Jan 12 2011
Air Products (NYSE: APD) today announced that its subsidiary in Taiwan, Air Products San Fu Co. Ltd., has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) to provide nitrogen and bulk gases to its new Fab 12 Phase Three and Phase Four in the Tainan Science Industrial Park (TSIP).
Air Products San Fu has established a leading supply position in TSIP, the largest science park in Taiwan. It serves its customers through large, ultra-high purity (UHP) bulk gas facilities and a pipeline that is fed by one of the world's largest UHP nitrogen facilities. Air Products will supply nitrogen to UMC's new 300mm wafer fab via its extended pipeline system in the park.
"UMC is a leading global semiconductor foundry and has been a strategic customer for Air Products. We are honored to again be selected to support their business growth," said Corning Painter, vice president and general manager, Electronics for Air Products. "TSIP is one of the largest science parks in the world with a cluster of key electronics companies whose demand for gases have been growing along with the industry recovery. Our pipeline system and bulk gases facilities have created a reliable and flexible network to meet any new volume demand in a quick and cost-effective way."
Air Products' customers in TSIP include major TFT-LCD manufacturers and other semiconductor customers. UMC is the world's second largest foundry company and a leading 300mm wafer manufacturer. When Phase Three and Phase Four come onstream, Fab 12's total annual capacity is estimated to reach one million 300mm wafers.