Air Products said Monday it will raise production of gaseous nitrogen in Cheonan City, South Chungcheong Province, Korea to serve the increasing demand of the electronics industry in one of the country's leading areas for technology manufacturers.

Air Products said it will build a new nitrogen plant at its site in Cheonan Industrial Complex. The new plant is expected to be onstream in the spring of 2012 and will serve the increasing needs of existing customers, as well as new demand from the Chenon-ChaAm Industrial Complex.

"We have been serving the electronics industry in this high-tech region and are pleased to bring additional capacity to support the expanding market," said Wayne Mitchell, vice president and general manager of Electronics at Air Products.

"This investment positions us well to support the growth plans of our customers through a reliable supply in a quick and cost-effective way."

As demand for nitrogen from Electronics customers continues to rise, nitrogen now makes up almost a third of Air Products' Electronics portfolio, up from about 15% in 2005.