PPG to increase precipitated silica production capacity in North America

January 7, 2016 | By Business Wire News

PITTSBURGH

PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) announced today that it is increasing precipitated silica production capacity at its Lake Charles, Louisiana, manufacturing plant by more than 10,000 tons per year in response to growing demand.

“PPG remains committed to the precipitated silica market, and 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, specialty coatings and materials. Jain said PPG would achieve the 10,000-tons-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-tons-per-year capacity increase that came online in mid-2014 and phased debottlenecking projects that came online in 2012.

In February 2015, PPG announced expanded 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 is also evaluating additional significant silica expansion projects in Europe and North America based on growing demand.

PPG pioneered synthetic precipitated silica products, becoming one of the first manufacturers to bring them to the marketplace in the 1930s. Today, PPG’s silica products group is a global technology leader in the manufacture of precipitated silica products for use as reinforcing fillers in tire, industrial, footwear and silicone rubber applications; as microporous fillers in battery separator applications; as flatting and thickening agents in coating, adhesive and sealant applications; and as anti-caking, free-flow and carrier agents in food, feed and industrial applications. As part of PPG’s specialty coatings and materials business, the silica products group serves customers through a global network of manufacturing, research and technical-support facilities. For more information about PPG silica products, visit www.ppgsilica.com.

PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.™

PPG Industries’ vision is to be the world’s leading coatings company by consistently delivering high-quality, innovative and sustainable solutions that customers trust to protect and beautify their products and surroundings. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG provides added value to customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in more than 70 countries around the world. Reported net sales in 2014 were $15.4 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com and follow @PPGIndustries on Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 reflecting the company’s current view with respect to future events or objectives and financial or operational performance or results. The forward-looking statements contained herein include statements relating to the timing of and expected benefits of the silica production capacity expansion at PPG Industries’ Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Delfzijl, Netherlands, manufacturing plants. Actual events may differ materially from current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including delays related to completion of these projects; changing economic and demand conditions; the ability of PPG Industries to achieve the expected benefits of these production expansions; and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in PPG Industries’ periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and its current reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of their initial issuance, and PPG Industries does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Bringing innovation to the surface is a trademark and Agilon is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.