December 03, 2008

Air Products Signs Third Contract With China\'s Guofeng Steel

Air Products announced that it has been awarded a new contract by Tangshan Guofeng Steel Co Ltd for the supply of industrial gases. This is the third Air Products long term contract signed with Guofeng Steel since 2003 to supply gaseous oxygen, nitrogen and liquid argon to its steel mills at Hebei Province in Northern China.

A new air separation unit adjacent to Guofeng Steel is to be built and is scheduled to come on stream in late 2008. This will be the third Air Products built air separation unit in Tangshan for Guofeng Steel. The new ASU will be designed and built primarily by Air Products engineering and manufacturing centers in China.

Mr Zhang Zhen GM of Guofeng Steel said that "Air Products safety and technical standards as well as its commitment to customers deeply impress us. We are delighted to sign the new contract with Air Products to support our business expansion.”

Mr Wilbur Mok president of Air Products Asia said that "Guofeng Steel has been an Air Products' strategic customer since 1999. We are honored to have been selected as its partner once again to support its next phase of expansion. It underscores the satisfaction of a long standing customer in Air Products."

Tangshan a major industrial city in Hebei Province is one of the leading steel production centers in Northern China and Guofeng Steel has nine production facilities that manufacture 7 million tonnes of iron and steel annually.