THE LEADER FROM DAY ONE: A HISTORY OF INNOVATION

 

Firestone Industrial Products Company began in 1936, when Firestone Tire & Rubber Company purchased a plant in Noblesville, Indiana. Two years later, we designed and patented the first Pneumatic Suspension Device, better known as the Firestone Airide™ Air Spring. Since that time, we have led the market in innovation and expansion. Today, we manufacture 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 our 70-year-plus history.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 in China.
  • Delhi, India sales office opens.
  • The London sales office moves to Arnhem, The Netherlands. A 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.
  • Singapore distribution center 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.