Press Releases
Linde invests RMB 200 million in southern China for new UHP gases supply programme
Shenzhen, CHINA – 16 November 2011 – Increasing its commitment to the fast developing Chinese thin-film flat panel display market, Linde Greater China, a member of The Linde Group, a world leading gases and engineering company, has announced an investment of RMB 200 million (EUR 22 million) to construct an on-site gases supply facility in Shenzhen, southern China, to deliver ultra high purity (UHP) gases to leading supplier of Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) displays and services, Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT).
The investment follows the signing of a long-term gas supply contract for Linde’s subsidiary in southern China, Linde GISE, to deliver ultra high purity gases to the CSOT Gen8.5 TFT-LCD fabrication plant in Guangming High Technology Park in Shenzhen.
Linde will provide CSOT with an on-site turnkey gas supply installation delivering bulk nitrogen, oxygen, argon, hydrogen, helium and carbon dioxide gases that are essential in the manufacturing of thin-film displays.
A significant part of the RMB 200 million investment programme will be the construction of the largest on-site nitrogen generator of its type in China. A Linde SPECTRA-N on-site nitrogen generator, constructed by Linde Engineering Division, is scheduled to go on stream in the fourth quarter of 2011, delivering up to 3,0000 Nm3/h of ultra high purity nitrogen and will ensure a highly efficient and cost-effective gas supply for use in the manufacturing process. The facility will be supported by large capacity storage tanks and supply systems.
"CSOT’s new TFT-LCD Gen 8.5 fabrication laboratory requires high quality, highly reliable supply of raw materials for our large scale manufacturing output for the region, and Linde can fully meet the principles of CSOT’s highest standard requirements of supplier,” said He Cheng Ming, CEO of CSOT.
"We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with China Star to further develop and extend our leading gases solutions in the electronics TFT-LCD sector, and work with customers to improve reliability, productivity and control through intelligent turnkey gases installations,” said Steven Fang, Head of Linde Greater China, “This project with CSOT builds on our long-term commitment to cater to the needs of new technology developments in China’s electronics market, further strengthens our position as the leading gases and engineering company in South China and the overall growth market of China.”
Linde and CSOT will also engage in a joint study looking into the future development of a gases research and development centre to facilitate the industrial and technological upgrading in Shenzhen and Guangdong.
CSOT is a newly formed trilateral joint venture between TCL, Shenzhen Century Science & Technology Corporation (Century), and Samsung Electronics. CSOT’s fab plant in Guangming High-tech Park is a government supported and self-innovated project, designed to produce 100,000 LCD panels per month and 17 million LCD TV modules per year.
The Linde Group
The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 50,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2010 financial year, it achieved sales of EUR 12.868 bn. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
In the Greater China region, Linde has close to 4,000 employees working in around 50 subsidiaries and joint ventures, and 150 operational plants in major industrial hubs across the region. Linde Greater China is headquartered in Shanghai.
For more information, visit Linde at www.linde.com.cn