NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Bridgestone Americas Inc. is planning to expand warehouse capacity at its passenger and light truck tire plants in Aiken County, S.C., and Wilson, N.C.
The expansion will enhance operational excellence and further increase the company's ability to serve North American tire dealers and customers, the company said.
Bridgestone is committing $34 million to expand the size of the warehouse adjoining the Aiken County plant by 53 percent to 784,000 square feet. A $38 million investment will increase the size of the Wilson warehouse to 753,000 square feet.
The expansions are expected to be online in 2020.
"These expansions will further strengthen our distribution footprint in the U.S. and improve our ability to get the right tires to the right place with speed and accuracy," Erik Seidel, president, consumer replacement tire sales, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, said.
"With their strategic locations and increased capability, the new warehouses will enable the company to reduce transportation costs and shorten time-to-market to meet customer demands across North America," said Brad Blizzard, executive director of logistics for Bridgestone Americas.
Bridgestone has operated the Aiken plant in Graniteville, S.C., since 1998, producing passenger and light truck tires for original equipment manufacturers and retail. Bridgestone also operates a second factory in Aiken County, the Aiken County Off Road Tire Plant in Trenton, S.C., producing large and ultra large off-the-road radial tires.
According to the company, the Wilson plant is the single largest industrial employer in Wilson County.