October 18, 2007 — /PRNewswire/ — LEHIGH VALLEY, PA — Air Products today announced that it has acquired all outstanding shares in Air Products Shanfeng, making the venture a wholly owned Air Products subsidiary in China. This strategic move is part of Air Products’ focus and investment in the performance materials business in China.
The official name of the new company is Air Products and Chemicals (Changzhou) Co., Limited. Air Products Shanfeng was first established in 2005 as a joint venture with Changzhou Shanfeng Chemical Industry Co Ltd., a leading chemical supplier in China.
Air Products Shanfeng, including its production site in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province in East China, was formed to support the growth of Air Products’ triethylenediamine (TEDA) business for the polyurethane foam market in China. This market has been growing at more than 10 percent annually in China and is expected to continue to experience high growth rates as China becomes a global manufacturing center.
To align with the change, TEDA manufactured at the Changzhou facility will come under the Air Products global brands Dabco(R) chemical catalyst crystal, and the Air Products Shanfeng TEDA brand will be discontinued.
Air Products has invested its leading manufacturing and process technology, as well as implemented its environmental, health, and safety standards at the Changzhou facility in the past two years to expand capacity, improve efficiency, and provide higher quality products and value-added solutions to meet customers’ demands.
“Air Products has been supplying amine catalysts to the polyurethane market for more than 40 years and is a leading global supplier of TEDA and other amine catalysts to that market. Establishing the Changzhou facility as a wholly owned Air Products company is a logical progression to support our business growth,” says Patrick Loughlin, vice president and general manager, Performance Materials, Air Products Asia. “It means we will be putting more focus and committing additional resources that will create greater synergies with our global business plans, as well as infrastructure in China and in the region.”
TEDA is an important additive used to catalyze reactions to produce polyurethane foam. Applications of polyurethane foam include automotive seating, furniture, insulation materials, shoe soles, and construction.
The ban of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC11) as blowing agents in buildings by the China Ministry of Construction in July this year has further boosted the use of polyurethane in the construction and spray foam markets in China. The Air Products Dabco(R) PT amine catalyst series and the LK range of non-silicone surfactants for non-CFC spray foam are manufactured by the Changzhou facility.
Air Products manufactures and markets an extensive line of polyurethane additives worldwide, including Dabco(R) and Polycat(R) amine catalysts, Dabco TMR amine catalysts, Dabco(R) metal-based catalysts, Dabco(R) silicone surfactants and LK non-silicone surfactants. These versatile products are used in all types of polyurethane foam applications.
About Air Products
Air Products serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. Air Products has annual revenues of $9 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and over 20,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.
Source: Air Products