Bangkok--5 Apr--Penner-Madison
Linde (Thailand) Public Company Limited, the country’s leading provider of industrial gas, is projecting revenue growth of over 10 percent for 2014 with two new major plants coming on-stream. The plants will significantly expand the company’s production capacity and its capability to supply to a wide range of industry sectors.
At the same time, Linde will continue to focus on various community involvement projects and corporate responsibility programmes as part of its 2014 plan.
Mr. Keerin Chutumstid, Linde Thailand’s managing director, says that a new liquid air separation plant, the largest in Thailand, has been completed since the end of 2013, and will be fully operational this year. The plant, located at the company’s Rayong site in Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate, is capable of producing 800 tons per day (tpd) of liquefied gases.
Mr Chutumstid elaborates, “The air separation plant was built at a cost of THB 3.5 billion. This makes it Linde’s largest investment in the country since our incorporation in Thailand in 1970.
“At the same time, a new carbon dioxide plant with a capacity of 300 tpd is being commissioned and will also be operational this year. This is our fourth carbon dioxide plant in Thailand and it will enable us to increase our output capacity from 900 tons per day to 1,200 tons per day, representing an increase of 25 percent.
“These two new developments will significantly increase our capacity and enable us to strengthen our commitment to provide our customers with high quality products and services.
Hence, we foresee revenue growth of over 10 percent for 2014, boosted by growing demand in the petrochemicals & energy, healthcare and electronic sectors.”
The company’s gas application technology will play a key role in driving demand for its products and services. Linde’s specialists will support customers in designing gas-related solutions that will improve processes, enhance production efficiency, reduce costs and raise product quality.
Mr. Chutumstid says that this will cover the most diverse applications, including the chilling, freezing and packaging of food; the protection and dispending of beverages; the heating, melting and treatment of metal; welding and cutting in metal fabrication; water treatment and environmental protection; calibration and testing in laboratories; and the production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
The total value of the industrial gas market in Thailand is estimated at THB 18 billion per year, with Linde Thailand accounting for 40 percent of the total market value, placing the company as the country’s leading gases supplier.
In 2013, Linde Thailand achieved total revenue of THB 7,784 Million, a slight increase over the THB 7,755 Million generated in 2012.
“Considering the economic slowdown in 2013, and the lack-lustre performance of the automotive and food & beverage sectors, two of our key customer bases, we consider our 2013 financial performance a reasonable one.”
The other key sectors that Linde serves are petrochemicals & energy, manufacturing and healthcare, with 60 percent of hospitals in Thailand using medical gases supplied by the company.
Corporate responsibility
Turning to corporate citizenship, Mr.Chutumstid stated that Linde will continue with its efforts to promote Healthcare, Education, Local community development and Environmental protection, or to use the acronym, HELP.
He explained, “In 2013, we ran a campaign with the slogan, ‘We want to HELP in leading efforts to bring about a better tomorrow.’ We organised a number of programmes under this initiative, including charity golf with our customers, with the gross proceeds going to the Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Foundation.
“We conducted educational and skills development programmes such as an English camp for primary school students. We also supported all our branches across the country in running corporate and social responsibilities activities for the local communities. In the area of environmental protection, we participated in the cleaning up of beaches and the oil leak off Samed Island.”
In 2013, Linde was given the CSR-DIW Network Award by the Department of Industrial Works in recognition of its corporate responsibility work. Since then, three of its major sites have been CSR-DIW certified after passing the stringent requirements of the DIW.
The company was also a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Road Safety Award 2013, one of only three private organisations to be bestowed this honour. The award is given primarily to non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Linde is cooperating with the Thai-German Institute (TGI) to open a welding technical centre for cutting and welding solutions. The centre, located in the TGI premises, is due to open in June 2014 and will be supported by Linde equipment and specialists.