Air Products and Dow Corning Enter Long-Term Silane Supply Agreement

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Dec 08, 2011, 01:00 ET

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) and Dow Corning -- a global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation -- entered into a long-term supply agreement for electronic-grade silane, a material used for manufacturing flat panel displays, semiconductors and photovoltaic cells.

The agreement provides Air Products with access to significant silane volume to meet the present and future needs of its global customers, as well as the future growth of the electronics and solar industry.

"This agreement further demonstrates Air Products' commitment to our silane customers around the world, as well as the global electronics industry," said Wayne Mitchell, vice president of Electronics for Air Products. "With over 20 years of experience supplying silane around the world, Air Products is an industry safety leader, providing extensive training to customers in the handling and storage of silane. We believe that Air Products will provide the electronics market with a high quality, reliable and safe solution for their long-term silane requirements."

"Dow Corning and Air Products combine the strength of a silicon manufacturing leader with the expertise and infrastructure capabilities of a global gas distributor to the electronics industry," according to Jim Helwick, vice president, Dow Corning Electronics Solutions. "Air Products, with its commitment to the long-term supply of ultra-high purity silane, is a great channel partner for Dow Corning," Jim added.

"With our silane capacity fully dedicated to the merchant market under a global distributor channel-to-market business model, Dow Corning is offering a cost competitive and reliable first or second source of silane," said Eric Peeters, Dow Corning vice president, Solar Solutions. "The plant's consistent purity and our track record of quality in silicon-based products make silane from Dow Corning a switch customers can make with confidence."

Dow Corning has been producing electronic-grade silane since March 2011 in a newly constructed, state-of-the-art, fully vertically integrated plant in Thomas Township, Mich., adjacent to the polysilicon manufacturing plant of Hemlock Semiconductor Group, of which Dow Corning is majority shareholder. Dow Corning's silane plant, recently ISO-9001:2000 certified with zero non-conformities and zero opportunities for improvement, has a world-leading capacity of 4,000 metric tons per year, producing silane at the same or even higher level of purity currently offered in the market.

About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. In fiscal 2011, Air Products had revenues of $10.1 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 18,900 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

About Dow Corning
Dow Corning (www.dowcorning.com) provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services via the company's Dow Corning® and XIAMETER® brands. Dow Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning's annual sales are outside the United States.

***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release regarding important risk factors. Actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors not anticipated by management, including risk factors described in the Company's Form 10K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2011.

SOURCE Air Products