Industrial gases specialist Messer has built a new nitrogen plant on the grounds of electronics giant Harman to produce nitrogen on-site for the manufacturing of electronic products.
Located on the premises of the Harman Becker Automotive System Manufacturer in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, the nitrogen generator is designed to be more energy efficient and is intended to replace the previous deliveries by road.
According to Messer, the specific electricity consumption per cubic metre of gas supply will be reduced to one third compared to the previous nitrogen supply.
“The operation of on-site production plants for industrial gases is a dynamically developing strategic business area for Messer supporting our customer’s decarbonisation efforts across various industries,” said a Messer spokesperson.
A Samsung company, Harman manufactures electronic and acoustic products for the automotive industry such as amplifiers and navigation systems.
Nitrogen plays an essential role in the electronics industry, mainly in preventing oxidation and contamination during manufacturing processes.
In the production of semiconductors, nitrogen creates an inert atmosphere, shielding sensitive components from air, which can cause corrosion or degrade performance.
©Messer
Nitrogen purging removes moisture and oxygen from equipment, ensuring clean, dry environments key for delicate processes like soldering, welding and printing circuit boards.
It is also used in cooling electronic components, enhancing efficiency and longevity.
In addition to being produced from generators, nitrogen can also be produced from air separation units (ASUs). The Europe air separation unit (ASU) market is expected to register a CAGR of 3% between 2024 and 2029, driven by the growth in steel and process industries.
However, high energy consumption and high capital costs are expected to hamper the growth of the market during the forecast period.
The market is dominated by Germany, which may witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period, according to Mordor Intelligence. This growth is due to the increasing investments and rising demand for industrial gases in different end-user industries.
The chemical and pharmaceutical industry ranks third in the country, trailing automotive and machinery. With plans to double R&D spending $14.44bn in 2022 to $28.98bn by 2050, growth is anticipated in this sector, driving demand for ASUs.
In May 2022, PKN Orlen, a Polish company invested $172m in an ASU for oxygen and nitrogen production at the plock refinery in Germany.
