Bridgestone selects location for guayule research farm

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Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) has selected locations for a guayule research farm and an associated process research center. The company has acquired a 281-acre agricultural site in Eloy, Arizona, USA. The research farm will supply guayule for the company’s process research center that is planned for nearby Mesa, Arizona. Bridgestone Corporation will provide funding for the project.
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The research farm will include a multi-purpose office/laboratory building, greenhouses and a farming operation that is positioned to optimize guayule as a commercial crop that produces tire-grade rubber and complements the existing agricultural landscape. Groundbreaking is anticipated in the third quarter of 2012.
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The process research center, will be home to the process that converts the guayule shrub into tire-grade rubber. Groundbreaking for the center is planned to take place in early 2013. The facility is expected to be fully operational in 2014, with trial rubber production starting in 2015.
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Bill Niaura, director of new business development for Bridgestone Americas Inc. said, “This was an important step in the realization of our guayule research activities, and we are excited to have found a base of operations for our researchers. Every step we take brings us closer to our ultimate goal of developing new, domestic and sustainable sources for natural rubber; we look forward to breaking ground and getting started soon."