Strengthening our position in Electronics

The rapid development of digital technologies has never had so much momentum. Artificial intelligence, 5G and smart devices (Internet of Things) are revolutionizing science, industry and our everyday lives. Semiconductors are at the heart of this revolution; their shortage during the Covid-19 pandemic almost paralyzed several industrial sectors. Their large-scale and secure supply has therefore become a global and geostrategic issue. In response, manufacturers are investing the equivalent of 100 billion dollars every year⁽¹⁾ in this sector. The market is estimated to be worth 1,000 billion dollars by 2030⁽²⁾, double the current market valuation. This growth is being driven by the introduction of major government plans that are specifically focused on semiconductors, such as the Chips Acts in the United States and Europe. Air Liquide is contributing to this powerful dynamic by providing the largest semiconductor manufacturers with support for their development, both technological and geographic, with the ultimate goal of consolidating its leadership position.

To strengthen its position in the global market of molecules and services for the electronics industry, Air Liquide has increased its investments in Asia, where it has been the leading supplier of industrial gases for the electronics industry for 30 years. Hundreds of millions of dollars were invested in the construction of two advanced materials production centers to support the development of Taiwanese and South Korean semiconductor giants. By establishing these production centers in the immediate vicinity of its customers’ plants, Air Liquide is improving competitiveness and the collaborative development and production of new cutting-edge molecules that are vital to the manufacture of more complex, more compact and more powerful semiconductors.

Air Liquide is also collaborating with some of the largest semiconductor manufacturers in the world. The Group recently signed a contract extension with one of its long-standing partners, Globalfoundries, for sites in the United States (Malta, New York) and Singapore; Air Liquide currently supplies these sites with ultra-pure nitrogen for semiconductor manufacturing. The Air Liquide plants in Malta will be modernized and a new production unit will be constructed in Singapore. The goal is to increase the energy efficiency of these facilities. For example, the Singapore unit will save energy equivalent to the total energy consumption of more than 3,650 Singaporean households.

By strengthening its presence in all major semiconductor production centers, Air Liquide is positioning itself as a global strategic partner in the development of ultra-high-tech semiconductors. These semiconductors are vital for the development of increasingly sophisticated electronic devices in a wide range of fields, from artificial intelligence and electric vehicles to cloud computing⁽³⁾ and connected solutions for smart cities!