Specialty chemical manufacturer Albemarle Corp of Baton Rouge,LA,USA says that its board of directors has authorized the expansion of its facility in Yeosu,Korea,which is currently in the final stages of construction and will produce commercial quantities of finished catalysts and components used in the polymer industry.
The additional capacity will be dedicated to manufacturing Albemarle's PureGrowth products,including high-purity trimethyl gallium(TMG),triethyl gallium(TEG)and trimethyl aluminum(TMA)used in metal-organic chemical vapor deposition(MOCVD)for processing semiconductor,LED and optoelectronic devices.The Korean expansion will complement the firm's existing capacity for these products,as well as trimethyl indium(TMI),at its facility in Baton Rouge.
"These new assets will enable us to meet both existing and future demand in the rapidly expanding electronic chemicals market,"says Amy H.Motto,VP of Albemarle's Catalysts global business unit(which encompasses the Performance Catalyst Solutions division).
"Over 80%of the global demand for LED products is in Asia,"notes Jenny S.Hebert,global product manager for Electronic Materials."Expansion of our Korea facility will ensure security of supply in this high-growth region while reducing transportation risks,"she adds."These state-of-the-art facilities will also allow us to consistently maintain the high purity standards required of electronic-grade metal organics."
Property for the expansion has been acquired and infrastructure plans have already been finalized and approved.The project is due for completion in 2013.
