Opening Of A New R&D And Technology Center In The US
Innovation is a key growth driver for Air Liquide. In 2006, the Group spent over 170 million on innovation, and
every year it files almost one patent per day. Approximately one-third of Air Liquide revenues come from
technologies developed during the last ten years. The main lines of Research are food safety, healthcare,
environmental protection and clean energy.
Air Liquide has opened a new R&D and Technology Center in the US. The new centre is located on a 22-
hectare site in Newark, Delaware, approximately 50 kilometres south of Philadelphia. As part of the worldwide
Group's R&D network, its teams will build on the multicultural skills and top university and scientific talent present
in the US.
Bringing people together in a single site will leverage the synergies among the company's different R&D teams in
the US, uniting scientists from the Chicago Research Center, MEDAL in Newport, Delaware - a subsidiary that
develops membranes that separate and purify gas, Air Liquide Advanced Technologies US (ALATUS), and
SEPPIC, a subsidiary involved in specialty chemicals. The Center is designed to give fresh momentum to the
Group's R&D and technology operations for the 72 countries where Air Liquide is present. Based in the US, it will
benefit from this dynamic market and will soon employ 150 people from over 14 different nationalities. Air
Liquide has invested $35 million in this Center.
François Darchis, member of the Air Liquide Executive Committee, stated, "This new Center will enable us to
accelerate innovation, discover new technologies, and expand into new markets by making use of our
employees' wide range of talent, as well as our solid partnerships with customers and research institutes.
Whether we are refining technologies to enhance our products, or developing breakthrough innovations in
promising areas such as hydrogen energy or medical gases, Air Liquide plans to maintain its leadership
position in R&D to drive its growth."
Teams from Air Liquide R&D and Advanced Technologies divisions gather almost 1,400 people of 25 different nationalities,
spread across 18 centers in Europe, North America, and Japan.
The Group's R&D division is an international network, which develops high levels of expertise, and generates half of the patents
that Air Liquide files every year. It supports and builds on over 100 industrial partnerships and over 100 affiliations with
universities and research institutes. The Advanced Technologies division furthers the company's skills and know-how in hightech
applications such as space systems, extremely low-temperature cryogenics, aerospace, gas engineering and hydrogen
energy.
Present in 72 countries, Air Liquide is the world leader in industrial and medical gases and related services. The Group offers
innovative solutions based on constantly enhanced technologies. These solutions, which are consistent with Air Liquide's
commitment to sustainable development, help to protect life and enable our customers to manufacture many indispensable
everyday products. Founded in 1902, Air Liquide has more than 36,000 employees. The Group 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 2005 totaled 10,435 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).
For further information, please contact:
Corporate Communication
Dominique Maire - + 33 (0)1 40 62 53 56
Corinne Estrade-Bordry - + 33 (0)1 40 62 51 31
www.airliquide.com
