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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.



1950s

  • Air springs replace steel springs as OEM fitment on new buses.
  • 1X style springs with steel stamped pistons are sold for automotive applications.

1960s

  • The sealed 1T style air spring is brought to market.
  • Production begins on rail car air springs for trains.

    • 1970s

    • 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.

    1980s

    • 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.

    1990s

    • 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

      2000s

      • 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.
      • R4Tech™ hybrid air/leaf suspension system is introduced to the light duty aftermarket.
      • 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.