Air Liquide has signed a 15-year contract with Saint-Gobain

Under the terms of this contract, Air Liquide will design, install and operate a new air separation unit to supply up to 2,000m3/h of nitrogen to Saint-Gobain.This unit producing liquid nitrogen and oxygen will have spare capacity to serve other industrial customers in both Romania and the nearby part of Bulgaria. This new unit is due to start up in September 2006. The investment for Air Liquide will be around 10 million euros.

About 100m3/h of hydrogen will also be provided to Saint-Gobain from Air Liquide‘s HYOS on-site electrolizers. Hydrogen and nitrogen will be used by Saint-Gobain to provide a protective atmosphere for the tin bath phase used in the manufacture of window panels.

Said Klaus Schmieder, Executive Vice-President of Air Liquide and Chairman of its European Management Committee: “We are very pleased with this new development for a leading group like Saint-Gobain which we also serve in many other countries. Calarasi is close to the Bulgarian border and the Black sea region, both fast-growing areas with high industrial potential. Our new production capacity will significantly reinforce our position in Central Europe”.