PPG expands Alabama plant to boost aircraft cockpit glass output

PPG is putting 70 million dollars, roughly 60 million euros, into an expansion of its site in Huntsville, Alabama. The American industrial group says the money will raise its production capacity for aircraft cockpit windshields and passenger windows.

The plan calls for leasing and fitting out an additional building of about 10,400 square metres. Supporting production functions will move there, freeing space in the existing plant for more manufacturing equipment and new machinery.

According to the company, the investment answers growing demand from commercial aviation, regional and business aviation, and the military sector. PPG also says the changes are meant to make its production processes more efficient.

PPG has operated in Huntsville for more than 55 years and supplies aircraft glazing to a number of airframe manufacturers, among them Airbus and Boeing.