Corporate Heritage
Linde stands for almost 140 years of technological progress. Technology, innovation and an inventive spirit have characterized our company from the very beginning.
Carl von Linde’s curiosity as an inventor, his persistence in the implementation of his ideas and theoretical concepts, as well as his ability to recognize the requirements of his customers and fulfill their need for reliability and quality are all timeless factors for success.
Carl Linde founds the Gesellschaft für Linde's Eismaschinen in Wiesbaden, Germany together with five partners. One of them was a wealthy Rhineland brewer who clearly saw the big benefits of Linde's mechanical refrigeration system for the beer brewing industry.
Carl Linde himself travels to the United States to establish Linde Air Products as a subsidiary in the U.S. The business becomes very successful and additional shareholders engage themselves in the young company.
In the turmoil of the First World War Linde loses the United States subsidiary due to expropriation. Linde Air Products becomes part of the newly formed Union Carbide Corporation.
The former Linde division from Union Carbide is spun off as Praxair and goes public. In the subsequent years a couple of major acquisitions strengthen Praxair’s position as one of the top industrial gases businesses in the world.
Linde AG regains the rights to use the brand name Linde to do business in the United States.
Linde acquires the Swedish gases company AGA and therefore expands the business footprint in Northern Europe and South and Middle America.
Praxair acquires Air Liquide’s Germany business serving larger customers in the refining, chemical and steel industries along the pipeline systems, and smaller customers in bulk, medical, specialty and packaged gases.
Linde AG acquires BOC. The Linde Group is formed. The successful Material Handling business is sold and becomes part of KION, which is still using Linde as a brand name.
Linde acquires United States based Lincare (also a company with Linde roots).
Praxair acquires NuCO2, the leading provider of beverage carbonation solutions in the United States giving the company opportunity to continue growing the business in the U.S., enhancing distribution efficiency, and extending NuCO2’s offerings to customers in other regions of the world.
Praxair acquires Yara International ASA’s (Yara) European CO2 business expanding the company’s presence in resilient end-markets such as food and beverage.
Merger of Equals of Praxair and Linde. To honor the common heritage the combined company is named Linde plc.