PPG, local officials celebrate startup of $40-million unit at Wichita Falls

Coater specialists make final adjustments on the coater before startup.

May 11, 2006 - PPG and local leaders today celebrated the start up of a $40-million unit that will help to ensure the competitiveness of the Wichita Falls, Texas, glass plant in serving a fast growing market for energy-efficient glass.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted this afternoon at the new sputtered vacuum deposition (MSVD) unit – commonly referred to as a “coater” – that applies an energy-efficient coating to glass manufactured at the facility, according to Susan Plies, plant manager.

“The investment in the coater demonstrates PPG’s commitment to our customers, our community and to making environmentally friendly products,” Plies said. “The coater expands our capacity to meet the growing demand for low-emissivity glass today and enables us to accommodate future generations of energy-efficient, high performance products.”

The coater produces glass, primarily used in windows and doors, which meets strict ENERGY STAR energy efficiency guidelines set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. Plies was joined at the ribbon-cutting ceremony by PPG’s Mark Orcutt, vice president, performance glazings, and Chuck Hanley, director of production, performance glazings, and by numerous leaders from the County of Wichita Falls, and the cities of Wichita Falls and Burkburnett.

“The ribbon-cutting was dedicated to those local leaders,” Plies said.

“We deeply appreciate their efforts in working with us to secure the economic incentives that made this dramatic upgrade at the Wichita Falls plant possible.”