LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa.,
Oct. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Air
Products (NYSE: APD), a leading global industrial gases and
performance materials supplier, today announced it has recently
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a joint research and
development (R&D) agreement with Huazhong University of Science
and Technology (HUST) in China on
clean energy.
The collaboration between Air Products and the State Key
Laboratory of Coal Combustion (SKLCC) of HUST will accelerate the
development and application of clean energy technology in
China, with initial focus on
advanced combustion technology through experimenting and theory
testing of oxy-fuel combustion under the joint R&D agreement.
In addition, the two parties have agreed to have closer
cooperation on other activities, including exploring joint R&D
efforts on clean combustion technology―such as oxy-fuel, flameless
combustion and other industrial high temperature processes―and
setting up student scholarship and internship programs.
"Air Products is committed to bringing advanced and sustainable
solutions to China to meet the
local market needs," said Steve
Jones, China president and
senior vice president and general manager of Global Tonnage Gases,
Energy and Equipment, at Air Products. "We have been partnering
with leading local universities, design institutes and engineers to
accelerate technology development in the environmental, energy and
emerging market segments to support China's 12th Five-Year Plan. HUST is a leading
university focusing on combustion in China, and the collaboration is one example of
Air Products' commitment to driving clean combustion technology
development."
Established in 1991, the SKLCC of HUST is one of the top coal
combustion research institutes in China. It has built a 300KW oxy-fuel
combustion system and is currently building other larger systems.
"We are excited to form a partnership with Air Products, which
is recognized as a highly innovative industrial gases and
performance materials company. The collaboration will facilitate
knowledge and technology exchanges between the academic and
commercial fields and will benefit the energy and environmental
markets as a whole. We look forward to a successful partnership
with Air Products and further expanding our collaboration in the
future," said Zhaohui Liu, Associate
Director of SKLCC at HUST.
Air Products was the first global industrial gas company to
establish an internal R&D capability in China when it set up its Asia Technology
Center in 2005, which today is serving key high-growth market
segments in China and the rest of
Asia, including performance
materials, electronics and general industries.
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.
About the State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion of Huazhong
University of Science and Technology
Established in 1991, the State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion
of Huazhong University of Science and Technology is one of the top
coal combustion research institutes in China. The laboratory focuses on the research
of kinetics of coal combustion, emission control and pollution
treatment during combustion, modeling of coal combustion and
gasification, combustion diagnostics and optimization, and advanced
thermal energy utilization and conversion technology. Equipped with
advanced testing and measuring systems, it has become an important
base for fundamental research and technology development in energy
and environmental areas. It's a leading institute for oxy-fuel
combustion R&D in China.
***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