PPG, a global manufacturer of paints, coatings, optical products, specialty materials, glass, and fibre glass, has invested US $20 million to upgrade its fibre glass manufacturing facility in Chester, South Carolina.

The facility, which employs 150 people, manufactures direct-draw fibre glass products used in filament winding, pultrusion, long-fibre thermoplastics, and wind energy applications. The investment will cover repairs to the production furnace, the finished goods packing operation and much of the facility’s support infrastructure. The project is expected to be completed later this year.

Ken Hale, PPG plant manager said, “This investment in our Chester facility will enable PPG to offer our customers access to the best fibre glass manufacturing technology available today. With these new state-of-the-art resources, we can produce the highest-quality fibre glass materials while improving the energy efficiency of the furnace. We remain committed to being the supplier of choice to fill our customers’ fibre glass needs.”

PPG’s fibre glass business manufactures reinforcement materials for thermoset and thermoplastic composite applications. It serves the transportation, energy, infrastructure, and consumer markets, as well as electronic circuit board and specialty yarn markets. (GK)