1. GASIS AND SIRVICES TOR INDUSTRY
---r 1997 AlR LTQUTDE ANNUAL REPORT
?.-,-,1
Another hrgh-growth area for the Group
is the semiconductor industry. Air Liquide
established its largest Total Gas and
Chemical Management Center ever at
silicon wafer manufacturer M EMC-SW,
in Sherman, Texas. This in-house service
involves more than 30 Air Liquide people
working full-time at the customer's plant.
These teams manage ultra-pure gases and
chemical operations and inventories,
maintain distribution systems and provide
leading-edge analytical and monitoring
services. Several ultra-pure nitrogen plants
have also been commissioned for
companies such as lBM, Dominion
Semiconductor, Hyundai Semiconductor
and Texas lnstruments. Lastly, Air Liquide
purchased Texas lnstruments' Chemical
Operations Department, which further
expands its technologies and products
offered to the semiconductor industry.
Pipeline gas sales also rose significantly,
due to the commissioning of several gas
production plants, notably in Beaumont,
Texas (1500 tld) and in Provo, Utah (800 t/d).
HYDROGEN AND CARBON MONOXIDE
Woddwide installed capscities linted to long-term
contrects signed rt thc end of 1997
100 reference level in 1996
New mpacities commissioned
I Existing capacities
_6-09
THE AMERICAS
I UNTTED STATES
Business development, productivity gains
and a good economic environment are
three reasons explaining Air Liquide's
sharp increase in sales and earnings
in the U.S.
Cylinder gas sales rose considerably, due
in particular to the acquisition of several
distributors. Liquid gas sales also
augmented, particularly in the food industry.
The U.S. subsidiary enjoyed a strong
increase in on-site unit gas sales. Ten new
VSA oxygen units were commissioned
in 1997, half of which are used for
oxycombustion applications in the glass
industry. More and more customers are
relying on technologies and services
developed by Air Liquide, such as the
remote instantaneous measurement of gas
tank levels, or continuous data monitoring
and analysis for process optimization.
The AlnatrM Sampler, for example, optimizes
gas atmospheres in heat treating furnaces.
1996 1997 19!'8 1999 2000