Paris, France, June 5, 2024 – Air Liquide is making waves in the semiconductor industry with a groundbreaking investment of over $250 million to establish a state-of-the-art industrial gas production facility in the United States. This new plant is set to power one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers by providing high-purity gases essential for memory chip production.
Location and Job Creation
The cutting-edge facility, located in Idaho, will primarily serve Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) and other regional customers. Scheduled to be operational by the end of 2025, this investment promises to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs during both the construction and operational phases.
Innovative Carrier Gas Solution
Air Liquide’s innovative project is part of a comprehensive Carrier Gas solution, meticulously designed for large-scale customers. By leveraging digital technologies, standardization, and modularization, the facility will offer unmatched reliability, swift delivery, and efficient project execution, ensuring exceptional value for local clients.
Commitment to Sustainability
This project exemplifies Air Liquide’s dedication to advancing technological progress while reducing the environmental impact of the semiconductor sector. The new high-efficiency Carrier Gas Facility is designed to cut energy and logistics requirements, boasting a 5% increase in power efficiency compared to previous models. Additionally, the plant aims to source 100% of its electricity from renewable resources within five years, further enhancing its green footprint by minimizing truck transportation through on-site gas production.
Executive Insights
Matthieu Giard, CEO of Americas for Air Liquide Group, expressed his enthusiasm, “We are delighted to enhance our 30-year partnership with Micron Technology. This investment not only supports the production of cutting-edge memory chips, essential for the burgeoning demand driven by Artificial Intelligence, but also solidifies our position as a technological leader in the Electronics industry. This contract is a testament to our strategy of closely aligning financial and extra-financial performance as part of our 2025 strategic plan, ADVANCE.”
Scott Gatzemeier, Corporate Vice President of Front-End U.S. Expansion at Micron Technology, highlighted the broader impact, “Micron’s investments are pivotal in bolstering U.S. supply chain resilience, especially as memory production scales up significantly. Our Idaho fab will drive increased demand for equipment, raw materials, and jobs, expanding domestic front-end material sourcing sevenfold over the next decade. Micron continues to build a robust semiconductor ecosystem across the U.S. with strategic investments in Idaho and New York, supported by suppliers from nearly all 50 states.”
About Air Liquide Electronics
Air Liquide Electronics, which generated €2,483 million in revenue in 2023, is a global leader in designing, manufacturing, and supplying ultra-high purity gases and advanced materials for the electronics industry. As a long-term partner, Air Liquide Electronics delivers innovative and sustainable solutions to the semiconductor, photovoltaics, and flat-panel display markets, backed by a dedicated team of over 4,500 employees worldwide.
For more information, visit Air Liquide Electronics.
