Bridgestone 2008 Annual Report Download - page 38

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D)
The Bridgestone Group mission of “Serving society with superior
quality” mandates an unending quest to create higher-value-added
products worldwide to fulll diverse social requirements and
market needs. The Bridgestone Group conducts R&D activities
with the objective of establishing a business model that promotes
strong global competitiveness, which in turn facilitates precise
responses to a business environment undergoing major structural
change. A key challenge is to stay at the forefront of technology
in each business domain in order to achieve the goals of the MTP
announced in October 2007. From the development of new
materials, products, and service technologies to future-focused
fundamental and production technologies, the Bridgestone Group
advances R&D efforts in diverse and far-reaching elds. Activities
also focus on contributing to development in the “package
solutions business” from a technological standpoint in order to
provide more than products alone.
TIRES
R&D programs in the tire segment share the fundamental aim
of creating tires that deliver ever higher added value. Besides
seeking performance gains such as increased grip or durability,
the Bridgestone Group also strives to develop tires that continue
to enhance driver safety and provide more comfort. Reduced
environmental impact is another key goal. R&D activities aim to
further reinforce this domain as a core strategic product group
and business.
With regard to minimizing the environmental burden, the
Bridgestone Group strives to develop eco-friendly tires that fulll
voluntary standards in various areas, such as global warming,
resource conservation, using environment-friendly resources,
recycling, reducing noise, and enhancing safety. The Group’s
ECOPIA line of eco-friendly tires features reduced rolling resistance
balanced with other characteristics. This was achieved in part
through the use of NanoPro-Tech (Nanostructure-Oriented
Properties Control Technology), a proprietary materials
technology. In tires for passenger cars, we have launched the
ECOPIA EP100, and the ECOPIA EP25 has been selected as
original equipment for Toyota Motor Corporation’s iQ super-
compact car. In bus tires, meanwhile, we have launched the
ECOPIA R221 II. In the future, we will continue to aggressively
enhance our lineup of ECOPIA tires, pursue global development,
and promote their use as original equipment.
Furthermore, as a new business model utilizing retread tires, we
are developing Eco Value Pack, which contributes to environmental
conservation through reduced resource consumption, energy
usage, and CO2 emissions. By combining new and retread tires for
trucks and buses with tire maintenance that helps customers to
make the best use of those tires, we can achieve increases in total
tire life. A comprehensive range of high-quality products and
services enables us to simultaneously contribute to customer tire-
related cost management and environmental conservation. To
expand Eco Value Pack, we have drawn on the technical
capabilities of the former Bandag, Incorporated, which has been
acquired by the Group. In Japan, we have launched the rst
Bandag Retread Factory, which offers integrated manufacturing,
sales, and service for retreads at locations near the customer.
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