3. Plant Representative	: Hiroto Tanaka
4. Number of employees	: 355 employees (planned for the end of December 2013)
5. Production capacity	: Steel cord: Approximately 135 tons per day / Approximately 47,000 tons per year Hose wire: Approximately 18 tons per day / Approximately 6,200 tons per year Bead wire: Approximately 85 tons per day / Approximately 29,000 tons per year (as of January 2013)
6. Site area	: Approximately 349,000m²

1. Location	: 2100 Kamimine-cho Tsutsumi Miyaki-gun Saga
2. Start of operation	: March 1982
3. Plant Representative	: Yasuyuki Tamura
4. Number of employees	: 539 employees (planned for the end of December 2013)
5. Production capacity	: Steel cord: Approximately 263 tons per day / Approximately 90,000 tons per year Cable bead wire: Approximately 2 tons per day / Approximately 700 tons per year (as of January 2013)
6. Site area	: Approximately 234,000m²

About Bridgestone Corporation:
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.