Solvay and Air Liquide have entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement to establish a fluorine gas business.
The JV will build, own and operate modular on-site fluorine cleaning gas units to provide an economic, environmentally friendly and reliable product to the flat panel display and silicon thin film photovoltaic industries for cleaning applications. Fluorine gas is a cleaning gas that has no global warming potential and helps customers leverage their productivity.
Solvay runs a large-scale fluorine production and raw materials supply chain, while Air Liquide will provide its infrastructure and industrial gas supply relationships with electronics manufacturers.
Solvay Vincent Chemicals Sector group general manager and executive committee member Vincent de Cuyper said the collaboration will facilitate in satisfying growing demand for environmentally-friendly cleaning gases. "The combination of Air Liquide's market experience along with Solvay's proprietary modular technology, will help our partnership to provide significant economic benefits to its customers and also bring advantages for the environment," he added.
Air Liquide senior vice-president and executive committee member François Darchis said that by developing the non-greenhouse cleaning solution alternative for their customers, it reiterates its commitment to environmental preservation. "High-tech solutions and the environment are two of the Air Liquide Group's growth drivers," he said.
Solvay is engaged in its chemicals business which provides soda ash, hydrogen peroxide, sodium bicarbonate and speciality products such as fluorinated chemicals.
