Electronics: Air Liquide to Triple Its Silane Production Capacity in Japan
Silane (monosilane, SiH4) is a high purity gas that has become a key material in the manufacture of semiconductors, flat panel displays and photovoltaic solar cells. In a global market growing at more than 25% per year, Air Liquide is today the world leader with more than 35% market share. This leadership is based on a strong expertise in the complete supply chain from silane production to specialized filling centers and dedicated logistics to meet the highest standards of the industry. In particular, Air Liquide has been producing ultra pure silane since 1987, in association with the Denka Group through Denal, its joint-venture company in Japan.
Following the expansion in capacity to over 500 tons per year of Ultra Pure Silane in Omi, Japan, announced last year, Air Liquide and Denka have decided to launch a new large initiative with the construction of a world scale unit in Japan to meet the growing demand of the market. With this additional silane unit, Air Liquide's total manufacturing capacity will more than triple with extensionready capability to 2,000 tons per year in a further step. The unit will be operational by 2010, and will reinforce Air Liquide's leadership for this product in Japan, throughout Asia, and the rest of the world.
Air Liquide is also strengthening its distribution and service capabilities worldwide with the opening of three new Electronics Materials Centers this year in Japan, Taiwan, and China together with investment in many containers for its distribution fleet.
Christophe Fontaine, Vice President Electronics Group declared: "With this new project, Air Liquide, the only gas supplier to manufacture silane, again demonstrates its commitment to secure reliable supply to its customers. This strategic investment, complementing our new Electronics Material Centers in Asia, as well as our Jumbo(TM) bulk silane offer, will confirm our global leadership in Ultra Pure Silane and accelerate our growth in the pure gases market."
With more than 40,000 employees in 72 countries, Air Liquide is a world leader in industrial and medical gases and related services. The Group offers innovative solutions based on constantly enhanced technologies and produces air gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, rare gases...) and many other gases including hydrogen. The Group contributes to the manufacturing of many everyday products: bubbles in sparkling beverages, protective atmosphere for packed foods, oxygen for hospitals and homecare patients, ultrapure gases for the semiconductor industry, hydrogen to desulfurize fuels...
Air Liquide is committed to sustainable development and helps to protect life. Founded in 1902, Air Liquide has successfully developed a long-term relationship with its shareholders built on trust and transparency and guided by the principles of corporate governance. Since the publication of its first consolidated financial statements in 1971, Air Liquide has posted strong and steady earnings growth. Sales in 2007 totaled 11,801 million euros, with sales outside France accounting for almost 80%. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris stock exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices (ISIN code FR 0000120073).
