Linde Cares

We are a company of great diversity with people operating in over 100 countries, encompassing a vast array of traditions, talents, experiences and expertise. Our culture – The Linde Spirit – not only binds us together and defines the way we do things in our company it also expresses our vision, our values and our principles.

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Linde’s Santa has the blues in Mexico

For some elementary school students in Atasta, Campeche, Mexico, the Christmas season begins with a visit from a special Santa Claus with the blues. Not the sad kind of blues, but the sartorial kind.

Like the real Santa Claus, this one also brims with good cheer. He just wears a blue suit.

This Santa works for Linde, which owns and operates the world’s largest nitrogen plant, located near Ciudad del Carmen, where giant plants separate the nitrogen from the ambient air. The nitrogen is pumped at high pressure through miles of underwater pipelines to stimulate oil production at Pemex’s reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico. Linde’s trademark color is blue, so Santa dons the team colors as he and his helpers try to make the season bright for hundreds of students who attend 15 schools in the communities surrounding the plant.

Andy Ripley, head of operations for Linde Cantarell said, “Linde is proud to be a part of the Ciudad del Carmen community and to support our students and their families. We are so glad we can give back to our students and our schools. It makes me feel wonderful knowing we are supporting the students and helping them reach their goals.” 

This year, Santa arrived at the schools with the Grinch. Grinch, having realized the error of his cranky ways, traveled from snowy Whoville – to get a break from the cold and enjoy some sun and warm weather in Ciudad del Carmen, where average December temperatures are in the 70s and low 80s.

Linde’s Santa and his entourage have been visiting the schools at Christmastime since 2016. Linde also holds an annual drawing contest for the students. This year’s contest generated over 1,200 submissions; the winners and runners up received a tablet computer.

Lorena De Lima, social responsibility & government relations manager, Linde Group, who leads the company’s outreach efforts in in Mexico, says, “The school visits give the students an opportunity to hear from a local employer about the importance of school work and high educational attainment as a path to a future career.

The children see that Linde really cares. Everybody gets a lot out of these kinds of events,” De Lima said.

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Road Warriors: Southwest Drivers Compete in Roadeo

Bulk drivers in Linde’s Southwest region got to show off their skills at a recent Roadeo competition held at Linde’s Terrell, Texas, air separation plant.

The top 12 drivers from six Southwest area plants competed on various tasks that comprise Linde drivers’ every-day job requirements. The competition evaluated driving skills and a pre-trip inspection, plus a written test on safety, equipment and transportation regulations. The driving skills included serpentine maneuvering forwards and back; blind-side backing, sight-side backing, backing to a cone, straight line driving through a set of tennis balls, and stop-line accuracy.

Warren Arenz, Head of Onsite and Bulk Deliveries, said, “The obstacle course was designed to mirror the situations our drivers face every day, such as stop-and-go traffic and tight customer sites. It showcased their knowledge and awareness of their vehicle’s space and maneuverability.”

The Southwest region is home to approximately 135 bulk drivers. The competitors were the two winners from site competitions at Linde locations in Brandon, Mississippi; Gonzales, Louisiana; Lewisville Arkansas; Baytown, Ft.Worth and Terrell, Texas.

Jim Bozzone, Area Transport Manager, said, “These drivers showed their tremendous skills through a challenging obstacle course and exceptional mastery of their profession. The three winners further distinguished themselves, setting an example for all our drivers to emulate. Congratulations to the winners, who are the best of the best.”

Jimmy Gordon, from Brandon, took first place, seconded by Chris Collier, also of Brandon. Dennis Davis, of Baytown took third place.

The event kicked off Friday evening, November 2, with a welcome dinner at a local steakhouse. Saturday morning began the driving competition and concluded with a huge BBQ buffet and the awards presentation, followed by a trip to the ECHL hockey game, the Allen Americans.

“This was a great opportunity for drivers to demonstrate their skills, and for their family members to see what they do every day,” said Arenz. “We have so many talented drivers at Linde and it was good to see them and their families on this special day. Congratulations to all that participated and a special thank you to the hosts, Lisa Dilbero, Transport Manager, and Jim Dales, Zone Transportation Supervisor, along with Jim Bozzone and Sheri Peek, Regional Administration, for putting together such a great event.”

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Big Savings on Hot Days – How Careful Planning Helps Linde Save on Power

During the hot summer days, when air conditioners are cranking, demand for electricity is at its peak. Linde, whose biggest raw material cost is electricity, continuously watches the power market, looking for opportunities to cut its own demand to lessen the strain on the power grid and lower its electric bill.

To keep the power grid operating, and avoid brownouts or blackouts, Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), which are responsible for operating and ensuring the integrity of the U.S. power grid, offer programs to compensate large power consumers for reducing demand on peak days. Each year in North America, Linde saves some $24 million through such peak avoidance programs. In late August 2018, careful planning and coordination saved Linde $2.2 million on just one day at Linde’s Kittery, Maine, air separation plant.

Roughly two-thirds of the cost to make atmospheric gases is for the huge amount of electricity required to separate and cool the incoming air and to compress and liquefy it. Kittery produces some 550 tons a day of oxygen, nitrogen and argon, which is trucked to customers throughout the Northeast. Kittery participates in three peak avoidance programs that have historically saved $2.4 million a year.

To continue participating in the programs, as well as avoid the higher rates the ISO would assign in 2019 for consuming power on 2018’s peak demand day, Linde had to shut the ASU down during the peak hour. Kirk Massa, Senior Energy Markets Analyst for Linde Energy Services, Inc., working in conjunction with ISO New England and using historical demand data combined with real-time weather and power demand, correctly forecasted that system demand would spike on August 29.

“Throughout Maine’s summer season, which runs from May until the end of September, we had been watching the system. We had taken previous shutdowns in July and early August to avoid peak demand, but no one knows what the weather is going to do, so it’s an educated guess. It’s also a huge, realtime coordination and communication effort. To ensure success, we try to give as much lead time to the Plant Operations Team, Remote Operating Center, the National Scheduling Center and Bulk Distribution when it looks like the ISO system will peak,” Massa said.

Shutting down an ASU is quick, but the restart takes hours, so production can be offline for as long as 18 hours. At the time, inventory was low, due to high customer demand, a planned outage at the Buffalo, New York, ASU and Kittery’s previous shutdowns. To cover another day of lost production, Linde had to plan ahead by redirecting customer deliveries from other ASUs, including Selkirk, N.Y., and by buying product from competitors to cover shortfalls.

Northeast Bulk and Onsite Operations Manager Sam Agile says collaboration and coordination was key to success. “We had tried several times to avoid peaks and had exhausted our buffer inventory. It looked as if we weren’t going to get to avoid this one, but by working together as a team to monitor the power market and the supply chain, and with such great support from our people at the plant and in our trucks, we were able to pull it off. When we all focus on the same thing, we can achieve excellence.”

Besides Kittery, Linde has some 50 ASU and carbon dioxide plants across the U.S. participating in Demand Response power programs, which saves some $24 million annually. Larry Stalica, Head of Energy, Linde Americas, said, “Programs like these enable Linde to maximize the profitability of our plants in order to stay competitive as a supplier. Among Linde’s plants participating in these Demand Response programs, Kittery is delivering one of the biggest benefits in terms of energy cost savings.

That’s thanks to the people doing all the work – especially those who are onsite at the plant overseeing the safe shutdown and careful restart – to coordinate all of these elements to deliver a positive impact on Linde’s business.”

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Driving Lessons Part One: How Linde is Working to Improve Driver Safety and Retention

If air is the lifeblood of Linde’s merchant gases business, then the 1,000 drivers who make some 650 deliveries of bulk, liquefied gases to customers every day are the beating heart. And Linde is trying to be “heart healthy” by improving drivers’ working environment.

“We want to create a more driver-friendly culture by focusing on safety, quality and continuous improvement. It’s an effort to attract and retain the best drivers and to ensure they are able to travel safely over hundreds of miles each day, in some of the most challenging conditions, and return home safely,” said Warren Arenz, head of bulk distribution, Linde North America.

One such tactic seeks to keep drivers safer behind the wheel by preventing one of the biggest driving challenges: fatigue-related incidents. In October, Linde began piloting ActiveVision® in-cab technology from DriveCam,® a new platform on an existing risk management system Linde uses. It addresses fatigue, which encompasses everything from overall physical tiredness to eye strain, by tracking and monitoring vehicle movement within the lane to determine if the driver is falling asleep.

“A lot of major road incidents occur when people fall asleep for several seconds, something known as a microsleep. People may not even realize it’s occurring, particularly night-shift workers or those who struggle with sleep apnea,” Arenz said.

Since 2010, Linde has used the DriveCam technology, which is installed in 550 trucks. That technology tracks drivers’ eye movement, enabling Linde to identify and provide treatment for drivers who are fatigued due to previously unidentified sleep apnea.

The pilot includes 70 drivers in Kittery, Maine; Cherokee, Alabama; and Beloit, Wisconsin. By early 2019, Linde will conduct a formal review of the results to determine if it should upgrade to the new platform.

Linde also continues to invest in vehicle safety technology, such as after-market frontal collision and blind spot warning systems for existing vehicles and equipping new trucks with features that exceed the norm in the tractor/trailer industry, including: automatic braking systems, lane departure warning systems, vehicle stability control, tire pressure monitoring system and tractor/trailer disc brakes for better stopping distance.

But Arenz says that while technology is useful, what’s more helpful is “meaningful feedback and coaching from our driver managers, supervisors and driver trainers. We are focused on identifying challenges, offering solutions and providing positive recognition as we strive for continuous improvement.”

Driver trainer Scott Hudson, agreed. At a recent transportation workshop in Stewartsville, N.J., aimed at identifying ways to improve Linde’s ability to attract and retain the best drivers, Hudson said, “As a driver trainer, I am able to set an example to drive safe, to be safe, in hopes that other drivers and new hires will follow my lead.”

One lower-tech way Linde is supporting driver health and safety is by helping them understand ways to prevent on-the job strains, sprains and other ergonomic injuries. The Northeast and Central Regions saw a significant increase in personal injuries in early 2018 from incidents occurring as drivers bent over to offload gases at customer sites or while exiting the cab.

After Area Transport Manager Soo Jung flagged this as a concern, he worked with SHEQ (safety, health, environment and quality), zone transport managers and driver trainers in several locations, including Chester (Hopewell), Virginia; Arroyo and Parkersburg, West Virginia; and Buffalo, New York, to encourage drivers, mechanics and managers to perform stretching exercises prior to starting their shift and during their workday.

“Since we began this effort in April, people have continued to initiate their own stretching exercises. Ergonomic injury rates have fallen to zero. We rolled it out to all locations in this region and each has come up with ways to encourage employees to keep moving, ranging from providing gym memberships to investing in exercise equipment at the location, so employees can use it prior to starting their shifts,” Jung said.

Arenz says, “All of these initiatives help move us toward our goal of leading in safety by creating a driver-friendly culture. Ensuring that our drivers feel supported and valued is essential because Linde’s business success depends on their ability to deliver our products efficiently to our customers.”

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Linde’s Fall 2018 Driver Safety Tips

The glaring sun during Daylight Savings Time lowers visibility – it’s harder for drivers to see brake lights, traffic lights and people at crosswalks. It is getting darker faster: We lose 1 to 2 minutes of daylight daily after the autumnal equinox.

Safety is of utmost important to us here at Linde. That’s why we’ve put together the following driver safety tips for the upcoming fall season:

After leaving the office/customer site, your eyes need time to adjust to the dark. It takes your eyes 2 and 5 minutes to start adjusting.

Keep your sunglasses handy for the sun, be extra cautious when driving, and give yourself enough time to get to where you are going.

Be aware that bridges, overpasses and shady surfaces freeze quicker.

Watch for runners in groups or alone – slow down when passing them, or when driving into your parking lot/garage at home.

Don't brake on leaves. Wet leaves can be as slippery as ice. Drive slowly through them and avoid hard braking. Leaves may obscure lane lines and other road markers, so pay attention to the edge of the road. Oil and rubber residue from the summer makes it extremely slippery when raining.

Clear off frost on your windshield before you leave so your view is not impaired.

You are more likely to encounter rain and fog in the fall – slow down, use low-beam headlights and exercise extreme caution. Maintain a safe distance with the car in front of you.

Brake for deer. Deer are most active at dawn and dusk but may be encountered at any time of the day. Look for telltale sign of deer’s ‘eye shine’ in dark, if you see one deer there are probably others nearby.

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Parkersburg Million Mile Drivers Recognized

The Million Miles drivers celebrating the occasion with their families at Linde’s Parkersburg W.V air separation plant.

Drivers who have traveled safely for more than one Million Miles without an avoidable incident were recently recognized at Linde’s Parkersburg, W.V., air separation plant.

It takes an average of 10 years to reach the million-mile mark. An avoidable incident is one a driver could have avoided or prevented by performing effective pre and post-trip inspections; effectively applying the Smith System’s Principles of defensive driving and remaining aware of the actions of those around them.

Linde recognized the 13 drivers who traveled so safely, for so long, with a ceremony for the drivers’ family and friends.

Randy Erb, one of the drivers recognized, said, “I was glad to see us celebrate this with our families because they are as much a part of our success as we are. Our families live the truck driver’s life too. They take care of the day-to-day home issues while we are out on the road. They are the reason and motivation for us to focus on being safe, so we can get back and enjoy our precious time with them.”

Robert Chapman, Zone Transport Manager, said, “This event was long overdue for many of our drivers because they have been driving safely for 20, 30, and 40-plus years. But Linde is the first company they have worked for where their safe driving achievement was recognized. We honored them and their colleagues for setting such a great example of safety and demonstrating a passion to excel in all we do.”

As a group, the current Parkersburg drivers have over 13 million miles of safe driving during their time at Linde and for over 30 million miles during their entire driving careers.

A ceremony was organized for the drivers’ and their families.

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Holiday Health and Safety Tips

Holidays are meant to be spent with family and friends, not in the waiting room of an emergency room. We reached out to experts for some tips to avoid common holiday medical emergencies. Here are some suggestions: Traveling: Don't drink and drive, and don't let someone else drink and drive. Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle. Always buckle your child in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to his/her height, weight, and age. Decorations: If you have small children or pets keep decorations like hanging lights or glassware out of their reach-even some seasonal plants like poinsettias and mistletoe can be toxic if ingested. Children: Make sure your child is wearing proper protective equipment like helmets and gloves if they are doing any winter sports or activities. If they are going out to play in the snow, make sure they wear multiple layers and insulated, waterproof coats and pants. Fire Safety: Be sure to keep trees well-watered and away from heat sources like air vents, burning candles, and fireplaces. Source: Health Advocate 

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An Elf and her Helpers Make Wishes Come True

Jamie Conde, from the Linde Electronics & Special Products facility at Phoenix, Arizona facility is affectionately dubbed ‘The Christmas Elf’ during the holiday season.  

For the past three years, Conde has been working with the Salvation Army on the Christmas Angel Program that helps children from low-income families who are unable to afford gifts for the season, get their wish granted and join the celebrations.

“The Salvation Army provides us with tags that have the child’s name and their wish list, and I hang them on the tree," said Conde. “Employees at our site pick a tag and purchase the gifts which I then deliver to the Salvation Army.”

"This is our third year of conducting this drive, and the response from my colleagues has been overwhelming," added Conde. " I am so proud to be a part of this company.”

The site also conducts a clothing and food drive every year in the summer.

“Linde strives to be a good neighbor in the community,” said Kevin Philips, Plant Manager for the Linde Phoenix plant. “We understand the importance of giving back and creating a positive change. Jamie takes the lead on both the projects and does all the groundwork and coordination. I am so proud of her and all my colleagues for all their efforts.”

This year, the local TV news too carried a special story on Jamie’s and Linde’s efforts as part of the community.

Jamie Conde dropping off the gifts for the Christmas Angel program 

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Linde Uruguay Celebrates a Festive Day for a Very Special Audience

Linde Uruguay recently celebrated a very special day at the Linde Uruguay Charrúa site: Children’s Day! Celebrated across the country, this day is earmarked for various activities for the children in the country.

This year, Linde employees were invited to spend the day with their children at the site. In addition to the various fun activities organized for the day, there was also a donation drive organized in association with Baby Futbol, a non-profit agency that supports children from the low-income neighborhood.

“We wanted to make this day special and significant for them,“ said Lorena Sosa, HR Analyst, Linde Uruguay, who coordinated the events at the site. “Besides donating their toy, we also asked them to write a letter or make a card that will be sent along with the toy. In all, it was a very emotional and happy afternoon for our children, our employees and all our collaborators.”

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Linde Opens New Hydrogen Fueling Station in San Ramon, California.

Linde North America, Inc., opened its new hydrogen fueling retail station in San Ramon, California. This is Linde’s third retail station in the state and is located at 4475 Norris Canyon Road, just east of Interstate 680.

Coinciding with the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony was organized by Linde, Toyota, and the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) on Oct 10, at the newly constructed station. Attendees included State senator Steve Glazer, Assemblywoman Catherine Baker, John Kato, Deputy Director of Fuels & Transportation, California Energy Commission; Mayor Bill Clarkson, City of San Ramon; senior management from Toyota Motors North America and Bishop Ranch officials.  Linde’s Michael Beckman, Vice President of Key Customers and H2 Fueling represented Linde along with other members of his team. Bill Elrick from the California Fuel Cell Partnership emceed the event.  

(L to R):  Bill Elrick, CaFCP Executive Director; Catherine Baker, Assembly Member; Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County Supervisor; Steve Glazer, State Senator; Dawn Mercer, National Manager of  Advanced Technology Vehicle Marketing - Toyota; Phil Serna, Air Resources Board member and Sacramento county supervisor; Michael Beckman, VP/Head of Key Customers & H2 Fueling Technology, Linde Americas; Bill Clarkson, Mayor of San Ramon; Stewart Bambino, San Ramon Chamber Executive Director and,  John Kato, Deputy Director of Fuels & Transportation, California Energy Commission. 

The San Ramon station will be operated by Linde. In 2015, Linde, Toyota and the Bishop Ranch business park received a grant from the California Energy Commission development to help establish the station, the first of its kind in Contra Costa.

Linde is a global leader in H2 fueling technology and has built the largest hydrogen fueling infrastructure in the world, with more than 150 hydrogen fueling stations in 15 countries. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/LindeHydrogen

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Linde launches ‘Transform Your Community’ program in Campeche, Mexico in partnership with Junior Achievement Mexico / IMPULSA PROGRAMS

When it comes to making a difference, Linde has always looked to invest and strengthen the communities in which we live and operate. The company’s Cantarell nitrogen plant, located near Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico, is in an area marked by beauty as well as communities that face economic challenges. 

Andy Ripley, Linde’s Head of Operations in Cantarell, delivers a speech at the Transform Your Community launch event. Also pictured are Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas, Governor of Campeche (4th from left) along with other government officials and representatives from PEMEX and Junior Achievement, Mexico.

On Saturday, Oct 7, at a grand ceremony organized jointly by Linde and Junior Achievement Mexico, the company announced the launch of a new initiative called “Transform Your Community,” which aims to improve financial literacy and encourage entrepreneurship among local youth and adults, especially unemployed women.  Attendees at the event included: Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas, Governor of Campeche; the Secretaries of Education and Economic Development; and other senior government officials.  Also present were representatives from PEMEX and Junior Achievement Mexico, including Jaime Santibáñez Andonegui, Director General of Junior Achievement, Mexico. Andy Ripley, Linde’s Head of Operations for the Cantarell Nitrogen plant represented Linde along with Lorena De Lima, Corporate Social Responsibility and  Government Relations manager for Linde Mexico.

 Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas, Governor of Campeche addresses the audience 

“As a company that strives to be a catalyst for positive change in the communities in which we operate, Linde is proud to initiate and support programs such as this that will have a sustainable, long-term community impact,” said Gina Gibbs Foster, Head of Corporate Communications, Linde Americas.

 IMPULSA Programs of Basic Business Education, the Hispanic initiative of Junior Achievement, will run the program in public schools, mainly targeting low-income areas, and aims to impact some 11,000 people across Campeche. 

The Governor in his speech recognized Linde for its contributions in the state of Campeche. Referring to Andy Ripley as his dear friend, he thanked Linde for the company’s various community development initiatives, including the recently launched Linde Scholars program.

Andy Ripley (L) with Jose Berzunza, Secretary of Economic Development, Campeche, Mexico

“I am proud to work for a company like Linde,” said Ripley. "Thanks to programs like these, our employees have had the opportunity to work with the community. Social responsibility at Linde goes beyond writing a check – it means giving time, talent and having a total commitment towards the community and we are glad to be a part of this.”

Recently, the company launched the Linde Scholars Program.  This first-of-a-kind program offers qualified local students with demonstrated financial need 100% tuition coverage for their entire undergraduate studies, along with paid housing, a semester studying in Germany, mentoring with Linde volunteers, meals, academic materials, and transportation.

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Linde Employee Wins Prestigious '35 Under 35' AIChE Award for Contributions Towards Safety

Kendall Werts, Process Risk Engineer at Linde Americas, was recently awarded the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ (AIChE) ‘35 Under 35 Award’ for outstanding contributions to the institute and the chemical engineering profession. The award was created to acknowledge the successes of some of AIChE’s youngest members, all under the age of 35, and to promote the achievements of this generation of chemical engineers who are changing the face of the profession. According to the AIChE website, - the winners exemplify the best of our profession has to offer and represent the full breadth of early chemical engineering career paths. Congratulations Kendall!

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“Stuff the Bus Campaign” Once Again Completes a Successful Drive at Linde

Linde Americas’ employees at Bridgewater and Murray Hill, NJ  recently concluded  this year’s ‘Stuff the Bus’ program for The United Way of Greater Union County, thanks to the generosity of many Linde employees. 

The campaign helps children who lack the supplies they need to enter the classroom ready to learn. To that end, the United Way Stuff the Bus program provides children from low-income families in Union County, North Plainfield and South Plainfield with new school supplies. 

As in previous years, the United Way provided Linde a list of school supplies for corporate partners to donate. Linde Employees at locations throughout Union County donated backpacks, notebooks, markers, crayons, glue and pencils, along with other items.         

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Linde Invests in Tomorrow’s Youth and a Brighter Future for Campeche, Mexico

Linde Americas, a member of The Linde Group, recently announced the launch of The Linde Scholars Program, a unique initiative that offers full college scholarships to 40 qualified students from Campeche, Mexico.

Linde Scholars with Rob Capellman, Senior Vice President of Regional Onsite Account Management and Electronic Gases & Specialty Products for Linde Americas and Antonio J. Dieck Assad, Dean of the University of Monterrey.

This first-of-a-kind program from Linde was launched in June this year and offers qualified youths from the communities surrounding the company’s Cantarell nitrogen plant 100% tuition coverage for their entire undergraduate studies at the University of Monterrey, paid housing while attending university, a semester studying in Germany, mentoring from Linde employee volunteers, meals, academic materials and transportation.

“At Linde, we want to be a catalyst for positive change, helping to make the communities where we operate even better places to live and work,” said Gina Gibbs Foster, Head of Corporate Communications for Linde Americas. “We wanted to give bright, motivated students seeking careers in STEM a chance to turn their dreams into reality and to bring the next generation of leadership and service to their communities.”

The Linde Scholars program received hundreds of applications from qualified and aspiring students from the Campeche area. However, the selection process was highly competitive. Apart from having an outstanding academic record, applicants needed to meet several other criteria.

Rob Capellman addressing Linde Scholars at the Welcome Ceremony

“We were looking for highly committed students who wanted to make a difference in their communities and were willing to start a new adventure away from home,” said Lorena De Lima, Corporate Social Responsibility & Government Relations Manager, Linde Mexico. “Out of the hundreds of applications we received, forty bright, talented and motivated youngsters have now been given a chance of a lifetime to pursue lucrative careers in Engineering and to improve the lives of their families and communities.”

A welcome event for the newcomers was jointly organized by Linde and the University officials and was attended by several senior representatives from both sides, including Rob Capellman, Senior Vice President of Regional Onsite Account Management and Electronic Gases & Specialty Products for Linde Americas and Antonio J. Dieck Assad, Dean of the University of Monterrey.

“Without a doubt, we are convinced there is no greater way to enhance the potential of a society than investing in education,” said Capellman. “We wanted to do this by supporting skilled young people who will be the catalysts of change for their families, for their beautiful state of Campeche, and for Mexico. “

In his welcome speech Dean Assad pointed out that the Linde Scholars program seeks to provide young people with a space in which they can maximize their potential, recognize their strengths and develop the skills that will help them to transform their environment positively.

Linde has been operating in Campeche, Mexico since the year 2000. The company  supplies high-pressure, high-purity nitrogen to Pemex’s oil reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico from the nitrogen plant located on the Atasta Peninsula, near Ciudad del Carmen in the State of Campeche.

Check out the video of the Welcome ceremony here. 

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To much applause and media coverage, Linde announces major scholarship program in Mexico

With hundreds attending, including the Governor of the State of Campeche, its Education Secretary and the Secretary of Economic Development, Linde recently announced an ambitious and impressive initiative to offer 40 full college scholarships to low-income children in Mexico.

The program, called Linde Scholars, is intended to help students who wish to study engineering at the Universidad de Monterrey in Campeche. It includes tuition, housing, a study semester in Germany, mentoring with Linde volunteers (online, with executives from the Bridgewater, New Jersey headquarters) meals, academic materials and transportation.

The official launch of the program was so big, and so festive, that it had to be held at a convention center. In all, some 270 people attended, of which 130 were students who took the entrance exam for the scholarship. In attendance were members of the national and local media, the president of the college and numerous local and high-ranking state officials, including the Secretary of Economic Development of the State of Campeche and representatives from the Cantarell nitrogen plant.

Speaking in Spanish, Andy Ripley, Plant Manager at Cantarell, said that when he took on the challenge of leading the plant, “I also agreed to come to live in Campeche, and I have been very happy. Here I found friends - generous, good people, and I can tell you without any reserve that Campeche is a great state … Nothing gives me more satisfaction than to be able to share with you that our company is willing to contribute to the development of Campeche through our Social Responsibility programs and this alliance with Universidad de Monterrey.”

Added Social Responsibility & Government Relations Manager Lorena De Lima, “Media coverage was extensive, and so throughout Mexico, government officials and the public are becoming more and more aware of our commitment towards helping the community, economic development and transforming the health and welfare of people in the State of Campeche.”

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Celebrating the season in Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico

Linde made the holidays brighter for over 1,100 children this holiday season in Ciudad Del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico.

It was a complete celebration that included a visit from Santa (wearing a Linde blue suit) and his elves who delivered gifts to the cheering and excited students.  In addition, there was also a drawing contest in which school children were invited to submit drawings themed around Christmas and the Linde plant. The response was excellent, and there were more than 150 drawings submitted.

Linde is also undertaking several more initiatives within the community. Employees at the Cantarell plant have partnered with Instituto Campechano del Emprendedor (ICEM) and Junior Achievement for two important projects. The first project is to help women in the community learn new skills and shape new ideas that can help create jobs and provide additional income for their families.

The second project with the Junior Achievement program will have employees from the Cantarell plant  visit area schools and offer mentoring and life lessons that could change the lives of children. “We want to be good neighbors, which is why we’re in the community walking the walk,” said Lorena De Lima, Social Responsibility & Government Relations Manager, Linde Group, who is leading the efforts for the company. “This is only the beginning of what is to come.” De Lima said Linde believes that rather than simply offering grants, it’s important to give employees the chance to give back with their time. “They talk with children about family, and school work, and things like budgeting,” she said. “The children really respond. It’s great give and take and everybody gets a lot out of it.”

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After two years of work, 13 future company leaders complete LEaD program

The Learn, Excel and Develop (LEaD) program, which includes three eight-month rotations in engineering/operations, commercial (sales and marketing) and supply chain/logistics, recently celebrated the dedication and perseverance it takes to complete its demanding requirements.

The accomplishments of the 13 graduates were highlighted during a virtual meeting with company leaders and the employees’ managers from across the U.S. The meeting included presentations by the graduates highlighting the work they did over the course of their rotations.

The program focuses on three paths: Engineering (focused on operations), Commercial (focused on applying an engineering background to sales and marketing) and supply chain/logistics (with a focus on product distribution).

"Every project presentation I attended was high quality and full of energy," said Ray Carr, Head of RAS Operations. "These were not just a report on what the graduates learned or experienced, even though that is very important. Every project also showed real complexity, achievement of tangible targets and clear value given back to Linde. I feel great about what the entire team of graduates has achieved and the success they can deliver in the future."

Added Gary Peterson, Head of Applications Engineering and Project Execution for Linde Region Americas, “I am always so impressed to hear the graduates present on all their rotations and experiences. It amazes me how quickly they learn and contribute to business wins, managing installations and safely starting up equipment. We train and challenge them and they deliver for Linde and our customers."