About Firestone

The Leader from Day One

Firestone Industrial Products Company began in 1936, when Firestone Tire & Rubber Company purchased a plant in Noblesville, Indiana. Two years later, Firestone designed and patented the first Pneumatic Suspension Device, better known as the Firestone Airide™ Air Spring. Since that time, Firestone has led the market in innovation and expansion. Today, Firestone manufactures the world’s Number One air spring for light vehicles, buses, heavy-duty trucks and trailers, rail cars and industrial applications— with offices and manufacturing operations on four continents. Take a look at some of the most important innovations and developments from Firestone 70-year-plus history.

1950s & 1960s

• Air springs replace steel springs as OEM fitment on new buses
• 1X style springs with steel stamped pistons are sold for automotive applications
• The sealed 1T style air spring is brought to market
• Production begins on rail car air springs for trains

1970s

• Production of air springs for heavy-duty truck cabs and seats begins
• Product offerings expand with the purchase of Ride-Rite & air helper springs
  for light-duty vehicles
• Aftermarket product distribution begins
• Operations go international with the opening of a sales office in London
• The manufacturing plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil begins production
• The plastic piston is introduced to the market

1980s

• Firestone Industrial Products joins the Bridgestone family
• The ultrasonic internal height sensor is patented, adding to air spring safety
• The air spring for front air suspension is developed
• Manufacturing plants in Williamsburg, Kentucky and Dyersburg, Tennessee open

1990s

• The organization achieves ISO 9000 and QS 9000 certification
• DIVINE Technical report highlighting many benefits of air suspension
  was published (Dynamic Interaction Between Vehicles and Infrastructure Experiment)
• Firestone expands automotive air helper product line with Coil-Rite spring
  installed into the inner diameter of a coil spring

2000s

• The manufacturing plant in Wolsztyn, Poland opens and produces its first part
• World headquarters moves to Indianapolis, Indiana
• Beijing Firestone Air Spring, LLC starts assembly and manufacturing in China
• Gurgaon, India sales office opens
• Delhi, India sales office opens
• The London sales office moves to Arnhem, The Netherlands. A state of the art
  testing facility is built and the new facility opens as the European Business
  and Technical Center
• Firestone TVS, a joint venture between Firestone and Sundaram Industries, a member
  of the TVS Group, opens a manufacturing plant in Madurai, India
• The Costa Rica manufacturing plant opens
• Work-Rite & entry-level load management system
  is introduced to the light duty aftermarket
• Commercial production of rail springs commences at Madurai, India plant

A Better Way To Build The Best

Firestone Industrial Products doesn’t just build products. Firestone is a global entity with a responsibility to set the highest standards for the quality of Firestone products and the way brand build them. It’s a responsibility Firestone doesn’t take lightly.

Sustainability

As a global leader, Firestone Industrial Products realizes everything Firestone do has an impact on Firestone world. Firestone strives to be stewards of the environment and continue to update Firestone processes and materials to further reduce Firestone carbon footprint. Firestone efforts include the use of environmentally friendly metal coatings and recycling programs at Firestone manufacturing plants, as well as researching the use of recycled materials in Firestone products. Since 2002, we’ve initiated Six Sigma processes to improve quality and reduce waste.

Quality Certifications

Firestone continually strives to have the most efficient, highest performing and environmentally friendly facilities possible. Firestone offices and manufacturing facilities have undertaken stringent quality control certification programs including ISO 9001 and TS 16949 Quality Management System Standards, in addition to ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standards.

Community

Firestone Industrial Products is a part of Bridgestone Americas – committed to being a good corporate citizen nationally, regionally and in the communities where BSA has manufacturing plants, sales facilities or offices. Since 1952, the Bridgestone Trust Fund has supported charitable and philanthropic endeavors in three major categories: Civic and Community, Culture and the Arts, and Education, Health and Welfare. This annual, multi-million dollar effort has been great for Firestone corporation and the benefactors we’ve helped. Bridgestone Americas adheres to the Bridgestone Way, the global corporate philosophy to build not just better products, but better communities.

From a regional perspective, Firestone Industrial Products exemplifies its commitment with local support of several charities including: the United Way, the MS Walk, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF). Firestone is a proud supporter of the Indiana Blood Center where teammates are regular participants in donating blood. Firestone is also a proud supporter of the Indianapolis Zoo's Oceans exhibit. The Firestone Gallery features the shark touch pool, giving visitors the chance to touch sharks as they swim by.