Air Liquide has inked a long-term deal with Zhejiang Huafon Spandex (Huafon) for hydrogen supply to Huafon’s cyclohexanone project with a 120,000-ton annual production capacity in Liaoyang Aromatics and Fine Chemical Park, Liaoyang city, Liaoning province, China. Cyclohexanone is a critical material used in the production of nylon.
As per the deal, Air Liquide will make an investment in a new steam methane reformer plant, which will generate and supply 13,000 Nm3/hour of hydrogen and steam through pipelines to Huafon. Shanghai-based Air Liquide Engineering and Construction team will design and manufacture this new unit, which will utilize Lurgi’s advanced technologies that provide better energy efficiency, safety and higher reliability. This new unit is anticipated to be installed by the end of 2013.
This new hydrogen facility will become the third largest plant run by Air Liquide and its subsidiaries in the Chinese region. In January 2012, a large hydrogen unit began operations to supply for Bayer MaterialScience in Shanghai.
Jean-Marc de Royere, Asia Pacific Vice President and member of the Air Liquide Executive Committee, stated that the company is happy to be selected to supply hydrogen to Huafon’s production site situated in Liaoyang. This new deal corroborates the company’s capability to supply not only air gases but also hydrogen to major Chinese chemical companies. It also demonstrates the company’s involvement in promoting Liaoning province industrial development and widening its reach in northeast China.
The Huafon Group’s President, Mr. You Xiaoping stated that the company is happy to ink a long-term agreement with Air Liquide. The company can now concentrate more on its core business as Air Liquide’s industrial gas solutions provide high reliability and efficiency.
Zhejiang Huafon Spandex is a listed firm of the Huafon Group, which produces polyurethanes resins for leather and shoes and is the largest domestic producer of spandex.
Source: http://www.airliquide.com