Air Liquide to triple silane capacity in Japan

– Air Liquide and Japan’s Denka Group are to build a world-scale silane plant in Japan. The project will more than triple the companies’ silane capacity, to 2,000 t/y, with further expansion possible. Startup is scheduled for 2010. The announcement follows last year’s expansion of the plant at Omi to more than 500 t/y. High-purity silane (monosilane, SiH4) is a key material in the manufacture of semiconductors, flat panel displays and solar cells. The global market is growing at more than 25 percent per year, and Air Liquide is the world leader, with more than 35 percent market share. According to Air Liquide, this leadership is based on expertise all along the supply chain, from silane production to specialized filling centers and dedicated logistics systems. Air Liquide has been producing ultra-pure silane since 1987 through Denal, its joint venture with Denka. Air Liquide is also strengthening its distribution and service capabilities worldwide with the opening of three new Electronics Materials Centers this year in Japan, Taiwan, and China. The company is also investing in containers for its distribution fleet. Christophe Fontaine, Vice President Electronics Group, said: “With this new project, Air Liquide, the only gas supplier to manufacture silane, again demonstrates its commitment to secure reliable supply to its customers. This strategic investment, complementing our new Electronics Material Centers in Asia, as well as our Jumbo bulk silane offer, will confirm our global leadership in Ultra Pure Silane and accelerate our growth in the pure gases market.” Japan Air Gases, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air Liquide, supplies industrial and medical gases and related
services to the Japanese market. In the field of Electronics, Japan accounts for 40 percent of Air
Liquide Electronics total worldwide business.