Invisible Gases, Visible Successes: How Linde Makes the World More Productive

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Construction of the first petrochemical plant commenced in 1965. The reward for all the company’s hard work: over 1,000 process engineering patents. As the technology leader in the field of gas plants, Linde plans, schedules and constructs turnkey facilities all around the world to the highest standards — from air separation systems to natural gas liquefaction plants and petrochemistry solutions. The company has now built over 4,000 plants, including the world's biggest air separator built in 1997 for Pemex in Mexico.

From the Air Separator to the Pressure Cylinder

Production, provision and application: In 2019, Linde is responsible for around a quarter of global gas production, from liquid gas for the energy sector through olefins for the chemical industry to medical gases. And, of course, processing methods like adsorption, absorption or cryotechnical procedures, e.g. for purification and pre-treatment of natural gas or for CO₂ separation, form part of this.

In 1994 one of the largest gas centers in Europe was taken into operation in Leuna. In 1999, Linde became the fourth-largest provider of industrial and medical gases with the acquisition of Swedish company AGA.

To ensure that these gases reach the consumer, the company offers a wide range of supply solutions: Small amounts of special gases for around two million customers are supplied by Linde in around 25 million pressure cylinders. The company operates more than 450 filling plants and 3,500 trucks for this purpose — and shines with technological milestones such as the Genie gas cylinder made of composite plastic.

Would you like a bit more? For more than 50,000 customers, the answer is a resounding “yes.” And Linde delivers: 18 million tons of cryogenically liquefied gas, which is delivered in around 3,400 tanker trucks. And if this is not enough, it is also possible to supply directly from on-site production. Around 450 of such on-site plants for applications ranging from air separation to hydrogen and synthetic gas production are operated by the specialists on behalf of major customers all around the world. Other plants supply entire industrial areas via pipelines. Nobody at Linde settles for off-the-shelf solutions: The gas experts use modular systems for on-site production and have a flexible and efficient solution with matching business model in the range in the form of the ECOVAR product line.

Gases — a Success Story

For almost a century and a half, innovation has been part of the DNA of the world leader in gases. In 1873 Carl von Linde has his first own refrigerating machine built. This is followed in 1877 by an improved version for sale, which lays the foundations for the company foundation. The entry into the world of gases follows with air liquefaction (patented in 1895) and the so-called “Linde air,” a 50:50 mix of oxygen and nitrogen.

Linde’s oxygen apparatus is patented in 1902. At this point in time, the constantly growing company has long outgrown its testing station at the address in Nymphenburger Strasse, and in 1901 Linde relocates to Höllriegelskreuth just outside the gates of Munich/Germany. The company soon widens its portfolio to include gas engines. And even though the two World Wars represent significant disruptions, right from the start the company pursues a program that focuses on internationalization.

Two Make One: Linde and Praxair Merge to Become Number 1 of the Gases

A new chapter begins in 2019, when the old company Linde AG merges with US gas specialist Praxair to form the new company Linde. The merger worth 75 billion euro creates the world's largest supplier of industrial gases. From this huge merger, the two companies anticipate synergy effects in excess of one billion dollars. In the process, the future partners build on joint roots: Praxair was founded in 1907 by Carl von Linde as Linde Air Products in Cleveland, Ohio, before it was placed under the administration of the US Government during the First World War.

“Linde and Praxair are two players with individual strengths. It is very exciting for us all to be bringing these strengths together, both inside the company and beyond,” explains Mehlan. This is because the new company Linde has once again set itself the challenge of creating milestones in the history of gas production. And — typically for the “gaseous” hidden champions of the process industry — this may well be in areas where you might not expect it. In the process, the new company will pool the strengths of both of the old companies, and the expertise that was previously separate will contribute to joint developments.

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