Tire Technology International - March 2024 Issue
Production update
2024-04-06 08:57:56
BRIDGESTONE TO INVEST €207m IN BURGOS PLANT
A variety of enhancements will see the Spanish facility’s manufacturing mix shift toward high rim diameter tires
As part of Bridgestone’s plan to become carbon neutral (Scope 1 and Scope 2) by 2050, the tire maker will invest €207m (US$226m) in the Burgos passenger tire manufacturing facility in Spain. The investment will involve what Bridgestone describes as “technological innovation plans that will be delivered between now and 2030” and signifies a commitment to the production of high-value high rim diameter (HRD) tires (18in and above), with a productivity increase of approximately 20% compared with the current setup.
The technology transformation will focus on three areas: automation for higher productivity, increased vulcanization capacity and the creation of an automatic high bay warehouse to increase the stock of newly manufactured tires.
The Burgos facility, which has one of the largest production capacities for Bridgestone passenger car tires globally, will see a 75% increase in its HRD tire production capacity to more than seven million premium tires. In addition, the investment will see the Burgos plant become one of Bridgestone’s biggest producers of van tires in Europe.
“At Bridgestone, we are moving into a new phase of European and global growth by combining innovation and sustainability at our Burgos facility in Spain,” explained Emilio Tiberio, chief technology officer of Bridgestone West. “This multimillion-euro investment is aimed at strengthening our premium tire business by increasing our productivity, logistics autonomy and tire offering in the high-value segments. Furthermore, we are proud to contribute significantly to the economic development of Burgos, Castilla y León and Spain by continuing to strengthen our manufacturing and sustainable footprint in a strategic region for us at the European level.”
The manufacturing mix at Burgos will evolve from the traditional small, low rim diameter tires (LRD) toward the high-value larger ones. Thanks to the modernization, it is estimated that the Burgos plant will save 410 tons of CO2 per year compared with current levels. These savings will amount to around 2,000 tons of CO2 by 2030.
More than 20,000 solar panels were recently installed on the roof of the Burgos plant, with a total output of 9.2MW. Thanks to this installation, 10-14% of the electrical energy consumed by the plant is now directly sourced from the sun.
Continental installs new PV system in Timișoara
Continental recently installed a new photovoltaic system at its manufacturing facility in Timișoara, Romania, with other locations expected to follow in the coming months. The group has also chosen three production facilities worldwide as pilot projects to determine the best approach for carbon-neutral operations.
“Each of our production facilities faces its own specific challenges in reaching green operations by 2040 at the latest,” said Claus-Peter Spille, senior VP of operations at ContiTech. “With the pilot projects, we provide our locations with comprehensive guidance on how to implement systematic operational environmental management at their sites.”
Pirelli celebrates production milestone at Silao plant
February saw Pirelli reach a production milestone of 50 million tires at its plant in Silao, Mexico. The plant, which began construction in 2012, was built to serve the local and North American markets, with production focused on high-value products, including high-performance and ultra-high-performance tires for cars, EVs, SUVs and light trucks. Celebration of the milestone coincided with the inauguration of Pirelli Mexico’s first training center, which will enhance the development of specialized local talent. Dedicated to courses for the professional development of employees, the center will provide training in matters of safety, quality, productivity, technology and care for the environment.
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