Air Liquide

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L'Air Liquide S.A.

Type	Public (Euronext: AI)
Founded	1902
Headquarters	Quai d'Orsay, Paris, France
Key people	Benoît Potier (Chairman of the board and CEO)
Industry	Chemicals
Products	Industrial gases, fine chemicals
Revenue	€13.10 billion (2008)[1]
Operating income	▲ €1.919 billion (2008)[1]
Profit	▲ €1.220 billion (2008)[1]
Employees	43,000 (2008)[1]
Website	www.airliquide.com

L'Air Liquide S.A., or Air Liquide (French pronunciation: [ɛʁ likid]; English: /ˌɛər lɨˈkiːd/; literally "Liquid Air", Euronext: AI), is a major French company supplying industrial gases and services to various industries including medical, chemical and electronic manufacturers. Founded in 1902 it is second on the world market in its field, operating in over 70 countries. It is headquartered in Paris, France. Air Liquide owned the patent for Aqua-Lung until it time-expired.

Although Air Liquide's headquarters are located in Paris, France, it also has a major site in Japan (ALL), as well as in Houston, TX, and Newark, DE, USA. There is an emphasis on Research and Development (R&D) throughout the entire Air Liquide company. R&D targets the creation of not only industrial gases, but also gases that are used in products such as healthcare items, electronic chips, foods and chemicals. The major R&D groups within Air Liquide focus on analysis, bioresources (foods and chemicals), combustion, membranes, modeling, and the production of Hydrogen (H₂) gas.

[edit] History

1902: Georges Claude and Paul Delorme develop a process for liquefying air to separate the components. First drops of liquid air and creation of the company of the same name. Paul Delorme is the first president.
1906: Launch of international expansion, first in Belgium and Italy, then also in Canada, Japan and Hong Kong.
1913: Air Liquide joins the Paris Bourse.
1945: After the war, Jean Delorme, second president of the Group seeks to restore roads, renovate, develop the tool industry.
1957: Launch of great activity and industry networking pipes irrigating several major industrial areas in the world.
1962: Launch of space adventure
1986: Deployment in the United States with the acquisition of Big Three and implementation in many countries, particularly in Europe and Asia.
1995: Creation of Air Liquide Health: structure, teams, a gas supply medical equipment and services, fully dedicated to the medical sector, first at the hospital, then to patients' homes.
2001: Acquisition of Messer Griesheim in South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, Egypt, Argentina and Brazil.
2003: Creation of a joint venture with BOC in Japan: Japan Air Gases (JAG), strengthening the group's presence in the Far East market.
2004: Acquisition of Messer Griesheim in Germany, UK and the USA.
2007: Acquisition of Linde Gas UK.
2007: Acquisition of the German engineering company Lurgi, which doubles the capacity of the engineering group
2008: The investment company Eurazeo, which owns 5.6% since 2006 group, announces to divest its stake.

[edit] Environmental record

The Air Liquide group helps companies in a number of industries through industrial gas and energy solutions services. As a result of Air Liquide, many companies worldwide have improved their process efficiency and have been able to better handle their environmental responsibilities.^[2] The French company operates around 200 hydrogen production units in 70 different countries. In the period from 2005 to 2008, Air Liquide has increased its hydrogen production by more than 50 percent.^[3]

In early 2008, Air Liquide entered a long term contract with Nest Oil’s Renewable Diesel Plant to supply hydrogen. Air Liquide is building a unit on Jurong Island to provide the means for the deal. They also hope to turn the unit into an integrated Hydrogen Pipeline Network that will be able to provide services to many companies around the region.^[2]

Also, Air Liquide in conjunction with Natural Resources Canada, through the Canadien Transportation Alliance, have opened the first permanent hydrogen fueling station in Ottawa. The station is the tenth hydrogen station built in Canada. The two companies each contributed $800,000 to construct the hydrogen station. Luc Doyon, President and CEO of Air Liquid Canada stated, “As we work toward the transition to a renewable hydrogen economy, Air Liquide Canada is delighted to see the next step in this project become a reality. Our partnership with government and industry to educate the public about hydrogen as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels is an example of our joint commitment to sustainable development.”^[4]

[edit] Financial data

Source :'OpesC'

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Annual Results 2008". Air Liquide. http://www.airliquide.com/file/otherelement/pj/2008_performance_eng40665.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-03-28. 
2. ^ ^{a b} ""Air Liquide: SOXAL Develops Key Hydrogen Business in Singapore", fininfo.fr. Jan 15, 2008. Accessed May 16, 2008.
3. ^ "Air Liquide signs letter of intent with ConocoPhillips to construct new hydrogen unit in the San Francisco Bay Area", euronext.com. Jan 30, 2006. Accessed May 16, 2008.
4. ^ "Environment Minister Baird Opens Ottawa's First Hydrogen Fuelling Station", Marketwire. Oct 14, 2007. Accessed May 16, 2008.

[edit] External links

• Official site

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