Germany's Messer Group, a specialist in industrial gases, wants to expand its presence in the world's fastest growing market, said the company's Chief Executive Officer Stefan Messer.

 

The group concluded a co-operation agreement last month with Chinese firm Hangzhou Hangyang Co Ltd for the construction of an air separation unit (ASU).

 

This deal will see China playing an increasingly important role for Messer, with vital parts for the construction of cryogenic plants for the production of industrial gases being made in China. The co-operation between the two parties provides for both the delivery of components for ASU and the exchange of know-how to improve the efficiency and potential of the ASUs.

 

Located in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, Hangyang Co Ltd is China's largest manufacturer of ASUs, gas liquidizers and pressure vessels, and also operates a research centre there.

 

"This partnership offers us new perspectives in plant construction," Messer told China Daily. Messer has so far placed orders for six ASUs from Hangyang, two of which are being constructed for Messer's European operations.

 

Messer has also started a large project in Yangtze Chemical Industry Park in Zhangjiagang of Jiangsu Province.

 

In December, Messer Group laid the foundation stone for the construction of a hydrogen plant with a volume of 4,000 normal cubic metres per hour.

 

An ASU will be constructed in the second stage of the Zhangjiagang project.

The gases produced will be used for the production of oily chemicals and fatty acids for the manufacturing of soap, detergent and edible oil by the Malaysian firm Taiko Palm-Oleo Co Ltd (Taikopo), which is based in Zhangjiagang.

 

The Messer Group also plans to supply industrial gases via a pipeline to more enterprises in the park as well as bulk liquid to customers in East China.

 

According to the CEO of Messer Group, the company regards China as one of its key markets.

 

Messer commissioned an ASU and a gas filling station in Foshan in South China's Guangdong Province in the same month.

 

The ASU has already achieved its designed capacity. About 200 metric tons of atmospheric gases are produced daily in this city.

 

The Messer Group anticipates a sharp rise in demand for industrial gases in Foshan and is gearing itself up for increased deliveries to its customers in the lighting, electronics and processing industries.

 

Messer is a leading industrial gas companies and operates in 31 countries in Europe and Asia, running more than 60 operative companies.

 

Messer started investing in China in 1994 and so far has 14 companies located in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Guangdong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Shanxi and Jilin provinces, with a total investment of US$200 million and a 1,150-strong workforce.

 

Messer has a diverse customer base, including the steel, metal fabrication, chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, auto and electronics industries, as well as applications in medicine and environmental processes.

 

Messer's products include oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, helium, shielding, speciality and medical gases and a wide variety of gas mixtures.