Degussa to expand silica capacity at US plant

From Rubber & Plastics News

Parsippany, New Jersey-Degussa Corp. will expand capacity for precipitated silica at its Chester, Pennsylvania, site this year by “several million pounds” through debottlenecking and other equipment and technology improvements.

Degussa is expanding capacity to meet growing demand in the US from tyre makers and other users of silica, according to Thomas Trempler, vice president and general manager for Degussa's Advanced Fillers & Pigments Business Unit.

Degussa did not disclose its investment in the project nor the plant's capacity nor the effect on jobs at the facility. Degussa listed the Chester factory's annual capacity a few years ago as 70 million pounds.

Degussa also makes silica in the US at a plant in Mobile, Alabama.