PPG to increase precipitated silica production capacity in Lake - KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana

PPG to increase precipitated silica production capacity in Lake Charles

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PITTSBURGH (KPLC) -

PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) announced in a Wednesday news release that it is increasing its precipitated silica production capacity at the Lake Charles manufacturing location by more than 22,000 tons per year in response to growing demand.

"Last September, we announced an increase in our global precipitated silica production capacity of more than 18,000 tons per year through phased expansion projects at our Lake Charles and Delfzijl, Netherlands, manufacturing locations," said Kevin Braun, PPG general manager, silica products. "Our plan is on-schedule and these projects are already online or scheduled to be online by the end of 2012.

Braun also said in the release that the company expects continued market growth in coming years.

"This investment will enable us to keep pace with the growing needs of key strategic customers and segments in the Americas," Braun added. "This new project reinforces PPG's commitment to the precipitated silica market and to manufacturing silica products in Lake Charles."

Braun said the silica products business and its production assets and employees are part of PPG's Optical and Specialty Materials reporting segment, and they are not included in the announced separation of PPG's commodity chemicals business and its subsequent merger with Georgia Gulf Corp.

Braun said in the release that the new expansion project is expected be online by early 2014, with employment at the site increasing slightly as a result.

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