LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa.,
Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Air
Products (NYSE: APD) today announced it will build, own, and
operate a new air separation unit (ASU), a new hydrogen production
facility and will make additional investment in an existing ASU and
liquefier which has been producing industrial gases in Middletown, Ohio. The new facilities,
planned to be on-stream in the fourth quarter of 2012, will provide
additional capacity to meet customer demand for industrial gases
and merchant liquid products in the region.
"Air Products has supplied customers in Middletown and the surrounding region with
on-site and merchant gases since the 1960s. This new investment
shows commitment to our customers in the Midwest market, it will
expand our capability to serve the area, and it provides
significant modernization of our operations there," said
Wilbur Mok, vice president - Tonnage
Gases North America for Air Products. Mok noted that the new
facilities will replace some smaller existing operations at this
location to meet the increased demand for both on-site and merchant
industrial gas products.
The new ASU will have production capacity of over 700 tons per
day of combined pipeline and merchant oxygen output, and total
argon capacity for the site will increase. Air Products will also
generate hydrogen at Middletown to
meet customer requirements with its PRISM® Hydrogen Generator steam
methane reformer (SMR) producing over one million cubic feet per
day of hydrogen. Air Products' on-site hydrogen product offerings
were enhanced by the 2008 acquisition of this novel and patented
SMR technology with flexibility to meet the varied hydrogen
capacity requirements of a customer.
About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE: APD) 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. In fiscal 2010, Air Products had revenues of
$9 billion, operations in over 40
countries, and 18,300 employees around the globe. For more
information, visit www.airproducts.com.
***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements
within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are
based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of
the date of this release regarding important risk factors. Actual
performance and financial results may differ materially from
projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking
statements because of many factors not anticipated by management,
including risk factors described in the Company's Form 10K for its
fiscal year ended September 30,
2010.
SOURCE Air Products