November 11, 2004 – Air Products and Air Liquide have signed a long-term contract with Beijing BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co. Ltd. to supply bulk gases to its newest TFT-LCD manufacturing facility in the Beijing Economic Technological Development Area (BDA).
Air Products and Air Liquide will form a 50/50 joint venture to build and operate a new air separation unit (ASU) in BDA. Slated to come onstream in the 2H05, this facility will have the capacity to produce 12,000 cubic m/hr of ultra-pure nitrogen for pipeline supply to BOE OT and approximately 430 tons/day of liquid oxygen, nitrogen, and argon for the merchant market. Furthermore, the joint venture will have the capacity and the right to supply bulk gases via pipeline to other customers in BDA.
The joint venture will invest about US$30 million to build the air separation unit.