Expansion of Presence in Korea
Linde Korea (www.lindekorea.com), a member of The Linde Group announced on Oct. 14 that it has signed an agreement to take over Air Liquide’s on-site and liquid bulk business to complement its presence and expand offerings in South Korea.
In particular, the acquisition of the direct bulk business is a natural fit with Linde’s strategy of growing its local direct bulk supply network and customer base. The agreement is expected to serve demands for industrial air gas products in the electronics, chemicals and manufacturing industries.
Under this agreement, Air Liquide Korea will transfer its on-site and liquid bulk air gases business to Linde Korea after receiving approval from the Fair Trade Commission of Korea.
In addition to the transfer of the 10 operating sites, Air Liquide Korea’s employees from these sites will also be transferred to Linde Korea and continue to operate the plants and service customers.
Linde Korea, established in Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province in 1988, has expanded its product and services portfolio, and footprint across the country over the past 30 years. In the last 10 years alone, Linde has invested over EUR 300 million in industrial gases production facilities and equipment. It includes the production facility in Giheung in Gyeongi Province to produce high purity industrial gases and its investment in the joint venture PSG, a leading distributor of merchant and packaged industrial gases in South Korea.
Linde’s investments in South Korea also represents its long-term commitment to expand its business in the Asia Pacific with its key customers, including Korean conglomerates such as Samsung, LG, Lotte Chemical and SK Hynix.
In the meantime, Linde Korea manufactures and distributes industrial, specialty and medical gases, and provides a range of related services including the installation of gas equipment, pipelines, on-site plants and associated engineering services. Linde Korea operates in ten locations across South Korea including business offices in Seoul and Busan area, excluding the seven operating locations from its joint venture, PSG Korea.