- Air Liquide is investing €90 million in its Large Industries business in Germany.
- The largest Air Separation Unit in Germany, with a capacity of 2,400 tonnes per day of oxygen, is being built in Oberhausen and will start in 2011.
- A new Air Separation Unit in Hamburg with a capacity of over 500 tonnes per day will be commissioned in 2011.
- Aurubis AG has selected Air Liquide for its long-term oxygen needs in Hamburg and Lünen.
Investment in Large Industries
Air Liquide is investing around €90 million in its Large Industries business in Germany to meet increasing customer demand. This investment is part of the company's strategy to strengthen its market position in the region.
Oberhausen Air Separation Unit
In Oberhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, the largest Air Separation Unit (ASU) in Germany is under construction. Announced on June 5, 2008, this plant will have a production capacity of 2,400 tonnes per day of oxygen and is scheduled to start operations in 2011. The oxygen produced will be fed into a 500-kilometre pipeline network, supplying large customers in the iron and steel, chemical, and petrochemical industries in the Rhine-Ruhr area.
Hamburg Air Separation Unit
Air Liquide will also construct an additional ASU in Hamburg to meet the long-term oxygen needs of Aurubis AG, the largest copper manufacturer in Europe. This plant will have a capacity of more than 500 tonnes per day of gaseous oxygen and liquid products and is expected to be commissioned in 2011.
Strategic Importance
These investments are seen as a significant step in the development of Air Liquide's activities in Northern Germany and a positive sign of the recovery of the investment cycle in Western Europe. The new contract with Aurubis AG further solidifies Air Liquide's market position in the region.
