An investment of approximately U$190m will be made by Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) to update and expand the company’s production facility in Belén de Heredia, Costa Rica, which manufactures tires for passenger vehicles, vans and trucks.
Facilities at the Belén de Heredia site will be expanded to increase production capacity by 36% by 2026. The expansion of the facility will also include the introduction of new machines and manufacturing technologies, in addition to two fuel-oil boilers being replaced with electrical alternatives for increased efficiency and zero emission operation.
The latest investment follows a previous U$60m investment which is planned between 2022 and 2026, bringing the total that Bridgestone is investing in the site to U$250m over a five-year period.
“This new capital investment represents an important step for Bridgestone’s tire production capacity, and it also reinforces our commitment to contributing to Costa Rica’s economic and social development,” said Alfonso Zendejas, president of Bridgestone Latin America North, Bridgestone Americas. “This investment strengthens Bridgestone’s commitment to Costa Rica as a strategic location for local and global business activities and further contributes to our ability to maximize value for all of our stakeholders.”
“With the expansion of the plant, we will be able to continue to meet the current and future needs of our customers, focusing on the production of premium tires for domestic and export markets and sustainable solutions with products that will be ready for the digital age,” explained Pablo Jiménez, manufacturing director of Bridgestone Costa Rica, Bridgestone Americas.
