Air Liquide Wins Major Ultra-Pure Carrier Gases Contract In China - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Air Liquide (AIQUY.PK) said it was awarded a major long-term contract in China by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. or SMIC (SIUIF.PK, SMI) to supply ultra-pure carrier gases to its latest cutting-edge fab in Beijing, which would manufacture advanced integrated circuits for consumer electronics and mobile devices for both international and Chinese markets. SMIC Beijing Fab B2 would start operating in early 2014 and would produce 300 millimeters wafers with 28 nanometers advanced technology.

The company, in order to meet the customer needs, would invest in a large on-site generator producing ultra-high purity nitrogen. Nitrogen is an absolutely necessary molecule that is used in the production processes, along with electronics specialty gases and precursors, to ensure that the stringent cleanliness requirement is met and that manufacturing equipment is safely operated. Also, Air Liquide would invest in the necessary bulk gases supply infrastructure. The firm's overall investment would total 18 million euros.

Air Liquide and SMIC have established a long-term relationship that goes back to 2001. Air Liquide already supplies electronic specialty gases to SMIC's large fabs in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, and Shenzhen.