Linde plc is a global leader in industrial gases and engineering solutions, with operations in over 100 countries and a legacy of technological innovation that spans more than 140 years. Headquartered in Woking, United Kingdom, Linde is a publicly traded company listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: LIN) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (DAX 40). The company is renowned for its production and distribution of atmospheric, process, and specialty gases used across various industries including manufacturing, healthcare, energy, electronics, and food processing.
Core Business
Linde's operations are divided into two primary business segments:
- Gases: Production and distribution of industrial and medical gases.
- Engineering: Design and construction of gas processing plants, including air separation units, hydrogen plants, and natural gas liquefaction units.
Linde’s industrial gases are critical to a wide range of applications, such as metal fabrication, semiconductors, chemical processing, water treatment, and respiratory therapy in healthcare settings.
Product and Service Offerings
Linde’s comprehensive product portfolio includes:
-
Atmospheric Gases:
- Oxygen
- Nitrogen
- Argon
- Rare gases (Krypton, Xenon, Neon)
-
Process and Specialty Gases:
- Hydrogen (for clean energy, refining, and mobility)
- Carbon dioxide (used in beverage carbonation, fire suppression, and plant growth)
- Helium (for medical imaging, scientific research, and electronics)
- Acetylene, Ammonia, and a broad array of electronic and specialty gases for the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries
-
Medical Gases:
- Medical-grade oxygen
- Nitrous oxide
- Anaesthesia and respiratory therapy solutions
-
Engineering Solutions:
- Air separation units (ASUs)
- Syngas plants
- Hydrogen and CO2 capture plants
- LNG and ethylene plants
-
Support Services:
- On-site gas generation
- Cylinder and bulk gas delivery
- Pipeline gas supply
- Digital monitoring and automation services for customer gas usage optimization
Specialization and Core USP
Linde’s core strength lies in its integrated value chain that combines gas production, delivery, and engineering design, making it one of the few global players capable of delivering end-to-end gas infrastructure.
Key differentiators:
- World's largest industrial gas company by revenue
- Proprietary technologies in air separation, hydrogen production, and liquefaction
- Strong focus on sustainability and clean energy
- Broad patent portfolio and global R&D centers
- Extensive infrastructure for on-site, pipeline, and remote gas delivery
Financials
Linde plc maintains a strong financial position, with consistent growth in both revenue and profitability:
- 2023 Revenue: USD $33.8 billion
- Operating Profit: USD $7.4 billion
- Market Capitalization: Over USD $200 billion (as of 2024)
- Employees: Approximately 66,000 globally
- Annual R&D Spending: Over USD $300 million
Linde has a stable dividend payout record and is widely considered a blue-chip stock within the industrials and sustainability sectors.
Shipment Data
Linde operates one of the world’s most advanced gas supply networks:
- Bulk gas shipments via cryogenic tankers
- Pipeline infrastructure in major industrial zones worldwide
- Cylinder and microbulk systems for SMEs and healthcare facilities
- Hydrogen and LNG transported via ISO tank containers and tube trailers
- On-site gas plants for large clients (including steel, energy, and petrochemical industries)
Target Market
Linde serves a broad array of industries, including:
- Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
- Chemicals and Petrochemicals
- Semiconductors and Electronics
- Food and Beverage Processing
- Metals and Fabrication
- Oil and Gas
- Aerospace and Automotive
- Renewable and Clean Energy
Its customers range from small-scale local businesses to Fortune 500 industrial giants, as well as governments and institutional healthcare systems.
Capabilities
- Ownership and operation of thousands of gas production and distribution sites
- Engineering capacity to deliver large-scale gas plants globally
- Hydrogen mobility initiatives including fueling stations and supply for fuel-cell vehicles
- Advanced IoT and telemetry systems for gas monitoring and predictive analytics
- Partnerships with energy firms for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and green hydrogen projects
Certifications and Compliance Records
Linde upholds international safety and quality standards:
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001
- FDA and EMA compliance for medical gases
- REACH and GHS compliance for chemical safety
- Member of the Responsible Care® program
- Regularly audited for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance
Customer Testimonials
“Linde is not just a supplier; they’re a technology partner helping us reduce carbon emissions in our steelmaking process.”
— Operations Director, Global Steel Producer
“Their reliability in supplying medical oxygen during the COVID-19 pandemic was critical to saving lives across multiple regions.”
— Director of Hospital Procurement, UK NHS Trust
Major Achievements
- Named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for multiple consecutive years
- Developed and operated one of the world’s largest green hydrogen production plants
- Merged with Praxair Inc. in 2018, creating the world's largest industrial gas company
- Opened hydrogen fueling stations across Europe, North America, and Asia
- Over 1,400 patents in industrial gas applications and processing technologies
- Committed to Scope 1 & 2 carbon neutrality by 2035 and net-zero by 2050
Linde plc continues to define the future of clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable healthcare through its innovation-led approach and unparalleled global infrastructure in industrial gases and engineering.
