Air Liquide to triple its silane production capacity in Japan
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Silane (monosilane, SiH4) is a high purity gas that has become a key material in the manufacture of semiconductors, flat panel displays and photovoltaic solar cells. In a global market growing at more than 25% per year, Air Liquide is today the world leader with more than 35% market share, according to the company. Air Liquide has been producing ultra pure silane since 1987, in association with the Denka Group through Denal, its joint-venture company in Japan.
Following the expansion in capacity to over 500 tons per year of Ultra Pure Silane in Omi, Japan, announced last year, Air Liquide and Denka have decided to launch a new large initiative with the construction of a world scale unit in Japan to meet the growing demand of the market. With this additional silane unit, Air Liquide's total manufacturing capacity will more than triple with extension-ready capability to 2,000 tons per year in a further step. The unit will be operational by 2010, and will reinforce Air Liquide's leadership for this product in Japan, throughout Asia, and the rest of the world.
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 together with investment in many containers for its distribution fleet.
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