PPG Operating at About Half Capacity Due to Floods

Today`s rain is a reminder to many that it´s been three weeks since the torrential downpours flooded roads, homes and businesses in Wichita County. And one large plant is still operating at only half its production capacity. The floods damaged PPG’s heating and cooling units ... its equipment and controls. One of the two glass production lines is back to full capacity - but the plant manager says the second line won´t be running until the end of October. As the rain pounded down late the night of August 18th ... PPG plant manager Mike Derr drove through the sheets of rain to check on the PPG plant on I-44. “There was more water then I´ve ever imagined possible,” Derr said. PPG had lost power in one section of the plant - and critical cooling systems in two other sections. The basement had about a foot of water. “I was really surprised how quick the city of Wichita was able to respond and bring us some additional temporary pumps,” Derr said. But Derr says the damage had already been done. And he says one of the two main lines will be down at least to the end of October. “It couldn´t have happened at a worse time,” Derr said. “Typically our strongest months of the year are August, September and October." So PPG has had to tell its customers that the company is unable to meet its supply commitments. Derr says customers are understanding - but that this is a tough blow for a major glass supplier. “You look all around you – you see it,” Derr said. “You see it in your houses - we supply glass to the window market. Our plant is mostly these commercial type buildings you see on the wall." And this was a disaster that was anything but transparent. Derr says rain has never shut down or slowed production at the Wichita Falls plant. “It’s a big deal for our company and our business,” Derr said. “You know, the time of year it happened and the financial impact of it." Just more evidence that Mother Nature can make the most shining business clouded and brittle in just a few hours. PPG in Wichita Falls employs about 350 people. Mike Derr says the company has made minimal cutbacks on hours, and is accepting voluntary month-long layoffs from employees.