PPG to increase US precipitated silica capacity

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – PPG Industries is increasing precipitated silica production capacity at its Lake Charles, Louisiana, manufacturing plant by more than 10,000 tonnes per year in response to growing demand, the company said in a statement on 7 Jan.

“PPG remains committed to the precipitated silica market. This investment will enable us to meet growing demand for our products among key strategic customers and target segments in the Americas,” said Anup Jain, PPG vice president, speciality coatings and materials.

Jain said PPG would achieve the 10,000-tonnes-per-year capacity increase through debottlenecking projects that are already underway and expected to come online in the second half of 2016.

The debottlenecking projects at Lake Charles build on a 22,000-tonnes-per-year capacity increase that came online in mid-2014 and phased debottlenecking projects that came online in 2012.

In February 2015, PPG announced its plans to expand precipitated silica production at its Delfzijl, Netherlands, plant, designed in part to meet growing demand among global tire manufacturers for Agilon performance silica.

Jain confirmed that the Delfzijl expansion remains on schedule to come online in mid-2016.

In addition to these expansions, PPG said that it was also evaluating additional significant silica expansion projects in Europe and North America based on growing demand.

PPG’s precipitated silica products are used, among others, as reinforcing fillers in tire, industrial, footwear and silicone rubber applications.