Dépêches

Air Liquide Starts Up New California Plant

Dépèche transmise le 7 novembre 2011 par Business Wire

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At a ribbon cutting ceremony held today, Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP announced the start up of an energy-efficient Air Separation Unit (ASU) at its facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The new production unit will enable Air Liquide to increase its supply of industrial gases to customers in the region while minimizing power consumption and overall production costs.

With the expansion of the Rancho Cucamonga plant, Air Liquide will roughly double the size of its workforce there by hiring nearly 30 new employees over the next 14 months to fill positions mostly in production and distribution. Over the last three years, approximately 150 construction jobs were created to build the new ASU.

Michael J. Graff, President and CEO, American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. and a member of Air Liquide’s Executive Committee, said at the ceremony: “We are pleased to announce the addition of a state-of-the-art ASU to Air Liquide’s facility in Rancho Cucamonga, as it enables us to better serve our customers, to support the growth of the industrial gas market in Southern California, and to create jobs in the region. The new ASU represents Air Liquide’s ability to expand our capacity in a more sustainable way through innovative, cutting-edge technologies.”

Distinguished guests attending the ceremony were State Senate Minority Leader Bob Dutton and Assemblyman Mike Morrell, as well as several local elected officials and leaders from the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce.

Air Liquide has partnered closely throughout the project with Southern California Edison, the electricity provider supplying Air Liquide’s facility in Rancho Cucamonga, to ensure the new plant is both energy efficient and demand-response ready.

The new ASU produces liquid oxygen and nitrogen for a range of industries, including healthcare, food and beverage, steel, glass, electronics, oil and gas, and chemicals.

Note to editors: Photos of the ribbon cutting ceremony are available upon request.

Air Liquide in the U.S.

Air Liquide companies in the U.S. employ nearly 5,000 employees in over 200 locations, and offer industrial gases, equipment and related services to customers in the large industries, industrial merchant, electronics and healthcare markets.

Air Liquide’s Industrial Merchant business is present throughout the U.S. providing gases in bulk tankers or in cylinders to diverse sectors in automotive, manufacturing, food, pharmaceuticals, materials, energy, technology, research and to distributors.

Industrial gases optimize production processes, enhance safety and improve product quality.

Air Liquide is the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, and is present in 80 countries with 43,600 employees. Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and rare gases have been at the core of Air Liquide’s activities since its creation in 1902. Using these molecules, Air Liquide continuously reinvents its business, anticipating the needs of current and future markets. The Group innovates to enable progress, to achieve dynamic growth and a consistent performance.

Innovative technologies that curb polluting emissions, lower industry’s energy use, recover and reuse natural resources or develop the energies of tomorrow, such as hydrogen, biofuels or photovoltaic energy… Oxygen for hospitals, homecare, fighting nosocomial infections… Air Liquide combines many products and technologies to develop valuable applications and services not only for its customers but also for society.

A partner for the long term, Air Liquide relies on employee commitment, customer trust and shareholder support to pursue its vision of sustainable, competitive growth. The diversity of Air Liquide’s teams, businesses, markets and geographic presence provides a solid and sustainable base for its development and strengthens its ability to push back its own limits, conquer new territories and build its future.

Air Liquide explores the best that air can offer to preserve life, staying true to its sustainable development approach. In 2010, the Group’s revenues amounted to €13.5 billion, of which almost 80% were generated outside France. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (compartment A) and is a member of the CAC 40 and Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 indexes.