PITTSBURGH – In response to growing demand, PPG Industries is increasing its precipitated silica production capacity at the Lake Charles, LA, manufacturing location by more than 22,000 tons per year.

Kevin Braun, PPG General Manager, Silica Products, 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.

According to Braun, the new expansion project is expected be online by early 2014, with employment at the site increasing slightly as a result.