Shanghai, CHINA - 16 September 2009 - The technology group The Linde Group has in Shanghai launched its research and development (R&D) centre, taking the lead in the development of new high technology industrial gas applications and solutions in China and the Asia Pacific region. This is the first such R&D centre in China to be owned by an industrial gases and engineering company.
The Linde Technology Centre will drive R&D initiatives in partnership with gas-reliant industries and research institutes in projects to improve gases related industrial processes and develop green technologies geared towards future and sustainable applications.
The centre owns cutting-edge technology to facilitate research and development work in waste water treatment and the electronics, laser, metallurgy, welding, pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries. It also has an R&D demonstration facility for customer engagements, allowing for closer customer interactions when designing solutions specific to their needs.
''China and the Asia Pacific countries is a key growth region for The Linde Group, accounting for around 20 percent of the group's industrial gases sales. At the speed of development in this region, industries will increasingly seek for advanced solutions that are sustainable with greater emphasis on process efficiencies and product quality. This is the trend we are seeing especially in China. In foreseeing this need, we have chosen to set up the Linde Technology Centre in Shanghai, to offer Linde's global technological know-hows in gas applications and, in partnership with local experts, discover new leading age Asia- applications for the industries here,'' says Steven Fang, The Linde Group, Regional Business Unit Head, Greater China.
At the launch event of the centre in Pudong, Shanghai, Linde signed joint partnership agreements to further enhance its on-going projects with Nanjing Iron and Steel Company (NISCO), Sinopec Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP) and Tsinghua University, focused on developing green solutions from intelligent gases applications.
Linde's joint project with NISCO has broken new ground in waste water treatment solutions. The solution applies the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) to neutralise alkaline industrial waste water, which is environmentally friendlier than the traditional use of hydrochloric acid. The CO2 solution also reduced cost considerably, by more than 60 percent, as compared with the use of acid. Linde and NISCO have filed a patent application for this process in the US and China. The technology will be introduced to other steel manufacturers and potential customers in other industries.
Linde's joint development programme with Sinopec's RIPP focuses on heavy-oil flash de-asphalting processes. The flash technology has great potential in improving the process efficiencies of heavy oil de-asphalting, cracking and hydro-cracking, coal liquefaction, and biomass conversion. Initial efforts are focused on developing a novel heavy oil flash-deasphalting process, to further utilise the use of heavy oil resources as a fuel substitute to the fast depleting global crude oil reserves.
In line with the Chinese government's commitment towards the reduction of carbon emission, which is a primary cause of climate change, Linde and Tsinghua University have kicked off an extensive research project on the development of carbon dioxide capture technology by absorption process. A 200,000 Nm3/p.a. pilot plant will be built at a Linde carbon dioxide production facility in Shanghai to provide the design & process basis for the construction of large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) plants.
''As a leading global technology company, sustained research and development is vital to Linde's long-term business success, and the success of our customers. Intelligent gas applications can increase efficiency, improve product quality, protect the environment and advance safety. Linde's drive for continued innovation helps us to discover new applications for our gases, and ensuring that we are close to our customers will enable us to better understand their needs and better support and improve their processes. This is the vision of the Linde Technology Centre in China, which will form an important part of Linde's global research network,'' says Alan Watkins, Head of Merchant & Packaged Gas, The Linde Group.
Linde has two existing R&D centres in the US and Europe, supporting the application activities in those regions. The three centres will collaborate in global and local R&D initiatives, through the sharing of technology, training and capability building in applications technology development.
Linde's global R&D initiatives include the development of hydrogen technology as an alternative for clean energy applications. In China, Linde is responsible for the design of Shanghai's first hydrogen refuelling station in Anting, Shanghai, in support of the Chinese government's push in the development of renewable energy alternatives.
About Linde
The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 50,000 employees working in around 100 countries worldwide. In the 2008 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 12.7 billion. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services.
Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment - in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
In Greater China, Linde is headquartered in Shanghai and has around 50 wholly-owned companies and joint-ventures, and more than 100 operational plants in major industrial hubs across the country, with around 2,000 employees. In 2008, Linde in Greater China achieved sales of EUR 420 million, a 28 percent increase from the year before.
For more information, see The Linde Group web site at www.linde.com
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