Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (Bridgestone) celebrated the expansion of the company's passenger tire manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina, with an official groundbreaking ceremony recently.

The five-year, $164 million investment to expand the 42-year-old, nationally recognized facility, which is one of the company's most environmentally sustainable plants, will improve the plant's global competitive position by installing leading edge technology, expanding production capacity and lowering costs.

"Today is a momentous day for all of us at the Wilson plant and across Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, as we break ground on this important expansion that will allow us to grow our production and manufacturing capabilities to meet the changing needs of our customers," said Michael Darr, Plant Manager, Wilson Plant. "We'd like to thank the Wilson community for its support over the last 42 years, and we're excited to begin this next chapter in our plant's history."

Darr was joined at the event by several Bridgestone leaders, including Christine Karbowiak, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Risk Officer and Executive Vice President, Bridgestone Americas, Inc.; Barry Owens, Vice President, Manufacturing; TJ Higgins, President, Integrated Consumer Tire Division, U.S.  & Canada; and Mike Martini, President, Original Equipment, U.S. and Canada Consumer Tire Sales Division. Also in attendance at the event were North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and City of Wilson Mayor C. Bruce Rose.

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