Linde LienHwa launches its highest quality brand of electronic materials: SPECTRA EM

- Launching SPECTRA® EM brand of electronic materials

- Continued localization of electronic special gas production for F2(fluorine) and HBr (hydrogen bromide)

TAIPEI,Sept. 3,2018 --Linde LienHwa (LLH),the leading supplier of gases and chemicals to the electronics industry in the Asia Pacific region,is introducing the initial portfolio of its highest quality brand of electronic materials called SPECTRA EM at SEMICON Taiwan. This new product line,along with its continuing investment in local production of electronic special gases (ESGs) and electronic bulk gases,enhances LLH's portfolio to meet the growing demand of Taiwanese and regional customers in the semiconductor and display industries. LLH is leveraging access to global expertise to build first-in-kind capabilities in Taiwan to innovate locally for customers.

Introducing SPECTRA EM – Linde LienHwa's highest quality electronic materials

Building upon its SPECTRA family of premier electronic offerings,Linde LienHwa is proud to debut its SPECTRA EM line of electronic materials,distinguished by industry-leading purity,packaging and analysis. The initial products included in the SPECTRA EM family include C3F8,CF4,C4F8,CO,F2/N2 mixtures,HBr,HCDS,NF3 and SF6.

"These products exemplify our commitment to quality,expertise and partnership," states Alex Tong,President of Linde LienHwa. "Over the past three years,we have executed on our strategy to localize production and know-how of electronic special gases to best serve our customers. The SPECTRA EM portfolio delivers on our promise for the highest quality available products."

SPECTRA EM products join an established family of industry-recognized offerings. SPECTRA-N nitrogen generators lead the way in flexible and power-efficient nitrogen supply for semiconductor and display customers. SPECTRA lithography gases have pioneered reliable,precision blends of neon-halogen mixtures,which have enabled DUV (deep UV) lithographic patterning for high performance and efficiency manufacturing.

New production of fluorine mixtures in Guanyin,Taiwan and hydrogen bromide in mainland China

Linde LienHwa has recently commissioned production of two of the newest SPECTRA EM products. Utilizing fluorine generation technology developed by JV partner Linde,Linde LienHwa has expanded production at its Guanyin,Taiwan location to offer fluorine mixes. LLH is the first electronics-grade fluorine facility in Taiwan and is the only grade of F2 manufactured specifically for the electronics industry. Fluorine is a highly reactive gas and it is combined into a 20% blend with nitrogen to yield a mixture that is safe for compression,packaging and transport. Linde also employs this same technology to supply customers in the United States. The fluorine mixtures are used to clean semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

In Tianjin,China,Linde LienHwa has invested to create a new source of electronics-grade hydrogen bromide (HBr) for customers in mainland China,Taiwan and throughout the APAC region. Linde is a leading producer and supplier of HBr globally with production facilities in the US. By employing best practices for purification,analysis and packaging for the new source,Linde LienHwa ensures that its customers will now have an additional source and supply capacity produced in Asia that matches their quality requirements. HBr is a compressed gas that is used as a selective etchant,allowing semiconductor manufacturers to remove one material while leaving a second material untouched. This process has become increasingly important as leading-edge chip manufacturers produce 3D structures to make transistors smaller,faster and use less power.

SEMICON Taiwan

Linde LienHwa will be exhibiting at the SEMICON Taiwan tradeshow in Taipei September 5-7. Its focus will be on the safety,quality,commitment,expertise and environmental leadership that Linde LienHwa and its global partner Linde Electronics bring to the semiconductor industry. Stop by the LLH booth or visit www.linde.com/electronics/spectra_em to learn more about the full portfolio of SPECTRA EM electronic materials.

Fox Fang,Vice President of Electronics Supply Chain for Linde LienHwa,will speak at the co-sponsored Semiconductor Materials Forum on September 6 to be held at the Master Forum Stage,4F,Hall 1,Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. His talk,"Investing in Taiwan: Benefits of Domestic Development and Production of Strategic Electronic Materials," to be given at 14:15,will demonstrate how localization of production creates customer benefits and increases quality outcomes.

SEMICON Taiwan is the annual tradeshow for the semiconductor manufacturing industry in Taiwan. All visitors are welcome to visit Linde LienHwa in the Nangang Exhibition Center in booth number M242. For further inquiries,please contact Ines Huang at ines.huang@linde-lienhwa.com.tw.

About Linde LienHwa

Linde LienHwa is an established joint venture of LienHwa Industrial Corp and The Linde Group,and is the largest industrial gas manufacturer in Taiwan. Through close partnership with the worldwide-based Linde Group,Linde LienHwa has the capability to provide various high quality gas and gas-application technologies. Furthermore,in order to keep up with rapid growth,Linde LienHwa has invested tremendously in the high-efficiency gas production equipment.

About Linde Electronics

Linde Electronics is the global electronics business of The Linde Group and an industry leader in gases for the electronics market—semiconductor,solar,display and LED. Linde Electronics helps electronics companies achieve their goals through a strong focus on quality and environmental leadership,its expertise,commitment to the industry through ongoing investments in processes,engineering,and on-site and localized solutions,a broad portfolio that includes environmentally sustainable and highly specialized and rigorously measured electronic specialty gases (ESGs),bulk/pipeline gases,equipment,and services,and through working closely with customers to better meet their evolving needs.

For more information,visit www.linde.com/electronics or contact electronicsinfo@linde.com.

About The Linde Group

In the 2017 financial year,The Linde Group generated revenue of EUR 17.113 bn,making it one of the leading gases and engineering companies in the world,with approximately 58,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business,with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders,business partners,employees,society and the environment in every one of its business areas,regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

For more information,see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com