ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Huber Engineered Materials (HEM), a division of the J.M. Huber Corporation, today announced plans to expand silica production capacity at its manufacturing facility in Jhagadia, India. The expansion more than doubles the current capacity to a new rate of 33,000 metric tons per year.

Huber’s Jhagadia plant produces silica and silicate products for a variety of applications, including toothpaste, paints and coatings and paper. The new capacity is designed to meet the growing demand for each of these applications in India and the surrounding region. The project is expected to be completed by early 2012.

“We are very excited about this expansion and the opportunity to serve the growing needs of our customers,” says Chuck Herak, Vice President and General Manager of Huber’s Silica business unit. “With the successful start-up of our newest silica plant in Qingdao, China, we can now focus our expansion efforts on this new project in India.”

About Huber Engineered Materials

Huber Engineered Materials develops engineered specialty ingredients that enhance the performance, appeal and processing of a broad range of products used in industrial, paper and consumer-based applications. Its inorganic expertise has resulted in advancing the art in specialty silica and silicates, alumina trihydrate, magnesium hydroxide, barium sulfate and natural calcium carbonate.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Huber Engineered Materials has offices in 15 countries. For more information, see www.hubermaterials.com.

About J.M. Huber Corporation

J.M. Huber Corporation, headquartered in Edison, NJ, is a diversified, multinational supplier of engineered materials, natural resources and technology-based services to customers spanning many industries from paper and energy to plastics and construction. With announced sales of about $2 billion, J.M. Huber Corporation is one of the largest family-owned companies in the United States. The company offers total solutions in inorganic chemistry, engineered wood composites and other specialties. For more information, see www.huber.com.