Linde plc, founded in Germany, is now based in Ireland and headquartered in the UK. It is the world's largest industrial gas company, serving various industries with atmospheric and process gases. Formed in 2018 by the merger of Linde AG and Praxair, the company is a member of the Hydrogen Council and is investing in hydrogen vehicles. Linde plc is ranked on the Fortune Global 500 and Forbes Global 2000.
Linde plc holds the 187th position on the Forbes Global 2000 list. The company's presence in various sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and electronics contributes to its ranking.
Linde plc is ranked 463rd on the Fortune Global 500 list. The company's diverse operations in industrial gases and engineering contribute to its global standing.
Carl von Linde founded Gesellschaft für Linde's Eismaschinen Aktiengesellschaft to further develop mechanical refrigeration systems for brewing and food industries. The company later expanded into developing lower temperature systems and patented the liquefaction of air in 1895.
Carl von Linde patented his air separation process in 1902, which was immediately utilized in the first large-scale air separation plant installed near Munich in 1903.
In 1907, Carl Von Linde, along with Cecil Lightfoot, opened the Linde Air Products Factory in Buffalo, New York, marking the company's expansion into America for industrial scale oxygen extraction.
In 1909, Linde engineers developed the Linde–Frank–Caro process to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, key feedstocks for the emerging chemicals industry.
After World War I, Linde's U.S. assets were confiscated and incorporated into the Union Carbide Corporation as the Linde Air Products division in 1917.
In 1929, Carl von Linde took full ownership of Güldner Motoren-Gesellschaft mbH, a company he had formed in partnership with others in 1904, which later evolved into a business manufacturing engines, tractors, and mechanical handling equipment.
In 1935, Friedrich Linde, the general manager of Linde AG, received the title of Wehrwirtschaftsführer, highlighting the company's national importance and its benefits during the German rearmament.
During World War II, all departments of Linde AG were involved in armaments production. Linde manufactured oxygen and helium installations for IG Farben at the Auschwitz concentration camp.
In 1992, the Linde Air Products division of Union Carbide was spun off as Union Carbide Industrial Gases Inc., which was later renamed Praxair.
In 1996, the company acquired the rights to the Linde name from Praxair.
In 2000, the company completed the acquisition of AGA AB of Sweden for $3.71 billion.
In 2004, the company sold its refrigeration division to Carrier Corporation for €325 million.
In September 2006, Linde acquired BOC for €11.7 billion in cash.
Linde's forklift business was rebranded as KION Group and sold to KKR and Goldman Sachs for €4bn in January 2007.
In March 2007, the BOC Edwards semiconductor equipment business was sold to private equity firm CCMP Capital for €685m.
In April 2007, the company sold the industrial gas business of BOC Gazy to Air Products & Chemicals for €370 million.
In 2008, the head office of Linde AG was relocated from Wiesbaden to Munich.
In 2010, the company acquired over 95% of the shares of Sri Lanka–based Ceylon Oxygen Ltd.
In June 2011, PT Linde Indonesia announced its plan to build an air separation plant in Cilegon, Banten.
In May 2012, the company acquired the homecare business of Air Products & Chemicals in several European countries.
In August 2012, the company acquired Lincare Holdings, a healthcare gas provider in the US, to become the largest home care gas supplier in North America.
In February 2016, Lincare Holdings acquired American HomePatient, Inc.
In December 2016, Linde Korea completed the acquisition of Air Liquide Korea's industrial merchant & electronics and liquid bulk air gases divisions.
In early June 2017, Linde and Praxair agreed to merge.
In July 2018, the company agreed to sell certain business assets in North and South America to Messer Group and CVC Capital Partners for $3.3 billion.
In October 2019, the company invested £28 million in ITM Power, a British manufacturer of electrolyzers for hydrogen production.
On 29 August 2019, the company acquired a 10% stake in Hydrospider, a Swiss producer of hydrogen.
In January 2020, the company sold its LifeGas division.
In April 2020, Gasum acquired the company's LNG and Biogas business in Sweden and Norway.
Linde aims to foster a work environment that values inclusion and celebrates employee diversity.
In September 2022, Linde sold Gist Limited to Marks & Spencer for £145 million.
On March 13, 2024, Linde stock achieved its highest closing price of 474.89. This marked a significant milestone for the company in terms of stock performance.