Air Liquide invests 200 million euros in Japan to support a leading semiconductor manufacturer in the production of next-generation AI chips

Under a new long-term agreement, Air Liquide will build, own and operate two new state-of-the-art industrial gas production units in Hiroshima, Japan, to support the major expansion of a global leader in the semiconductor industry. With a total investment of 200 million euros, these facilities will provide the industrial gases essential to produce cutting-edge chips, which are crucial to Artificial Intelligence technologies. By expanding its footprint in the country, the Group is enhancing Japan’s contribution to meeting the growing needs of the global semiconductor industry.

Set to begin operations by the end of 2028, Air Liquide’s production units will deliver large volumes of ultra-pure nitrogen, oxygen and argon to support the production of advanced chips. Ultra-high purity gases are essential for ensuring cleanliness and reliability throughout the semiconductor manufacturing process, thereby meeting the industry’s most stringent standards.

Air Liquide has been a major supplier to the Japanese semiconductor industry for over 40 years, with 78 facilities dedicated to Electronics activities, including one Advanced Materials Center in Tsukuba. To accelerate the development of new solutions, the Group relies on its Innovation Campus Tokyo, inaugurated in 2019, whose primary mission is to identify promising molecules to manufacture next-generation chips. 

With this investment, Air Liquide reinforces its position as a leading partner to the semiconductor industry in Japan, and more broadly across Asia. By combining cutting-edge industrial solutions with long-lasting relationships with its customers, the Group is helping leading semiconductor manufacturers accelerate their capacity expansions, thus being a key enabler of the AI revolution.

Ronnie Chalmers, Air Liquide Group Vice President, in charge of supervising operations in Asia-Pacific, stated: "This new facility highlights Air Liquide’s ability to keep pace with our semiconductor customers’ rapid expansion and new investments to develop the next-generation chips which fuel technologies like AI. Japan has been a powerhouse in the semiconductor industry since the 1980s and remains a global technology leader today. Across the country, our experts deliver the high-tech solutions essential to meet the most rigorous standards of our customers in terms of quality, safety and reliability.”

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