Air Liquide has started up a new, energy-efficient air separation unit (ASU) at its facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

The new production unit will enable Air Liquide to increase its supply of industrial gases to customers in the region while minimizing power consumption and overall production costs, according to the company.

With the expansion of the Rancho Cucamonga plant, Air Liquide will roughly double the size of its workforce there by hiring nearly 30 new employees over the next 14 months to fill positions mostly in production and distribution.

Over the last three years, approximately 150 construction jobs were created to build the new ASU, the company said.

Michael J. Graff, president and CEO, said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony: “We are pleased to announce the addition of a state-of-the-art ASU to Air Liquide’s facility in Rancho Cucamonga, as it enables us to better serve our customers, to support the growth of the industrial gas market in Southern California, and to create jobs in the region.

“The new ASU represents Air Liquide’s ability to expand our capacity in a more sustainable way through innovative, cutting-edge technologies.”

Air Liquide has partnered closely throughout the project with Southern California Edison, the electricity provider supplying Air Liquide’s facility in Rancho Cucamonga, to ensure the new plant is both energy efficient and demand-response ready, it said.

The new ASU produces liquid oxygen and nitrogen for a range of industries, including healthcare, food and beverage, steel, glass, electronics, oil and gas, and chemicals.