Air Products to expand nitrogen capacity in Korea's Gumi National Industrial Complex

LEHIGH VALLEY, USA: Air Products announced that it will increase production of gaseous nitrogen and expand its nitrogen pipeline in the Gumi National Industrial Complex, North Gyeongsang Province, Korea to serve the increasing demand of its electronics customers in the country's largest inland industrial complex.

Air Products will build a new nitrogen plant at its site in the Gumi National Industrial Complex 2 and will expand its nitrogen pipeline to Complex 5. The pipeline currently delivers nitrogen to nearly 20 long-term photovoltaic and semiconductor customers across Complexes 1 to 4. The new plant is expected to be onstream in the summer of 2012 and will serve the increasing needs of existing customers as well as new demand in Complex 5.

"Air Products has already secured a very strong position in the Gumi National Industrial Complex, and we are pleased to bring new capacity to this strategic industrial hub to support the growth plans of our customers," said Wayne Mitchell, VP and GM of Electronics Division, Air Products. "We are proud to own and maintain nitrogen pipelines in leading Electronics regions around the world. This additional capacity provides our customers with a reliable supply in a very cost-competitive way. This is exactly what our customers are looking for from their suppliers."

Gumi serves as a hub of local development and transportation. The Gumi National Industrial Complex has been established as a center for industries including electronics and semiconductors. Major products are mainly high-tech electronics, displays, telecommunication equipment and emerging photovoltaic devices. Air Products' customers in the Complex include major semiconductor and photovoltaic manufacturers.