Air Products Will Build 6 New Facilities in California

In a move state leaders are expected to tout as a sign of rising confidence in California’s economy and business climate, Air Products & Chemicals Inc. will announce plans today to spend $270 million to build six new plants and expand others in the Golden State over the next two years.

The new plants will be in Orange County, Santa Fe Springs, another location near Los Angeles and in Martinez in the Bay Area. Air Products, which makes industrial gases, chemicals and environmental systems, will also expand an existing facility in City of Industry.

Details will be announced at a New York news conference this afternoon.

Patrick J. Witmer, state government relations manager for Allentown, Pa.-based Air Products, said Tuesday that the new facilities will create about 90 permanent jobs. But many workers will be employed building the plants, he said, and the expansion will increase Air Products’ capital investment in California by 50%.

The new facilities will make products designed to help companies reduce air pollution, Air Products said.