Linde announced plans to invest $40 million towards building a large-scale air separation unit to manufacture products in Southern Georgia/Northern Florida essential to hospitals and healthcare providers, food processors, glass manufacturers, metal fabricators and independent welding and gases distributors.

"Linde plans to extend its strong southeast merchant gases supply network farther south to increase our ability to satisfy growing customer needs," said Pat Murphy, president of Linde Americas. "Linde has been effectively expanding this market for several years and has been supplying customers from its plants in Cartersville, Georgia, and Aiken, South Carolina. The envisioned plant would expand our service capabilities to support the medium and long term growth of key accounts and industries in the region."

At its 23 plants and other facilities located in Florida and Georgia, Linde currently employs over 2000 people. 

"Locating a plant closer to customers also reduces our carbon footprint, which is an important part of Linde's commitment to sustainability," Murphy said.

In the 2015 financial year, The Linde Group generated revenue of USD19.7 bn (EUR 17.944 bn), making it one of the leading gases and engineering companies in the world, with approximately 65,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.