Huber to expand Etowah silica plant
An engineering company will expand silica production at its plant in Etowah, Tenn., by 14,000 metric tons annually.
Huber Engineered Materials, a division of New Jersey-based J.M. Huber Corp., announced Friday it will complete the expansion in the third quarter of 2013. The precipitated silica produced in the plant is used in dental, food and industrial applications, said Chuck Herak, vice president and general manager of Huber's silica business unit. The company did not disclose the investment or employment impact from the expanded production.
But Herak said "these continued investments to expand and improve our manufacturing capability underline Huber's ongoing, long-term commitment to the silica business."
Noodles opens downtown eatery
Crowds piled into newly-opened Noodles & Company on Friday for lunch, as the 5,000-square-foot restaurant struggled to keep up with a backlog of orders from hungry patrons.
The former nightclub location, which re-opened as a restaurant on Thursday, cost about $1 million, according to owner Jordan Bozeman. Noodles & Company is based in Denver, Co., and boasts more than 300 locations across the U.S., but Bozeman holds franchise exclusivity in the Chattanooga area.
The menu, which includes local food, allows diners to pick a bowl size, meat and type of noodle to create their own dish, or pick from a handful of pre-picked meals. The restaurant also includes sandwiches, and salads and soups are available as main courses or side dishes.