Bridgestone to build carbon black plant

TOKYO (March 7)—Bridgestone Corp. will build a carbon black plant in Rayong, Thailand, in the coming 18 months as part of its strategy to increase self-sufficiency in key raw materials. Bridgestone said it will invest approximately $40 million to build the factory, rated at 40,000 metric tons a year. The facility will operate as Bridgestone Carbon Black (Thailand) Co. Ltd. and derive technology from Japan's Asahi Carbon Co. Ltd., in which Bridgestone has had a controlling interest since 1998. The new plant marks a stepped-up commitment to vertically integrated tire development and production.ö Bridgestone said.