SK Materials Air Plus, a New Start as 'SK Air Plus'

SK Ecoplant's wholly owned subsidiary SK Materials Air Plus has changed its name to 'SK Air Plus' and is accelerating stable growth.

SK Materials Air Plus recently held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders and announced on the 19th that it had changed its name to SK Air Plus. The new name reflects the company's commitment to improving not only the production of industrial gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, etc.) essential for semiconductor processes and the petrochemical industry but also the future of the planet. While preserving the meaning of the previous name, it also expresses the intention to strengthen synergy with its parent company SK Ecoplant and in providing comprehensive semiconductor services.

SK Air Plus Ulsan Headquarters Factory View. Photo by SK Ecoplant

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The industrial gas industry requires high technological expertise and close customer accessibility for stable supply, making entry barriers high. However, since there are no alternative industries and long-term contracts are established, steady growth is possible.

SK Air Plus, incorporated as a subsidiary of SK Ecoplant on the 1st of last month, has large-scale bases nationwide, including its headquarters in Ulsan and locations in Icheon and Cheongju, continuously generating profits. Through air separation units (ASU), it mainly produces and supplies nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and other gases essential for semiconductor, petrochemical, and refining industries from atmospheric air to its demand sites.

In particular, with the recent AI boom increasing semiconductor demand, the demand for industrial gases necessary for semiconductor production is also expected to rise. Nitrogen acts as a carrier to move semiconductor raw materials to wafers, oxygen is mainly used to treat waste gases generated during semiconductor manufacturing, argon is used in semiconductor plasma processes, and liquefied carbon dioxide is a material required for semiconductor photolithography processes.

The combination of SK Air Plus’s accumulated capabilities in industrial gas production, supply, and plant operation with SK Ecoplant’s experience in large-scale projects, plant construction, and comprehensive semiconductor services is also anticipated. SK Ecoplant recently established a high-tech organization through organizational restructuring. This new unit is responsible for providing comprehensive services including EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) of semiconductor plants such as those for SK Hynix, infrastructure expansion, environmental services, and recycling. SK Air Plus is expected to play a key role centered on supplying industrial gases essential for semiconductor manufacturing processes, creating synergy.

Oh Jong-jin, CEO of SK Air Plus, stated, “SK Air Plus has competitiveness as a solution provider for the semiconductor industry,” adding, “We will continue qualitative growth in response to the semiconductor market expansion and significantly contribute to SK Ecoplant’s comprehensive semiconductor service business.”

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