Linde to expand Del. industrial gases plant

Bridgewater-based Linde LLC announced Thursday it plans to invest $100 million to increase the production of its industrial gases plant in Delaware.The expansion project includes installing a new air separation unit and supplying liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon for its Delaware-based customers.

“As a company, our top priority remains to safely and reliably deliver our products and services to meet customer needs and fuel their growth,” Pat Murphy, president of Linde Americas, said in a prepared statement. “This new plant represents Linde’s continued commitment to investment in the Americas to meet demand for our essential products and services.  With our unique portfolio, Linde remains confident in our capabilities to meet customer needs — today and in the future.”

The project is expected to be completed in 2019 and become Linde’s largest liquid merchant plant in the U.S.

“Linde has a long history in the Delaware Valley, serving customers in the food, metals, glass, chemical, healthcare, energy and manufacturing industries,” Murphy said in a prepared statement. “We are very familiar with our customers’ operations, and we remain committed to meeting their future needs. Our new ASU will fill regional demand while substantially reducing our energy usage and our overall carbon footprint. It will be a win-win for our customers and for the environment.”

“I am pleased that Linde is making a significant new investment in its Claymont facility that will create jobs while also reducing its energy footprint,” Delaware Gov. Jack Markell said in a prepared statement. “That decision is a testament to our state’s incredible workforce and reflects our welcoming business climate, and I look forward to its expanded presence in Delaware for many years to come.”