Air Liquide Invests 110 Million In New Production Capacities In Europe
In Western Europe, the industrial gases market continues to grow, energised by the
manufacture of capital and infrastructure goods, by automobiles, the food industry and the
photovoltaic market.
In this context of continuous growth in demand for industrial merchant gases, Air Liquide
will invest 110 million in Germany and Portugal in two production units for liquefied
air gases (liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, and liquid argon). By developing its
production capacities in this way, Air Liquide is supporting the rise in its customers'
demand and is strengthening its presence in growth areas. The production units will start
up between the end of 2009 and 2010.
In Germany, Air Liquide has decided to construct the unit in the region of Ulm (southern
Germany), an area of strong growth and one of its main sites for air gas liquefaction. This
represents an investment of around 60 million.
In Portugal, Air Liquide is to increase its production capacity in order to meet growth in its
markets. This investment of around 50million will be made at Sines (an industrial basin
located 150 km south of Lisbon) and comprises a unit that will produce liquefied air gases,
as well as products in gaseous formfor industries at the Sines site.
Guy Salzgeber, Vice-President European Industrial Business and member of the
Group's Executive Committee, declared: "These investments in Western Europe allow
us to support our customers' growing demand in these areas. These units benefit
from the latest technologies in terms of the efficiency of electricity consumption
and contribute to the Group's global objective in this area. They are part of the
10 billion investment program for the period 2007-2011 that the Group is
implementing to accelerate its growth."
