Air Products and BOC join forces

Air Products and Chemicals of Allentown, PA, has joined forces with competitor BOC Gases of Murray Hill, NJ, to build a production facility for industrial gases. Expected to be ready in the second quarter of 2000, the $40 million facility will be located in Bethlehem, PA, and will produce more than 1000 tons per day of liquid oxygen, nitrogen, and argon. The two companies decided to enter into the 50/50 joint venture because they needed additional production capacity and desired to achieve economies of scale, according to an Air Products spokesperson. Sales and marketing efforts for both firms will not be affected by the joint venture.