INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (May 13, 2008) – Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC (FSIP), has announced it will open a new air spring manufacturing plant in Turrialba, Costa Rica. The facility, to be located between San Jose and the port of Limon, is expected to initially employ approximately 100 people.

As the emerging markets for air springs develop and grow internationally, Firestone continues to expand its global footprint,” said Mike Cerio, President, FSIP. “Costa Rica represents a new opportunity to better support these emerging international markets in a cost-effective manner.”

The company has signed a lease on the former Conair facility in Turrialba, and will initially occupy 11,500 square meters to manufacture air springs and Marsh MellowsTM springs. FSIP is currently awaiting government approval on the necessary permits it has filed in support of this new location.

Air springs are highly engineered elastomeric bellows with specially designed metal end closures that contain a column of compressed air. The bellow itself is made of high-strength, fabric-reinforced rubber. Besides providing vibration isolation, air springs offer many other advantages over traditional leaf and coil springs, such as keeping the vehicle level, reducing suspension fatigue and tire wear, user-friendly height control, adjustable spring rate and road-friendly suspension increasing the road life.

About Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC:
Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products, specializes in air spring manufacturing and technology with a history of more than 65 years of research and development on technologically advanced air springs.  Its famous Airide™ brand has set the standard for air spring manufacturing and technology since 1939. The company has manufacturing and assembly operations in six locations across four continents, in addition to technical and engineering support in both the US and Europe. For more information, visit www.fsip.com.

About Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products:
Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products (BFDP) is based in Indianapolis, Ind., and is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BSAH). BFDP is responsible for BSAH’s non-tire businesses, including building and industrial products, synthetic polymers, natural and synthetic rubber, and industrial fibers and textiles.