Air Products Lands Another Thin-Film PV Win in Asia

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) today announced it has signed a gas supply contract to provide bulk and specialty gases to CHINT Solar (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd. (CHINT Solar) at its new thin-film photovoltaic (PV) facility in Binjiang District, Hangzhou, China. The contract calls for the supply of hydrogen, nitrogen and argon, as well as specialty gases such as silane, nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and dopant mixtures.

CHINT Solar is a subsidiary of CHINT Group Corporation, a producer of low-voltage electrical power transmission and distribution industries in China. Specializing in the manufacturing of photovoltaic products, CHINT Solar's annual production capacity of crystalline and thin-film PV is expected to exceed 300MW by 2010.

"Air Products is excited to be CHINT Solar's gas supply partner, and we look forward to applying our expertise in thin-film photovoltaic applications to help them quickly reach their goal of 210MW in thin-film PV by 2010," said Corning Painter, Air Products' vice president and general manager, Global Electronics Division. "Grid parity is key for the PV industry. Air Products continues to lower our customers' cost-per-watt through innovative technical, product and equipment solutions."

CHINT Solar's thin-film PV modules, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, will be manufactured in much the same way as thin-film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD). As the leading supplier to the TFT-LCD industry, Air Products is ideally suited to supply the new facility.

Last year, Air Products won more than 20 new contracts in Asia serving both the crystalline and thin-film PV markets. "We are well positioned to meet the growing needs of our customers around the world, particularly in Asia," said Painter.

With the demand for renewable energy and improved efficiency on the rise, Air Products is well positioned to support these developing markets with its expertise and project experience in areas including large scale hydrogen supply for cleaner transportation fuels, developmental work on the hydrogen economy, hydrogen vehicle fuelling and infrastructure, leading natural gas liquefaction technology, and now the growing supply of gases and services for the photovoltaic industry. For more information on Air Products' photovoltaic offerings, please visit www.airproducts.com/photovoltaics.

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. Air Products has annual revenues of over $10 billion, operations in more than 40 countries, and 21,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations.

SOURCE Air Products