Combined market share
The Linde Group is a world leader among industrial gas and engineering companies. It combines the local presence of Linde and BOC to form a strong global network. We are particularly well positioned to exploit opportunities in the most important growth markets in the gas industry. Today, we have a strong presence in the growth regions of Eastern Europe, South America and Southeast Asia/China.
Strong international presence
At the product level, the combination of our divisions significantly enhances our market prospects in the growth product segments helium, hydrogen, healthcare and special gases. In four of these seven important growth segments, we plan to become the market leader with estimated growth rates between 4% and 15%.
Manufacturing
The Linde Group is the global market leader in gases for manufacturing, in particular for welding. With a combined market share of 34 %, economies of scale play an important role in preserving competitive advantage. R&D contributes strongly to The Linde Group’s cutting-edge position in this market: Linde’s ultra-pure helium has made laser-welding possible, itself a superior solution for the processing of light metals such as aluminium for the auto industry.
Food
A wide range of pure gases and gas mixtures help to keep food and drinks fresh. The Linde Group works in close partnership with food and beverage companies around the world to provide commercial solutions to improve product quality, lower production cost and increase customers’ competitive advantage. We are the global market leader in food-related gas products, with approximately 22 % market share. Standardization of gas mixtures in the food industry is now facilitating the use of The Linde Group’s products for smaller food processing companies - driving growth in this segment.
Healthcare
Medical gases have been used in healthcare for over one hundred years: for example as medication, in anaesthetics, for pain relief or to calibrate instruments. The Linde Group’s products range from medical gases and equipment for hospitals - such as for the treatment of newborn babies with respiratory failure - to homecare equipment for patients with respiratory disease. With close to 20 % market share, the Linde Group is second worldwide in this highly profitable segment which has average annual growth rates of up to 10 % in certain fields. Within this, Homecare is the fastest growing segment.
BOC has been capitalizing on its strong position in Asia, with strong growth in this market. Its subsidiary, Afrox Oxygen Ltd, provides medical gases to almost every hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa the company recently won an important tender to supply oxygen in the state sector.
Electronics
What distinguishes specialty gases from typical industry gases is their extremely high level of purity – this is required in particular by the electronics industry in the production of semi-conductors, various electronic devices and solar panels etc. With now more than 10% of the worldwide market, the Linde Group has become one of the major players in this profitable segment. BOC’s operations are particularly strong in this field, especially with the growth of the TFT-LCD display market. As most display manufacturers are based in Asia (as are many of the leading semi-conductor manufacturers), a strong market presence there is highly beneficial for the Group.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is mainly used in the chemical, refining and semi-conductor production sectors, but it may also have an impressive future as an environmentally-friendly fuel. As the leading global supplier of industrial gases and hydrogen plant technology, the Linde Group will be in a prime position when it comes to harnessing hydrogen fuel for various applications. We are working closely with carmakers and the energy sector to make progress in developing hydrogen technologies. We see ourselves as a key player in any technological move towards a hydrogen society.
Metallurgy
In gases for metallurgy, the Linde Group is world market leader, thanks primarily to the strong position of former BOC in this segment. Combined world market share amounts to 16 %. Growth opportunities are being realized in China especially: for example, Taiyuan Iron and Steel (TISCO), one of the largest manufacturers of stainless steel in the world, is a long time partner. It will see two new air separation units come on stream next year, delivering a further 2,800 tonnes a day of oxygen for steelmaking.
The Linde Group has a solid record in innovation for the metallurgy sector: the Linde REBOX® oxyfuel solution in reheating e.g. helps rolling mills and forge shops to increase the furnace’s output, while at the same time reducing fuel consumption. Oxyfuel combustion at low flame temperature achieves ultra low emissions of nitrogen oxide.