Germany's Linde Group sets RP expansion

MANILA, Philippines - Germany-based Linde Group, a leading global supplier of industrial, process and speciality gases, will expand aggressively in the Philippine market after acquiring two local gas companies four years ago.

Linde Philippines managing director Dennis Jordan told reporters that they are expecting to grow their revenues by 15 percent this year from P2.2 billion in 2009, anchored on an expansion program they have been carrying out since 2006.

To start its aggressive marketing strategy, Linde Philippines would be implementing the rebranding of Consolidated Industrial Gases Inc. (CIGI) and Southern Industrial Gases Phils.  (SIG) into the Linde brand.

Linde, with 48,000 employees, has been operating in 100 countries all over the world. In the Philippines, it has distribution facilities and gas and gear sales centers that include five sites in Luzon and 18 sites in Visayas and Mindanao.

In line with its commitment to sustainable growth in its business and development in the local economy, Jordan said Linde Philippines has invested P3 billion since 2006. This includes a P1-billion state-of-the-art air separation facility in Cebu which was commissioned last April.

Jordan said they would likely invest the same amount in the future should there be a need to expand more to support the country’s economic growth.

“Our investment figure will depend on how the economy will grow. If there would be a need to expand and invest more, we will certainly do it,” Jordan said.

After taking over the operations of CIGI and SGI over the past four years, Linde has captured about 40 percent of the country’s P7-billion industrial gases and engineering gadgets market.

“Rebranding as Linde Philippines is a milestone for our business.”  Jordan said. “CIGI and SIG have a strong legacy and a history of innovation and excellence that we can build on as we continue to uphold the Linde brand of global excellence. Under our new Linde Philippines brand, we will continue to take the lead in safety, product quality, operational excellence and customer service. We will do our part to ensure environmental sustainability in our operations and will continue to contribute to the communities where we operate.”

Linde Philippines serves industries ranging from healthcare, electronics, shipbuilding, mining, metals and steel, food and beverage, automotive, chemicals and petrochemicals, and many others. It provides leading technologies, proprietary applications and innovative solutions developed by its German parent.

Linde Philippines views its employees as its partners in the achievement of their corporate goals and aspirations and is committed to develop its employees with the aspiration to become a high performance organization and an employer of choice for Filipinos.

“The future starts today and we truly believe that carrying the brand of Linde Philippines reinforces the strong foundation that CIGI and SIG has built through the years, whilst ushering the exciting future of a unified brand, legacy and expertise of The Linde Group for the delivery of innovative solutions that will help shape the country’s future,” Jordan noted.