PPG to make Solarphire AR anti-reflective glass at Oregon plant

Richard A. Beuke, PPG vice president, flat glass, said investment in the Salem factory, along with new production of ultra-high light-transmissive glass at PPG’s Fresno, Calif., factory, is part of PPG’s continuing commitment to serving the West Coast’s growing solar power industry.

“With the new capabilities at Salem and Fresno, we can now produce Solarphire PV (photovoltaic) glass at Fresno then ship it to Salem for the addition of an anti-reflective coating,” Beuke said. “That enables us not just to accelerate internal production, but to respond more quickly and with a broader range of products to solar industry customers throughout the western U.S. It also enables solar customers to further reduce the carbon footprint of solar cell manufacturing.”

The Salem plant will be expanded and workers added to accommodate increased production volume. “We are very pleased to be adding to our workforce the kinds of green jobs this country needs to help improve the economy and further reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” Beuke added.

Scott Follett, global director, PPG Solar Performance Group, said that shifting part of PPG’s solar glass production from the East Coast to the West Coast will make it easier for customers to manage their production and inventory requirements. “Our goal is to fulfill most standard and in-stock orders for Solarphire PV and Solarphire AR glasses by the next day in California, Arizona and Nevada,” he said.

The Salem plant will manufacture Solarphire AR and Solarphire 2XAR glasses. Solarphire AR glass has PPG’s highly durable anti-reflective coating on one surface of a Solarphire PV glass substrate, and generates solar transmittance of 93.6 percent in a 3.2 millimeter thickness. Manufacturers of crystalline-silicon modules that replaced their units’ cover plates with Solarphire AR glass reported typical power output increases of up to seven watts.

Solarphire 2XAR glass features PPG’s anti-reflective coating on both sides of a Solarphire PV glass substrate. With solar transmittance of 96.3 percent, Solarphire 2XAR glass may help even more than Solarphire AR glass to make concentrated solar photovoltaic (CSP) modules more efficient.

For more information about Solarphire AR and 2XAR glasses, and PPG’s entire collection of advanced glasses and coatings for the solar power industry, visit www.ppgsolarphire.com or call 1-888-PPG-SUN1 (774-7886).

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PPG Industries' vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in more than 60 countries around the world. Sales in 2011 were $14.9 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.