Messer Group officially opened three air separation units (ASU) with a total investment exceeding RMB660 million in Western China's Sichuan province in March 2012. From these new plants Messer will supply oxygen, nitrogen and argon to its customer Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group (PG) and additionally supply manufacturers across numerous industries in the merchant market of the region.
With the fast development of western China, Messer has positive expectations for the future developments of its business in the region. Besides the newly opened plants, in Chongqing an ASU of 10 000 normal cubic meter s per hour and a liquefier of 300 tons per day are scheduled to start operating in Changshou Economic & Technical Development Zone next year to provide industrial gases to renowned manufacturers of the chemical industry. Expansion in the chemical industry market is a significant step in Messer's strategic plan to diversify its pipeline customer base in China.
Messer started investing in China in 1994 and so far has 13 companies throughout the country with a total investment of nearly US$700 million and 1 850 employees.