Industrial gas digitalization: Linde leads the way

Drawing on more than a century of innovation in the Nordic region, Linde continues to lead the way as the market adapts to the promise of industrial gas digitalization.

To view the video, you need to consent to YouTube cookies.
To do so, please click here to open the Privacy Preference Center and enable social media cookies.

Linde’s tradition of industry leadership and innovation continues with its early and aggressive adoption of automation and digitalization.

In the Nordics, one of the first steps in Linde’s digitalization journey took place back in 1995 in the town of Riihimäki, in southern Finland with what became Linde’s first automated gas cylinder filling site. The facility was truly cutting edge – and ahead of its time. The World Wide Web was still in its infancy, and technology and investment limitations prevented scaling up Riihimäki’s advanced automation solution elsewhere.

Industrial gas digitalization milestones

Linde’s journey toward full automation continued as technology caught up with the company’s ambitions. In 2015, the Riihimäki filling plant benefited from a €8.5 million overhaul. It was outfitted with the latest robotic technology to become the world’s first fully-automated filling station for industrial gases.

“The renewal of Riihimäki was a major milestone in our adoption of digitalization. It became the model that inspired us to look even harder at how digitalization could be incorporated in other facilities and business areas,” says Pauli Toiviainen, Sales Director, Finland.

Perhaps no other site embodies Linde’s industrial gas digitalization ambitions better than its new fully automated filling plant in Enköping in central Sweden. The entire process at Enköping is automated – from sorting to filling, storing, and selection.

Self-driving vehicles place cylinders in locks where they are automatically sorted according to gas and destination. Robots lift cylinders into automated filling carousels before being picked up again by the self-driving vehicles.

Thanks to a €40 million investment, Linde was able to consolidate operations from six sites into one, resulting in a facility that can process an astonishing 1.8 million cylinders a year.

“Enköping really is a game-changer when it comes to delivery capability, process intelligence, and safety. Here we can really see the tangible benefits of automation and further digitalization that allow us to analyse, track, and predict deliveries in a way we’ve never done before,” says Tobias Vikberg, Head of Cylinder Operations, Sweden.

Enkoeping cylinder filling plant
Sorting, picking, and filling is fully automated at the Enköping refilling plan.
Linde has launched an advanced e-commerce platform.

E-commerce and digital apps for industrial gas

In addition to scaling up automation at various production and refilling facilities, Linde has also launched an advanced e-commerce platform and several self-service concepts like the propane vending machines and Linde Gas 24/7. Together with related apps these solutions facilitate convenient and secure transactions, bringing the benefits of digitalization closer to its customers.

Buying industrial gases from Linde’s webshop is now similar to shopping on Amazon, making it convenient for customers but also helping Linde learn more about purchasing habits so the company can better anticipate customer needs.

And several hundreds of propane vending machines have been rolled out across the region allowing private consumers to exchange propane cylinders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Linde has in parallel expanded the self-service concept to Linde Gas 24/7, a solution that gives customers access to exchange or purchase cylinders anytime they want. All handled by a simple but secure app.

“These solutions are all about customer convenience. We want to make being a Linde customer as easy as possible,” says Olof Källgren, Executive Director Sales and Market Region Europe North.

But Linde’s industrial gas digitalization journey doesn’t stop with helping supply customers with industrial gases. The company is also using new technology to help customers use Linde gases more efficiently and effectively.

The company’s newest LIV IQ intelligent oxygen cylinders for the healthcare industry, for example, feature valves that monitor and adjust flow rates, benefiting nurses and patients. And Linde’s ground-breaking DIVA valve can measure and transmit content, flow, and location information.

“It’s only a matter of time until all gas cylinders are ‘smart’ and connected, and able to provide both us and customers with intelligence that boosts efficiency and lowers costs”.

“We plan to keep innovating. I am confident Linde will maintain its reputation as industrial gas digitalization champions among our industry peers,” says Olof Källgren.

In the 24/7 Gas Points, customers can buy gas whenever they need.

Text: David Landes

Watch the film about our history: www.linde-gas.se/en/linde

Read our other stories

Industrial gases support forest industry’s green transition

As the world seeks to transition away from fossil-based products and replace them with more climate-smart alternatives, kraft pulp and board mills have an important part to play. The forest industry is shifting into new manufacturing areas where its raw materials and by-products will contribute to the production of biofuels.

5 Tips for the Care and Use of Your Engine Driven Welder During the Winter

Freezing weather conditions are known to negatively impact welding equipment if some precautions aren’t taken. Here are a few things you can do to your engine driven welder to improve the likelihood of success when welding in cold weather.
Linde's smart solution

Linde's smart solution makes Stockholm's metro construction greener

Linde's Solvocarb technology – a system that uses carbon dioxide gas to neutralize alkaline water – is helping Subterra in the construction of the Järfälla tunnel outside Stockholm. This is of vast benefit to the environment.

Aquaponics: how gases help advance sustainable food production

Aquaponics is a form of sustainable agriculture that combines raising fish in tanks (recirculating aquaculture) with soilless plant culture (hydroponics).

Hydrogen: a potential climate gamechanger

With interest in hydrogen on the rise in the Nordics, a range of experts offer insights on what hydrogen can do to help the planet and what’s needed to capture the opportunity.

MISON®: 40 years providing welders an improved working environment

Following MISON’s introduction, it was immediately clear that the new shielding gas dramatically reduced ozone levels near welders, reducing eye and throat irritation – and coughs – often suffered by welders. Ever since its introduction, MISON remains a product unique to Linde Europe North. Forty years on, fully 80 percent of shielding gas customers now choose the premium MISON shielding gas.

Minimal environmental impact with indoor cultivation and innovative technology: improving productivity with food gases

Just as the tractor once revolutionized agriculture, the next technology shift is coming – indoor cultivation.

Additive manufacturing and medical devices: unlocking extraordinary possibilities

Once thought destined mainly for prototyping, additive manufacturing is now increasingly employed in the development of spare parts, small series production and tooling. Among industries at the forefront of innovative manufacturing, the medical sector has emerged as a major segment driving the growth of additive manufacturing.

Why dry ice is emerging as an unlikely hero in the battle against COVID-19

Dry ice may have been around since the 1920s but it is currently a hotter topic than ever before.