Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (Bridgestone), a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company, announced its agriculture tire manufacturing plant in Des Moines is celebrating 75 years of operations this year. The Des Moines Ag Tire Plant began manufacturing tires in 1945 and continues to play a vital role in the local community today by employing more than 1,300 people, many of whom are fourth or fifth generation of their families to work in the plant.
Today the Des Moines Ag Tire Plant is the No. 1 agricultural tire facility in the country and produces agricultural, construction, forestry and off-the-road tires. The plant manufactures approximately 90% of all agricultural products that Firestone sells in the United States and Canada.
“The Des Moines Ag Tire Plant is part of the fabric of the Des Moines community and the Bridgestone manufacturing footprint. This is a historic milestone that we are proud to reach thanks to the dedication of so many who have invested in our plant – first and foremost, our employees and retirees, as well as the ongoing support of our customers and the local community and state of Iowa,” said Greg Halford, Des Moines plant manager, Bridgestone Americas. “We remain committed to delivering world-class Firestone Ag tires to our customers and working together to feed the world."
Over the years, the Des Moines Ag Tire Plant has been recognized for numerous awards for its dedication to superior quality, performance and safety. It was the first U.S. tire manufacturing facility to receive recognition from the Iowa Quality Center’s State Recognition of Performance Excellence program. It has also been the first and only business recipient with manufacturing operations in Iowa and tire manufacturer to be recognized for a Gold Level Malcom Baldrige certification award which it achieved in 2016. In 2019, the plant achieved the highest level in the Caterpillar Supplier Quality Excellence Process Certification – Platinum Level - for a third consecutive year and has also earned recognition as a “partner-level supplier” in John Deere’s Achieving Excellence Program.
Year over year, the Des Moines Ag Tire Plant team demonstrates the Bridgestone global corporate social responsibility commitment Our Way to Serve. through partnerships and community volunteer projects with the United Way of Central Iowa, Science Center of Iowa, Special Olympics of Iowa and Puppy Jake Foundation.
“I want to thank our Des Moines teammates past and present for their contributions to the ag industry over the past 75 years,” said Tony Orlando, president, Firestone Ag. “Farmers around the world depend on Firestone Ag tires to get the job done. This is a testament to the tradition of quality and excellence in manufacturing that continues to guide operations at our Des Moines tire plant today.”
