Bridgestone Begins Work on New Biorubber Research Center
Bridgestone America has broken ground on its Biorubber Process Research Center in Mesa, Ariz., to investigate the use of the guayule plant as an alternative natural rubber source.
by Staff
May 9, 2013
The Guayule is a perennial shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico that produces natural rubber in its bark and roots.
1 min to read
Bridgestone America has broken ground on its Biorubber Process Research Center in Mesa, Ariz., to investigate the use of the guayule plant as an alternative natural rubber source.
Once completed, the center will be home to a staff of 40 researchers and technicians. The 10-acre site will include an 8,400-square-foot office/lab building, a four-platform, 3,500-square-foot shrub prep building and a 3,100-square-foot mechanical and electrical building. The first rubber samples for tire evaluations are expected in mid-2015.
Ad Loading...
The Guayule is a perennial shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico that produces natural rubber in its bark and roots.
Guayule (pronounced why-u-lee) is a perennial shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The plant produces natural rubber in its bark and roots. Bridgestone says natural rubber from guayule has almost identical qualities to that harvested from the hevea tree, which currently is the primary source for the natural rubber used in tire production.
Tire makers are stepping up their research into natural rubber alternatives, due to increasingly high prices of it recent years, which has resulted in steep price hikes for all kinds of tires.
The companies also said they plan to coordinate deployment planning across priority freight corridors and define routes and operational design domains for U.S. commercial service while laying the groundwork for expansion into key European markets.
Previous Star Nation events have included driver challenges, exclusive access to Daimler Truck North America facilities and hands-on experiences with the latest Western Star X-Series lineup.
Safety, uptime, and insurance costs directly impact profitability. This eBook looks at how fleet software is evolving to deliver real ROI through proactive maintenance, AI-powered video telematics, and real-time driver coaching. Learn how fleets are reducing crashes, defending claims, and using integrated data to make smarter operational decisions.
Fleet software is getting more sophisticated and effective than ever, tying big data models together to transform maintenance, safety, and the value of your existing tech stack. Fleet technology upgrades are undoubtedly an investment, but updated technology can offer a much higher return. Read how upgrading your fleet technology can increase the return on your investment.
Freightliner’s fifth-generation Cascadia earned a 2025 Red Dot Design Award for its aerodynamic design and functional updates developed through close collaboration between designers and engineers.
