Air Products Plans Taiwan Nitrogen Plants

Air Products of Allentown, Pa., through its subsidiary Air Products San Fu Co. Ltd. in Taiwan, has signed a long-term contract with Rexchip Semiconductor Corp. to supply of nitrogen and bulk gases to Rexchip's two new 12-in fabrication facilities (Fab R1 and R2), which are under construction in Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) in Houli, Taichung. Under the contract, Air Products will build, own and operate two new nitrogen air separation plants at the CTSP. Rexchip, a joint venture company between Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. and Elpida Memory Inc., will operate DRAM fabrication facilities in park with a total planned capacity of 240,000 12-in. wafers per month. The CTSP, which includes Taichung, Houli and Huwei park stations, is one of the two new government-sponsored science parks in Taiwan to attract investments and the development of high-tech industries to the central Taiwan district. One of the two new nitrogen plants in the CTSP will be the seventh of its kind in Asia, which is based on Air Products' design. Air Products supplies atmospheric gases to industrial, energy, technology and health care markets.