US industrial gases producer Air Products plans to build, own and operate a new large-scale air separation unit (ASU) in the Twin Cities area (Minneapolis / St. Paul)  of Minnesota. The company said the new facility, scheduled to go on stream in early-to-mid-2020, will provide reliable liquid industrial gas options for customers and distributors in the region.

The plant will produce liquid nitrogen, oxygen and argon, allowing Air Products to strengthen and grow its presence in a dynamic geography, said Francesco Maione, the company’s vice president, Northern Region, Americas.

Malone said the investment shows the gases producer’s “further commitment” to customers in the US Midwest region and will expand its ability to reliably supply new customers as well.

By its own account, Air Products currently owns and operates more than 300 air separation plants in over 40 countries worldwide. In addition to its own plants, the company said it has sold, designed and built more than 2,000 air separation units for others globally.

Air Products’ cryogenic capabilities span plants with a capability of 50 t/d to single-train facilities with oxygen production capacities beyond 4,000 t/d, it said.