Firestone sowing $77 million to upgrade Iowa agricultural tire plant
Bridgestone is investing $77 million over three years to expand production capacity at its Firestone farm tire factory in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ever since Harvey Firestone introduced the first pneumatic tire specifically for agricultural use in 1932, the company’s tires have been at the forefront of efficient crop production, according to Ken Allen, a Bridgestone divisional president.
“This investment will allow Firestone to maintain our market position, continue to develop advanced solutions and supply improved tire technology to the agricultural industry,” Allen says.
“The farming industry continues to move towards larger and more efficient farm equipment, but at the same time producers want to minimize ground compaction,” he explains. “To meet these needs, over the past 15 years the farm equipment industry has moved towards larger and wider radial tires that provide better traction and an increased tire footprint.”
The additional funds will be applied to improvements in the core manufacturing areas of tire building, curing and the necessary support equipment, says Allen, “and will allow the company to meet the farm equipment industry’s growing demand for high capacity radial farm tires both in North America and globally.”
He points out that “as farm equipment applications become more specialized, such as the self-propelled sprayer market, we will be in a position to provide tires that meet the unique demands of these applications.”
(Competitor Titan recently introduced a Goodyear-branded line of Ultra Sprayer tires engineered especially for high-clearance, self-propelled spraying equipment.)
An example of Firestone’s latest agricultural tire innovation is AD2 Technology, according to Allen. Compared to a standard tire of the same size, Allen says, these new editions “provide a larger footprint, improving traction and reducing compaction.” The engineering “allows producers to work more efficiently while at the same time improving yields.”
The Des Moines plant employs 1,400 people and has been an integral part of the community and Central Iowa since the mid-1940s, he reports.
For more information, visit www.firestoneag.com.
