PITTSBURGH—PPG Industries plans to increase precipitated silica production capacity at its site in Delfzijl, Netherlands, because of a supply agreement with a major tire maker.
The increase of more than 15,000 metric tons per year is due to come online in 2016, PPG said. The new capacity would help PPG meet growing demand for its silica products.
The large-scale production of performance silica Agilonis is part of an expansion which PPG said was tied to a new multi-year global supply agreement with a multinational tire manufacturer.
“Based on positive customer trials and interest, demand for Agilon performance silica is growing globally,” Anup Jain, PPG vice president, specialty coatings and materials, said in a statement.
“The multimillion-dollar investment in Delfzijl will not only expand capacity but also give us the flexibility to rapidly switch existing production capability between conventional precipitated silica and Agilonperformance silica to meet marketplace needs,” Jain added.
PPG said its Agilon performance silica is a high-value technology platform of chemically-modified precipitated silica that can improve the performance of products in which it is used.
In tires, the silica can replace traditional silica-silane in rubber compounds. PPG said it can improve vehicle fuel efficiency, tire traction and treadwear by as much as 5 to 10 percent.