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

Officials ofPPG Industries’ flat glass business announced that a coater at its Salem, Ore., glass plant is currently being upgraded to enable the manufacture of Solarphire AR anti-reflective and 2XAR two-sided, anti-reflective glasses.

Richard 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 the glass manufacturer's continuing commitment to serve 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, in an April 3 release. “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.