(openPR) - Messer, the industrial gas specialist, is investing over Euro 20 million in the development of the Turkish gas market

Frankfurt-based Messer, the largest privately managed industrial gas specialist, is investing over Euro 20 million in a production facility for industrial gases in Turkey. Apart from an air separation plant for the production of nitrogen, oxygen and argon which will go into operation in mid 2009, a and a new administration building are planned. The air separation plant is state-of-the-art in terms of energy efficiency and is being built at the heart of the Turkish industrial conurbation which is located approximately 90 km to the west of the metropolis of Istanbul. In Turkey, Messer's main customers are shipyards, car manufacturers and hospitals. The air separation plant will also produce ultrapure medical oxygen for patients with respiratory diseases. Messer Aligaz Sanayi Gazlari was founded in 1974 and now employs around 70 people at two sites in Istanbul and at sites in Manisa and Bursa. Since 2003, the annual requirement for industrial gases has doubled from 7,000 tonnes to over 14,000 tonnes. Today in Istanbul, acetylenes for welding and thermal cutting as well as medical laughing gas are produced while gases and welding gas mixtures are bottled. With its distribution centre in Bursa, Messer Aligaz has operations right in the heart of the Turkish automotive industry. Through its investment, Messer would like to share in Turkey's economic growth.

Unchanged: Messer invests Euro 280 million
The Messer group is making a huge investment in the development of the independent product supply of industrial gases which are used in all sectors, mostly for process improvement. Because of the different areas of application, the sale of industrial gases is seen to be a business that is independent of economic cycles. Messer is therefore sticking to its objectives: From 2007 to 2010, a total capital expenditure of approximately Euro 280 million is planned for industrial gas production plants in Europe. In September, the first of the new air separation facilities went online in Tarragona, Spain. In October, an air separation unit on the site of the ArcelorMittal steelworks in Zenica, Bosnia Herzegovina, commenced production of oxygen and argon. In addition to the facility in Turkey, a further seven air separation units are under construction in Europe.

Messer is one of the leading industrial gas companies, and is active in over 30 countries in Europe and Asia, as well as Peru, with over 60 operating companies. Its international activities are managed from Frankfurt am Main, whilst management of core technical functions – logistics, engineering, production and applications engineering – is undertaken from Krefeld. In 2007, about 4,400 employees generated consolidated sales of €705 million.
From acetylene to xenon, the Messer Group has one of the most diverse product portfolios on the market – it produces industrial gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, helium, shielding gases for welding, specialty gases, medical gases and many different gas mixtures.
The Messer Group has state-of-the-art research and competence centers in which it develops applied technologies for the use of gases in almost every sector of industry, in food technology and environmental technology, medicine as well as research and science.

Messer Group GmbH
Vice President
Corporate Communications
Diana Buss
Gahlingspfad 31
47803 Krefeld

Phone: +49 (0) 2151 7811-251
Fax: +49 (0) 2151 7811-598
Email: diana.buss@messergroup.com
www.messergroup.com