Linde
Encyclopedia : L : LI : LIN : Linde
- For other uses, see Linde (disambiguation)}}}.
Linde AG is an international company with three principle activity areas: industrial gases, plant engineering, and materials handling, headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany. In 2005 the company had annual sales of €9.5 billion and 42,000 employees.[Linde Annual Report 2005]. Linde AG stock is traded on the German stock exchanges and on the SWX in Zurich. The shares form part of the DAX 30 index with the symbol LIN. In March 2006 Linde made a preliminary proposal to acquire The BOC Group for €11.7 billion. [BBC], 6 March 2006
Business Activities
Linde AG today is made up of two principle divisions: Linde Gas and Engineering, and Materials Handling.
- Linde Gas and Engineering comprises two sub-divisions.
- *Linde Gas is a supplier of a wide range of industial gases and chemicals. These may be supplied in portable high-pressure cylinders, in liquefied form by road tanker, or in gaseous form via pipeline to large customers.
- *Linde Engineering designs and builds large-scale chemical plants for the production of industrial gases including Oxygen, Nitrogen, Argon, Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide , LPG liquefaction plants, and plants for the manufacture of Olefins.
- Linde Materials Handling manufactures materials handling equipment such as fork lift trucks and warehouse equipment under three principle brandnames: Linde Lansing, STILL, and OM Pimespo.
History
On 21 June 1879, Professor Doctor Carl von Linde founded the Gesellschaft für Linde’s Eismaschinen Aktiengesellschaft to develop further his work in developing mechanical refrigeration systems for the brewing and food industries. Following success in this market, he moved on to developing lower temperature systems resulting in 1895 in a patent covering the liquefaction of air. Out of this work his company developed equipment for the separation of air and other gases. One of the first large-scale air separation plants was installed in Höllriegelskreuth, near Munich in 1903.
In addition to plants air separation, in 1906 Linde engineers started working with other on processes to separate the constituents of water gas. This work developed into capabilities in the manufacture of Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide, which were further key feedstocks for the emerging chemicals industry.
In addition to his interests in refrigeration, Carl von Linde had also partnered with Hugo Güldner and others in 1904 to form the Güldner Motoren-Gesellschaft mbH in Aschaffenburg. Linde took full ownership of the company in 1929, and from this origin developed a business manufacturing first engines and tractors, and then from the 1950's onwards, a range of mechanical handling equipment such as fork lift trucks.
Linde has had a complex history of takeovers, mergers and divestments, and in 2000 completed the acquisition of Aktiebolag Gasaccumulator AB (AGA AB) of Sweden. This was followed in 2004 with the divestment of the original core of the Linde business - the refrigeration division - to Carrier Corporation of the USA. [Linde Corporate Heritage]
References
External links
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