Solkatronic Expands Electronic Specialty Gas Capacities to Meet Compound and Silicon-Based Semiconductor Market Growth
Lehigh Valley, PA. Solkatronic Chemicals, a business unit of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. s (NYSE: APD) Electronics Division, is undertaking several new electronic specialty gas capacity expansions at its Morrisville, PA. manufacturing facility to meet global customers growing processing needs in the compound and silicon-based semiconductor markets.
The business unit - a leading manufacturer, supplier and purifier of dopants and other high purity electronic process gases - is increasing capacities of Blue Ammonia(R), hydrogen selenide (H2Se) and silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4), with a projected July 2000 on-stream for all three products. These latest expansions come on the heels of ammonia, SIF4 and arsine expansions completed at Solkatronic Chemicals Morrisville and Catoosa, Okla. production facilities during the last quarter of 1999.
"With the rapid global recovery in the compound and silicon-based semiconductor markets, the demand for our products for both expansions and new applications is unprecedented," said Thomas W. Goodwin, president of Solkatronic Chemicals. "As the industry experiences dramatic growth, we continue to demonstrate our flexibility and commitment, ramping-up production of core specialty gas products to maximize our total supply capability for customers worldwide," he remarked.
The business unit s proprietary Blue Ammonia product is used in ultra- sensitive gallium nitride processes for the production of blue lasers and light emitting diodes. H2Se is used to manufacture zinc selenide used in high powered carbon dioxide lasers for industrial, medical and infrared optic applications. SiF4 is an important dielectric material critical to 0.18 micron geometrics and to the manufacture of fiber optic cables. All of these markets are projected to grow between 15 and 30 percent per year for the next few years.
Air Products is a leading supplier of specialty gases to the electronics industry, producing its products from ISO-9000 certified facilities in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The company s specialty gas sales have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 30 percent over the last eight years. With sales in excess of $600 million in fiscal 1999, Air Products Electronics Division expects to generate $800 million in revenues in fiscal 2000.
NOTE: The forward-looking statements contained in this document are based on current expectations regarding important risk factors. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed. Important risk factors and uncertainties include the impact of worldwide economic growth, pricing of both the company s products and raw materials such as electricity, customer outages and customer demand, and other factors resulting from fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currencies, the impact of competitive products and pricing, success of cost control programs, and the impact of tax and other legislation and other regulations in the jurisdictions in which the company and its affiliates operate.
Contact:
Air Products and Chemicals
Media: Catherine E. McDonald,
Tel: 610-481-3673
or mcdonace@apci.com
or Investors: Michael F. Hilton
Tel: 610-481-5971 or hiltonmf@apci.com
Air Products and Chemicals
Media: Catherine E. McDonald,
Tel: 610-481-3673
or mcdonace@apci.com
or Investors: Michael F. Hilton
Tel: 610-481-5971 or hiltonmf@apci.com
E-mail: hiltonmf@apci.com
