NORMAL – A central Illinois tire manufacturer is adding employees and machinery to meet an increased demand for giant tires used in mining.

The Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations plant in Normal plans two multimillion-dollar expansion projects that will increase its workforce by more than 80 employees during the next two years. The Pantagraph newspaper in Bloomington reports that production is expected to grow by about 30 percent.

The plant now employs about 500 people. Bridgestone Americas is adding tire building machines and presser stations that are used to cure tires at high heat and pressure.