Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC, expanded its global air springs operations with the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Turrialba, Costa Rica.
The 123,785-square-foot facility manufactures Airide air springs and Marsh Mellow springs, used in vehicular and industrial applications.
“We continue to see opportunities in emerging markets to develop and grow our air springs business internationally,” said Mike Cerio, president of Firestone Industrial Products. “Our new facility in Costa Rica represents an excellent opportunity to better support these emerging international markets in a cost-effective manner.”
The new Firestone Industrial Products facility will provide more than 100 jobs to the area. The Costa Rican plant joins six other Firestone Industrial Products air spring manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the world.
Firestone Industrial Products de Costa Rica S.A. is the second Bridgestone Americas, Inc., plant to be established in Costa Rica. Since 1967, Bridgestone de Costa Rica, S.A., has manufactured passenger, light truck, truck and bus tires in La Ribera de Belen.
Airide air springs are designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of light-duty and heavy-duty vehicle suspension applications. The product line includes air helper springs and primary trailer, lift axle, drive axle, front axle, cab mount and seat air springs. Airide springs require little or no maintenance, increase driver comfort and provide outstanding cargo protection.
Marsh Mellow springs are fabric-reinforced rubber cylinders that are used in industrial applications and in construction vehicles, such as dump trucks. The springs offer a high load carrying capacity and are low-maintenance, durable, and corrosion-resistant.