Meet the contractor who will help an Augusta factory produce more 'liquid glass'

An Augusta factory that makes industrial-grade "liquid glass" has selected a Pennsylvania contractor to design and build the factory's new production line.

PQ Corp., in south Augusta at the corner of Doug Barnard Parkway and Newsprint Road, announced in December 2023 that the company plans to construct a sodium silicate furnace to be operational by 2025.

McMurray, Pennsylvania-based HFT will be the project's engineering, procurement and construction contractor, starting with detailed engineering, early site work and long-lead equipment procurement. The contractor specializes in building facilities for glass manufacturers.

With a melting point of nearly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, sodium silicate requires furnaces to produce the materials used in finished products.

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PQ produces silicas and silicates, which are salts derived from silicas. Sodium silicate mixtures possess properties used in the production of adhesives, paints, coatings, auto-repair sealants and high-temperature-resistant refractory cement.

PQ first established in Augusta in 1964 as Philadelphia Quartz, a Pennsylvania-headquartered soap and candle manufacturer founded in the 1830s. The local plant initially produced additives for laundry soap. It expanded its Augusta footprint in 1981 and 1986.

PQ is supported by 1,400 employees across 32 facilities in 13 countries.