1879: Carl von Linde founds a refrigeration engineering company in Germany, creating the technical base later used for air separation and industrial gases.

1895: Linde develops a practical air-liquefaction process, enabling large-scale liquid air production and separation of oxygen and nitrogen.

1902: Industrial-scale air separation capabilities are established, marking the transition from refrigeration into industrial gases.

1907–1913: Early expansion of air-separation plants and supply relationships with heavy industry (steel, chemicals), embedding gases as a core business.

1914–1918: World War I increases demand; Linde advances air separation technology and plant design amid rising industrial requirements.

1920s: Commercialization broadens—oxygen and nitrogen supply for steelmaking, chemical synthesis, welding/cutting; engineering capabilities strengthen for building/operating gas plants.

1930s: Refinement of cryogenic processes, reliability, and production scale; gradual international development despite economic volatility.

1939–1945: World War II disrupts operations; gases remain strategically important, but infrastructure and production are impacted.

Late 1940s–1950s: Facilities are rebuilt and modernized; air separation plants expand across Europe; long-term supply arrangements and on-site production concepts grow for large customers.

1960s: Product portfolio and supply modes expand (pipelines in clusters, merchant liquid distribution, cylinder gases); international presence and complex engineering execution increase.

1970s: Stronger industrial gases position via improved plant efficiency/reliability and continued global market development.

1980s: International expansion accelerates; focus increases on high-volume supply for refining, chemicals, steel; larger, more energy-efficient ASUs are deployed.

1990s: Expansion into higher-value segments (specialty gases, technology-driven applications); global engineering and project execution strengthen, reinforcing gases operations + plant engineering.

Early 2000s (2000–2005): Global footprint grows in emerging markets; deeper penetration into electronics, healthcare, and packaged gases alongside bulk supply.

2006: Linde AG merges with The BOC Group (UK), creating one of the world’s largest industrial gases companies; presence expands in the Americas and Asia-Pacific; product range and customer reach broaden.

2007–2010: Post-merger integration and standardization; optimization of plant networks, distribution logistics, and global procurement.

2010s: Investments continue in large-scale ASUs, hydrogen supply, and efficiency upgrades; stronger emphasis on safety, operational excellence, and digital plant monitoring/optimization.

2018: Linde AG and Praxair combine to form Linde plc, creating the world’s largest industrial gases company by scale; stronger North American presence, denser global network, larger long-term contract backlog.

2019–2020: Integration continues via portfolio optimization and operational synergies; hydrogen and syngas capabilities expand for refining, chemicals, and energy-transition use cases.

2021–2022: Strategic focus increases on clean hydrogen, carbon-capture-enabled projects, and decarbonization solutions for hard-to-abate industries; electronics and specialty gas supply chains expand for semiconductors.

2023–2024: Continued investments in large-scale gas supply projects (including hydrogen) emphasizing long-duration contracts and integrated infrastructure (plants, pipelines, distribution); digital tools and operational excellence improve efficiency, reliability, and safety.

2025–Present: Sustained leadership through a global network, long-term on-site supply model, and a growing role in low-carbon hydrogen and industrial decarbonization initiatives.

From refrigeration engineering to cryogenic air separation, then global scale via mergers and long-term supply models, culminating in hydrogen-led decarbonization and digitally optimized operations.