Japanese automotive parts maker Bridgestone Corp. is set to reorganize its manufacturing operations in Huanan, China, and establish a new plant in Mexico.

The plan is to strengthen its system for the production of polyurethane foam products for automobile seats in Southeast Asia and increase its ability to meet Mexico's growing domestic market demands.

Production at Mexico's new plant in Celaya City Guanajuato—the country's first—is due to start early in 2015.

Bridgestone announced its plan to invest $14.3 million in the facility in October and said it expects capacity to be 360,000 vehicle sets per year.

As part of the China initiative, Buji Plant of Bridgestone Ever Light Hong Kong will suspend its production of polyurethane foam products in the Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, in the first half of 2014.

The group also will shift the production of polyurethane foam products in Huanan, China, to its Bridgestone Diversified Products manufacturing facility in Kaiping, Guangdong Province.

Source: rubbernews.com