IN response to the growing demand for precipitated silica worldwide, US-based PPG Industries is increasing its capacity by more than 18,000 tonnes/year. The capacity expansions will be undertaken at its US and Netherlands facilities.
Some of the capacity will come online during the fourth quarter of 2011, with the rest to be completed by the end of 2012.
PPG pioneered the development of synthetic precipitated silica, becoming one of the first manufacturers to bring it to the market in the 1930s. PPG’s silica products business manufactures precipitated silica for tyre, battery separator, carrier, coatings, industrial rubber, footwear and silicone end-use applications.
The business also makes Teslin substrate, a microporous sheet material used for card, speciality print, in-mould graphic, tag and label use, as well as technology-focused applications such as e-Passports and radio frequency identification (RFID) cards and labels.(PRA)
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