Bridgestone claims new tire building system doubles productivity

TOKYO (Nov. 26)—Bridgestone Corp. has revealed a new, automated tire production system called BIRD—Bridgestone Innovative and Rational Development—that reportedly cuts energy consumption and floor space while doubling productivity. The system automates the entire sequence of processes in tire manufacturing, from the initial processing of materials to the final inspection of the finished tires, Bridgestone Vice President Isao Togashi said at a news conference in Tokyo. Bridgestone said it is the world's first production system for tires that extends automation to the inspection process. Bridgestone will refine the system under mass production conditions at a pilot installation in Japan and then will deploy the technology at new and existing plants worldwide, the company said in a statement. Management at the company will position the new system as a mainstay of Bridgestone Group manufacturing.