Expansions: Ecovyst to expand US silica catalyst capability; PPG completes US$2.7 mn expansion of powder coatings factory in Brazil

Speciality catalysts maker Ecovyst Inc. plans to expand silica catalyst production capability at its manufacturing facility in Kansas city, US. Silica supported catalysts play a crucial role in the production of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear-low density polyethylene (LLDPE). The Kansas expansion is expected to increase the site's silica catalyst production capability by approximately 50% and is anticipated to start late 2025.

The company expects that growing consumer demand for plastics will continue to drive the global expansion of PE production over the coming years.

“Our material expertise and customer intimacy enables us to design, develop and manufacture advanced silicas and catalysts to help improve our customers’ product and process performance,” said Kurt J. Bitting, Ecovyst’s CEO. “This is carried out through long standing technical and commercial relationships with our key customers. The expansion of our Kansas City production facility is supported by additional long term customer commitments further enabling Ecovyst and its valued customers to benefit from the rising demand for polyethylene products.”

The Kansas City, KS site is part of Ecovyst’s strategically located global production network. This latest expansion comes on the heels of an investment that already increased silica catalyst production capacity at the site in 2021.

In other news,  PPG says that it has completed an expansion of its powder coatings plant in Sumaré, Brazil. The US$2.7 million project increased the production capacity of the facility by 40%. The unit is expected to reach full capacity this month.

The plant has been equipped with new, automated equipment, allowing for better process control and quality and less setup time for colour matching and production. Additional investments in automation are planned at the site, including the integration of connectivity devices and process synchronization technology.

This investment aims to meet the growing demand for powder coatings from local manufacturers of appliances, agricultural machinery, transportation, and other industries for   products such as steel furniture, storage structures, gym equipment and electrical panels and transformers.

The expansion is part of PPG’s latest global investment to upgrade five powder coatings manufacturing facilities in the US and Latin America, announced earlier this year to meet growing customer demand for sustainably advantaged products.

“Powder coatings are one of the fastest-growing coating technologies in the world, and PPG is committed to meeting the growing global demand by investing in R&D, facility expansions, and acquisitions to develop our production capacity and expand our global presence,” said Marizeth Carvalho, PPG general manager, Latin America South and global business director, Powder Coatings. “A key factor driving the rapid adoption of powder coatings is the growing interest in more sustainable solutions,” Carvalho said.

Powder coatings do not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are fully recoverable. This means that the powder that is not deposited on a substrate during application can be reused in the painting system, reducing waste and contributing to the achievement of sustainability goals for PPG and its customers.

PPG has a broad global presence, with 21 powder coatings manufacturing plants, a powder resin plant and an R&D development centre.

(PRA)

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