All through its practically century-long historical past, Bridgestone has grow to be one of the crucial recognizable names within the automotive business. It is without doubt one of the largest producers globally, but its distinctive origins and enterprise practices are hardly ever mentioned.
There’s a lot to debate in these particular classes, with their founding mission assertion being one of the crucial intriguing tidbits. Automotive fans would additionally possible be shocked to find that Bridgestone additionally manufactures animal prosthetics of their spare time. Between these examples and plenty of extra, there are a number of little-known information about Bridgestone which make the corporate’s historical past all of the extra fascinating.
1
The Bridgestone Identify Comes From Its Founder, Shojiro Ishibashi
The corporate was based in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi in Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The corporate’s title comes from a calque translation and transposition of Ishibashi’s final title, which interprets to “stone bridge.” They produced their first tire on April 9, 1930, with Ishibashi formally establishing the Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd. roughly one yr afterward March 1, 1931.
2
Bridgestone Particularly Averted International Manufacturing Know-how
Whereas Bridgestone’s attain and high quality are well-known and extremely regarded at present, this wasn’t at all times the case throughout the early days. Know-how, manufacturing, and gross sales had been three essential areas through which issues constantly arose, however enhancements made afterward resulted in a fast home and abroad growth. Nonetheless, these points had been theoretically avoidable if not for Ishibashi and co’s mission assertion early on.
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Ishibashi created his firm with a selected purpose: to forego dependence on European and North American expertise for tire manufacturing and use solely Japanese expertise. This was because of the younger, teenage Ishibashi’s formidable patriotic goals, with the official Bridgestone web site saying his dream was to “dedicate his life to contributing to the nation of Japan.” He was clearly an enormous JDM fan and would have liked ’90s Japanese automobiles.
3
Bridgestone Was Japan’s First Tire Firm
Talking of a younger Ishibashi, his firm was the primary home tire producer ever established in Japan. Ishibashi modified this through the use of capital from his rubber shoe enterprise and his creation of the “Jika-Tabi,” which had been socks with rubber soles used as work footwear, to create and fund Bridgestone. The corporate practically went bust 10 years after it was based due to WWII. Like each different nation concerned within the conflict, the federal government claimed the manufacturing of things associated to Japan’s conflict efforts. Bridgestone manufactured thousands and thousands of tires with out compensation, practically dragging the corporate beneath. Throughout the conflict, Bridgestone’s headquarters in Tokyo had been additionally destroyed.
4
Bridgestone’s Technological Improvements Proceed Right now And Go Past Tires
Whereas its origins and early mission assertion necessitated technological developments, Bridgestone nonetheless retains this modern and creative spirit at present. One thrilling space through which the corporate is concerned is robotics, the place they’re presently working to develop a Rubber Actuator made up of a rubber tube and a high-strength fiber sleeve surrounding it. The ultimate product is smooth to the contact however sturdy and able to gripping objects of all shapes, sizes, and densities.
The corporate’s work additionally extends into the civilian sector, comparable to their “PlusStop” bus cease curb system, which was created with the purpose of resulting in barrier-less bus boarding. This innovation goals to alleviate points curbs can create when boarding or exiting a bus for senior residents, individuals utilizing wheelchairs, or pushing strollers. 2019 noticed the expertise launched all through Japan with the intention to consider and enhance usability via sensible, real-world trials.
5
Bridgestone Owns A number of Totally different Tire Manufacturers
Over time and because the firm grew, Bridgestone additionally acquired a number of different notable competing manufacturers to raised cater to clients with particular wants in areas throughout the globe. The Bridgestone Group owns Firestone, Nokian, Lassa, Uniroyal, Dayton, Debica, Dunlop, Sava, Fuda, and Kelly. Most of those are manufacturers based in a special nation, with Bridgestone coming in as an investor. Debica was based and nonetheless operates in Poland, whereas Lassa operates in Turkey.
The completely different manufacturers additionally compete in varied segments. Dayton is Bridgestone’s finances model, whereas Dunlop is a extra high-end product fitted to automobiles just like the Nissan Z.
6
Bridgestone’s Improvements Improved Golf Balls
Simply 4 years after establishing themselves as Japan’s first home tire producer, the Bridgestone model and Ishibashi started manufacturing golf balls. Why golf balls? Because it seems, tire and golf ball manufacturing have quite a bit in widespread. Likewise, the improvements Ishibashi’s firm made in tire manufacturing additionally allowed it to enhance its balls.
Ishibashi’s ardour for the game is what first impressed him to start producing golf balls beneath the Bridgestone title. Practically a century later, the model remains to be closely revered within the recreation, with skilled gamers comparable to Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChamebeau utilizing Bridgestone gear and balls usually.
The Volkswagen Golf twentieth Anniversary R set the AWD sizzling hatch Nürburgring lap file in 2022, which is one other good tie-in to the game.
7
Bridgestone Is On the Forefront of Sustainability Practices
Bridgestone’s sustainability practices are finest exemplified by three particular areas of enterprise, the primary being the Ecopia model, which produces low-drag tires. All Ecopia tires are made with 5 % of the tread compound being made up of post-consumer recycled tires. Whereas a seemingly small proportion, the affect is bolstered by the sheer variety of tires offered beneath the Ecopia model.
The second of Bridgestone’s spectacular sustainability practices is analysis into various, renewable sources of pure rubber. Their web site particularly cites their analysis on the guayule shrub as having qualities nearly equivalent to rubber, making it a worthwhile supply for tire-grade rubber.
Bridgestone’s third and closing spectacular sustainability apply comes from their retreading efforts beneath the now-renamed Bandag model. After buying the Iowa-based model in 2006, the model focuses on truck tire retreading, having over 900 franchised sellers worldwide on the time. With the trucking business being a major contributor to international tire utilization, the corporate’s retreading efforts right here have a noticeable affect in consequence.
8
Bridgestone Makes Animal Prosthetics
Just a little-known foray from the corporate got here in 2003 after they entered the world of animal prosthetics. On the Ikinawa Churaumi Aquarium, a dolphin named Fuji was discovered to have a necrotic caudal fin, necessitating the elimination of 75% of it. This, sadly, made it inconceivable for Fuji to swim, prompting Bridgestone and the aquarium to group up and create an answer.
Collectively they developed the world’s first synthetic dolphin caudal fin, with the ultimate product ultimately being a large success, permitting Fuji to swim once more. Bridgestone repeated the feat once more in 2010, putting in the prosthetic on a Pacific white-sided dolphin named Lanan, housed on the Notojima Aquarium.
9
Bridgestone Was Concerned In One Of F1’s Largest Scandals
The 2005 US Grand Prix was one of many worst sporting occasions ever. It was staged on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the groups found that the Michelin tires couldn’t stand up to the forces at Flip 13. In keeping with Michelin, the tires would solely final for 10 laps, and it could not assure the security of the racers. Michelin requested the FIA to put in a chicane, however the concept was shot down and rightfully so. Bridgestone despatched engineers to the observe nicely prematurely and made tires that might stand up to the g-forces.
Since security could not be assured, each group operating on Michelins needed to pull out of the race.
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Final weekend’s race was the second most-viewed US Grand Prix ever.
Consequently, solely three groups might race. Ferrari, Jordan, and Minardi had been the one groups to line up on the grid, and the race was received by the good Michael Schumacher (his solely win of the season). Not that he had any competitors, as Jordan and Minardi had been midfield groups. In truth, the one factors the 2 backmarker groups scored that season had been from that one race the place the best you would end was sixth. All you needed to do was cross the end line. Regardless of having to sit down out the race, Fernando Alonso nonetheless received the motive force’s championship that yr.
The reputational injury executed within the USA was large, nevertheless. Individuals solely forgave F1 within the post-Drive To Survive period.
10
Bridgestone Is Growing Airless Passenger Tires
Additional proving Bridgestone’s dedication to analysis and growth practices is the work it is presently doing with airless tires. In keeping with the producer, the expertise will help cut back CO2 emissions within the manufacturing course of through the simplification of the construction of the tire. The airless tires’ design helps reduce the vitality loss which creates these extreme CO2 emissions within the manufacturing course of.