APD Air Products and Chemicals Inc

Air Products Signs Exclusive Gases Contract With One of World's Largest Flat Panel Manufacturers LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., March 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products announced its Taiwanese joint venture -- San Fu Gas Co. -- has won a long-term agreement with Chi Mei Optoelectronics to supply nitrogen and bulk gases to Chi Mei's newest flat panel manufacturing facility, Fab 4, located in the Tainan Science-based Industrial Park (TSIP). In addition to this agreement, San Fu has also been awarded the supply of bulk specialty gas equipment and installation of specialty gas piping contract for Chi Mei 4. San Fu has established a leading supply position in TSIP, one of the world's largest science parks. Other San Fu customers in the park are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation's (TSMC) Fab 6 and Fab 14A, United Microelectronics Corporation's (UMC) Fab 12A, and Chi Mei's Fab 3, to name just a few. Customers are served by large San Fu industrial ultra high purity bulk gas production facilities and pipeline bulk gas distribution network with a total capacity exceeding 60,000 Nm3/hr. The main plant supplying the pipeline at 50,000 Nm3/hr is the world's largest UHP nitrogen generator, and it also co-produces UHP liquid nitrogen and UHP liquid oxygen for supply to semiconductor customers. "These long-term agreements are a direct result of the significant investments we have made over the years to serve the Asian electronics manufacturing industry," said Allen Chien, President of San Fu. "Today, those investments have built considerable momentum and are part of a longer-term strategy that has positioned us so that as our customers, like Chi Mei, respond to the growing demands of the semiconductor and flat panel display markets, we can grow right along with them." Chi Mei Optoelectronics, the fourth largest TFT-LCD manufacturer in the world, has one generation five (G5) Fab (Fab 3) in operation and its Fab 4, currently under construction, will be generation 5.5. San Fu is a major gassupplier to Chi Mei, including pipeline nitrogen and high purity specialty gas products. To view the full text of this announcement, please visit Air Products' online Press Room at http://www.airproducts.com/PressRoom/CompanyNews/Archived/2004/04117_11Mar04.htm. ***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations. DATASOURCE: Air Products CONTACT: Media Inquiries: Tom Yencho, +1-610-481-8527, ; or Jessica Cheng, +852-2863-0585, ; or Investor Inquiries: Alex Masetti, +1-610-481-7461, , all of Air Products Web site: http://www.airproducts.com/

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