November 10, 2004 – BOC Edwards has announced it is making major investments in 7 gas plant facilities to ensure bulk gas supply to 9 new semiconductor and FPD manufacturing fabs under construction, said the company. These pave the way for multiple supply contracts and are being developed as part of a US$75 million investment with BOC’s JV partner, BOC Lienhwa Industrial Gases Company Ltd (BOCLH).

Through BOCLH, BOC Edwards will reinforce its nitrogen (N2) pipeline infrastructure by building two ultra-high purity N2 gas generator plants to supply the expanding Hsinchu Science Park. This investment will support bulk gas supply contracts won at four new 300mm semiconductor fabs.

BOCLH and BOC Edwards have recently secured an agreement to supply bulk gases to a leading wafer fabrication company in the rapidly developing Taichung Science Park in central Taiwan. BOCLH will supply this new 300mm facility with a full range of high-purity bulk gases, including installation of an onsite BOC Spectra-N nitrogen generator.

Through BOCLH, BOC Edwards is also investing in four new nitrogen plants that will benefit FPD customers in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and the Tainan Science Park. The first two gas supply facilities will come online at year’s end. The others are scheduled to start up in 2005. These facilities will support contracts won with several Generation 4, 5, and 6 flat panel display manufacturers.

BOC Edwards and BOCLH recently secured more than US$55 million in project and equipment orders from a major foundry and other semiconductor customers in Taiwan. The orders included turnkey expansions, bulk and specialty gas systems installations, and chemical and slurry dispense systems.