TAIPEI, Taiwan, Nov. 10 -- BOC Edwards announced it is investing in seven gas plants to ensure bulk gas supply to nine new semiconductor and flat panel display manufacturing fabrication facilities currently under construction in Taiwan. BOC Edwards said the gas supply schemes will pave the way for multiple supply contracts being developed as part of a $75 million investment with BOC's long-term joint venture partner, BOC Lienhwa Industrial Gases Co. Ltd. (BOCLH). BOC Edwards, part of The BOC Group, based in Surrey, England, is a supplier of materials, process-enabling subsystems and services to fabrication facilities and OEMs involved in the manufacture of microelectronics devices. BOCLH is jointly owned by Lienhwa Industrial Corp, Taiwan, and the BOC Group. The company supplies gases to various Taiwan industries and makes industrial and specialty gases, gas handling equipment, purification systems and support services for Taiwan's semiconductor, electronics, industrial and research markets. Through BOCLH, BOC Edwards will reinforce its nitrogen (N2) pipeline infrastructure by building two ultrahigh-purity N2 gas generator plants to supply the expanding Hsinchu Science Park. This investment will support bulk gas supply contracts won at four new 300-mm semiconductor facilities. "BOC Lienhwa and BOC Edwards are successfully meeting these customers' needs because, through very close customer collaboration, we are able to anticipate requirements. With proactive investment strategies, we can provide a reliable, yet flexible supply position in an industry that has notoriously fluctuating demand," said John Miao, chairman of BOC Lienhwa. BOCLH and BOC Edwards have recently secured an agreement to supply bulk gases to a leading wafer fabrication company in Taichung Science Park in central Taiwan. BOCLH will supply the new 300-mm facility with high-purity bulk gases, including installation of an onsite BOC Spectra-N nitrogen generator. Through BOCLH, BOC Edwards is also investing in four new nitrogen plants that will benefit flat panel display customers in Taoyuan, Hsinchu and the Tainan Science Park. The first two gas supply facilities will be in operation at the end of 2004. Two more are scheduled to start up in 2005. These facilities will support contracts won with several Generation 4, 5 and 6 flat panel display manufacturers. BOC Edwards and BOCLH recently secured more than $ 55 million in project and equipment orders from a major foundry and other semiconductor customers in Taiwan. The orders included turnkey expansions, bulk and specialty gas systems installations and chemical and slurry dispense systems. The companies said they anticipate more contracts in the near future. For more information, visit: bocedwards.com