Air Liquide has secured a major long-term contract with memory chip giant SK hynix, deepening its position in the fast-expanding AI semiconductor supply chain.

 

The agreement centers on SK hynix’s advanced packaging and testing mega-facility for HBM (High-Bandwidth Memory)—a core technology powering the global AI boom. The deal, worth nearly €200 million, marks an early major win following Air Liquide’s acquisition of DIG Airgas earlier this year, strengthening its footprint in Asia’s high-growth electronics market.

 

Under the contract, Air Liquide will design, build, and operate a state-of-the-art nitrogen production unit to supply SK hynix’s new “P&T7” fab in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk province. Scheduled to come online in late 2027, the facility will deliver high-purity gases and high-purity compressed air essential for advanced HBM chip packaging and testing.

 

The project underscores how the integration of DIG Airgas is already reshaping Air Liquide’s regional strategy. By combining its proprietary ultra-high purity gas technologies with DIG Airgas’s established local network and customer base, the company says it has accelerated its growth momentum and strengthened its competitive edge in South Korea’s semiconductor ecosystem.

 

The expansion will also significantly deepen Air Liquide’s presence in the Cheongju industrial hub, where it already operates multiple production sites supporting SK hynix. The new investment further cements its long-term role in enabling next-generation chip manufacturing for AI applications.

 

Ronnie Chalmers, Air Liquide Group Vice President, in charge of supervising Asia-Pacific, stated: "This milestone partnership reflects our strong confidence in the South Korean economy and our long-standing commitment to being a preferred partner in the global semiconductor supply chain. 

 

"Thanks to the integration of DIG Airgas, which brought us a secured portfolio of nearly 20 projects, our teams now combine local agility and global innovation to accelerate Air Liquide’s growth. We are proud to support the ambitions of our partner SK hynix as they play a leading role in the AI revolution.”