Air Products, a global leading supplier of industrial gases, performance materials, equipment and technology solutions, recently received a nearly 50-member delegation comprised of representatives from China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association (CNFIA) in its Asia Technology Center located in Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park. The company and the delegation also held an “innovation-driven” conference to exchange nitrogen fertilizer industry knowledge and experiences.
Joining the delegation were Li Shousheng, executive vice chairman of China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF) and chairman of CNFIA, other leaders of CNFIA and provincial nitrogen fertilizer associations in Shangdong, Anhui and Henan, as well as senior executives and technology experts of fertilizer and methanol companies from various regions in China.
“We feel extremely honored to have CNFIA and other influencers and key players in China’s fertilizer industry with us today,” said Saw Choon Seong, vice president and general manager – Asia Merchant Gases at Air Products in his welcome remarks. “Air Products is committed to helping fertilizer manufacturers become more productive, energy-efficient and sustainable. The meeting is a good platform to promote industry collaboration and a good opportunity to share our advanced technologies.”
China's fertilizer industry is undergoing a period of consolidation and structural adjustment. To find solutions to key challenges facing the industry, CNFIA selected some advanced MNCs in China and recently organized visits and exchanges for executives of large-scaled fertilizer manufacturers to learn from these innovative companies’ experience. Air Products was one important part of their tour in Shanghai in view of the increasing demand for onsite gases supply, new technologies and solutions from the key players.
In the conference, Air Products introduced its innovation-driven development; large air separation unit (LASU) design and manufacturing capabilities; gasification technologies and experiences; and benefits of the sale of gases model. The delegation also toured the company’s showroom and gas application labs.
Other senior Air Products management hosting the delegation included Feng Yan, China Government Relations Vice President, Jim Yu, Vice President of Asia Tonnage Business Development, and Dr. Miao Ping, Asia Technology Center Director etc.
“This is my first time to visit Air Products. I am impressed by its people and their business expertise. In the midst of over-capacity and the necessary task of structural adjustment, it is more important for the industry to upgrade rather than focusing only on reduction. To me, Air Products has business opportunities in the switch from natural gas to coal as the main fuel for production, coal chemical demonstration projects and carbon dioxide capture. I look forward to seeing Air Products and fertilizer manufacturers deliver the best quality, technology and services so as to build and enhance their reputation. CNFIA will support their cooperation and development as guided by our principle of ‘Enable others, develop ourselves’,” said Li of CNFIA in his closing remarks.
Established in 1992, CNFIA is the only professional association in China’s fertilizer industry and is managed by China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association. It is a nation-wide, non-profit and voluntary industrial organization consisting of fertilizer, methanol and ammonium nitrate manufacturers, related R&D institutes, equipment manufacturers and social groups. Striving to serve and bridge the industry, companies and government, it is mainly responsible for: speaking for the companies and industry to safeguard their rights and interests; promoting the exchange of technical and market information between domestic and international companies to drive advancement, optimization and upgrade; and developing industry regulations and conventions for fair competition. Currently, CNFIA has 360 members.
Air Products has been serving the China market for more than 25 years. The company was the first global industrial gas company to establish an internal R&D capability in China when it set up its Asia Technology Center in 2005 to support the growth of the company’s business and the industry development. The Center is currently the company’s second largest R&D facility in the world. Air Products’ pursuit and success in developing large ASU projects in China has been bolstered with winning in 2011 what was at that time the world’s largest single on-site ASU order ever awarded to an industrial gas company. Today, the company has over 60 operating entities, 90 production facilities and 3,000 employees and sales revenue exceeding USD 1 billion in China.
Source: http://www.airproducts.com/