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Air Products to Build New Production Facility for PRISM® Membrane Products
Oct. 29, 2008
Lehigh Valley, Pa., USA –Air Products, a worldwide leader in production of gas separation and purification membranes, today announced plans to construct a new production facility in St. Charles, Missouri to increase manufacturing capacity of its full line of PRISM®® membrane products. The new facility will increase Air Products' membrane output by over 50 percent. The new plant is to be on-stream in early 2010. more
Saehan Industries Inc. becomes Woongjin Chemical Co. Ltd.
March 21, 2008
Saehan Industries Inc. changed its company name to Woongjin Chemical Co. Ltd., and expressed its ambition on the 21st to take off again as a global enterprise with expertise in chemical material. more
Water technopreneur awarded the first Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize
March 19, 2008
SINGAPORE - Dr Andrew Benedek, a Canadian researcher and successful technopreneur, was announced the winner of the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize in Singapore today. more
Air Products to Build New Production Facility for PRISM® Membrane Products
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. (October 29, 2008) – Air Products (NYSE: APD), the worldwide leader in production of gas separation and purification membranes, today announced plans to construct a new production facility in St. Charles, Missouri to increase manufacturing capacity of its full line of PRISM® membrane products. The new facility will increase Air Products' membrane output by over 50 percent. It will provide for state-of-the-art hollow fiber production and module assembly technology across the full range of multiple PRISM membrane offerings. The new plant is to be on-stream in early 2010.
"This new facility will ensure our ability to meet the strong demand for high performance membranes. Membrane technology is being used increasingly in new and growing applications, and we will be positioned to meet that need with facilities capable of producing multiple size membrane product offerings," said George Lewis, global business manager, Equipment Sales at Air Products. Air Products will continue to operate its current PRISM® membrane production plant in St. Louis, which opened in 1984 and was expanded several times, most recently in 2007. "Locating near our existing facility will allow us to leverage our skilled workforce and know-how to bring the facility into full production more quickly and efficiently. We appreciate the support of both the City of St. Charles and the Missouri Department of Economic Development in helping to make this project a reality," Lewis added.
Membrane technology is used to separate and purify gases. Membrane modules contain thousands of hollow fibers to provide high processing capacity in a compact unit. Membranes are often used to produce nitrogen from compressed air; for hydrogen recovery and purification; for ratio adjustment to balance a mix of gases; air and gas dehydration to remove water, which can impact compressed gas performance; and natural gas treatment for removal of impurities. "The ability for membranes to separate gases by taking advantage of the differing permeability and solubility rates in feed gases, and do so in a highly reliable lightweight system, with few moving parts and to be able to operate in constrained spaces, makes membrane technology attractive for many applications," said Lewis.
Nitrogen membrane demand is driven by product needs from the chemical production, food processing, liquefied natural gas, oil and gas, transportation and mining industries. Hydrogen membranes are used in chemical, refining, and biofuels processes. Dehydration membranes are used in compressed air systems and for high pressure requirements such as for natural gas dehydration. Air Products' PRISM membranes have been used to produce gases to inert fuel tanks aboard aircraft, for use in coal mine methane recovery operations in China, to enrich oxygen for passengers on the world's longest and highest highland railway, the Qinghai-Tibet railway, and to produce nitrogen for blanketing chemical, methanol and liquefied gas shipments around the globe.
Air Products' PRISM line of gas generation systems supplied generated nitrogen and oxygen to more than 1,500 customers in over 30 countries worldwide. More information on PRISM membrane systems can be found at: www.airproducts.com/membranes.
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 $10 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 22,000 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.
Media Inquiries: Art George, Tel. +1 (610) 481-1340; e-mail: georgeaf@airproducts.com.
Investor Inquiries: Nelson Squires, Tel. +1 (610) 481-7461; e-mail: squirenj@airproducts.com.
Saehan Industries Inc. becomes Woongjin Chemical Co. Ltd.
Saehan Industries Inc. changed its company name to Woongjin Chemical Co. Ltd., and expressed its ambition on the 21st to take off again as a global enterprise with expertise in chemical material.
Woongjin Chemical, having confirmed its new company name through its regular shareholders meeting held today in the Grand Auditorium of Gumi-1 Factory, aims to reach annual sales of one trillion (1,000,000,000,000) won and operating profits of one hundred billion (100,000,000,000) won through making its preexisting businesses into higher value-added ones, developing new businesses, and maximizing synergy with the Woongjin Group.
Woongjin Chemical stated, ¡°For these purposes, the FIBER Business Division will focus on the development of differentiated high value-added non-clothing products, together with the development of highly functional new products and enlargement of their uses. The TEXTILE Business Division is planning to concentrate on the development of differentiated high profit products through connecting the development techniques of polyester filament and marketing, and finding environment-friendly non-clothing material. The Filter Division will devote all its strength in enlarging the water treatment business, together with developing new products and expanding its overseas markets. The Material Business Division is planning to switch its business structure to environment-friendly, highly functional, high value-added products.¡±
Woongjin Chemical started off in 1972 as Cheil Synthetic Textile Co. of the Samsung Group, has been leading the Korean chemical filament industries through its polyester fiber business, textile business, and environment and material business, and changed its company name to Saehan Industries Inc. in 1997 after being separated from the Samsung Group in 1995. After being designated as a workout enterprise due to management aggravation, it established a foundation for normalized management through painful restructuring. It has been incorporated into its new affiliate company through M&A with Woongjin Group as of January 15.
The CI of Woongjin Group expresses its English company name into a circle which is connected on the sides, and the top and the bottom, meaning that the business enlargement will be made possible through cooperation of persons and that the four circles will become a powerful wheel. The six icons surrounding the CI expresses the six spirits of ¡°Tto-tto Sarang,¡± the management philosophy of the Group – the love toward work, society, change, structure, challenge, and its customers.
Water technopreneur awarded the first Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize
SINGAPORE, 18 March 2008 - Dr Andrew Benedek, a Canadian researcher and successful technopreneur, was announced the winner of the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize in Singapore today.
The Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize is an international award recognizing an individual or organization for outstanding contributions in the world of water management. Such works have to solve the world’s water problems through the application of innovative technologies or the implementation of policies and programmes that benefit mankind.
Named after Singapore’s founding father, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, the award comes with a cash prize of SGD300,000 (USD 215,000). The award is sponsored by the Singapore Millennium Foundation, a philanthropic body supported by Temasek Holdings that has pledged S$1.5 million over five years to the award.
Dr Benedek pioneered the development of low-pressure membranes that enabled drinking water to be produced from even highly polluted water. Today, many developed and developing countries have benefited from Dr Benedek’s groundbreaking water solution.
“Dr Andrew Benedek is held in high esteem by the global water industry community for his pioneering work in low-pressure membranes. For this outstanding contribution, he deserves to be the recipient of the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize,” said Professor Anthony Gordon Fane, UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science & Technology, University of New South Wales.
Dr Benedek’s revolutionary water treatment stood out in a field of 39 international nominations. Low-pressure membranes use less energy, lower operating costs and greater ease of operation compared with conventional water purification technologies.
The widespread adoption of low-pressure membranes has made the technology even more affordable. Utility providers in the United States, Europe, China, India, the Middle East, South America, Japan, Australia and Singapore have incorporated Dr Benedek’s membranes into their water treatment processes. The technology was instrumental in Singapore’s development of reclaimed water, branded NEWater.
In addition, low-pressure membranes are also used in the pre-treatment stage in sea water desalination. This makes the process more cost-effective and therefore more viable in many countries.
The affordability of low-pressure membranes is a boon to small towns and villages which are in dire need of clean potable water. Portable water treatment units can be assembled to treat water for small communities affordably.
According to the UN Population Fund, more than 3.3 billion people will live in an urban environment by 2008 and this is likely to rise to five billion in 2030. The urban population in Asia alone will double to 2.6 billion between 2000 and 2030. This trend will put great pressure on the need for drinking water and Dr Benedek’s discovery is a big leap that will benefit many generations to come.
“Through Dr Benedek's significant R&D contribution and commercialization efforts, a superior low-cost technology for water treatment is now available for large scale use,” said Mr Tan Gee Paw, Chairman of the Nominating Committee of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize.
Nominations for the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize award went through a rigorous selection process. The Nominating Committee, comprising chief executives of multi-national companies and water utilities, leading academics in water research, policy and management and government officers, evaluated the nominations based on criteria such as merits of the technology, policy or programme, its scale of delivery, application and implementation and above all, the impact and benefits to humanity. It recommended the winner to the Water Prize Council, which is chaired by Dr Tony Tan, Chairman of the Singapore National Research Foundation for its endorsement.
The award is the highlight of the inaugural Singapore International Water Week which will be held at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 23 to 27 June 2008. A gold medallion, an award certificate and the cash prize will be presented to Dr Benedek by Singapore’s Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
Dr Benedek, who is now based in the United States, will deliver the inaugural Singapore Water Lecture on 24 June 2008.
About the Singapore International Water Week
The Singapore International Water Week is the global platform for water solutions. It will bring policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.
Comprising the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo and Water Festival, it culminates in the presentation of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, a prestigious international award to recognise outstanding contributions in solving global water issues. The inaugural Singapore International Water Week will be held from 23 to 27 June 2008. The theme is Sustainable Water Solutions for Cities.
For more information, please contact:
Wong Maiyun, email: Wong_mai_yun@pub.gov.sg, Tel: 67313156
Sally Toh, email: sally_toh@pub.gov.sg, Tel: 67313108
Please visit our website: www.siww.com.sg
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