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TRANSCRIPT
on air
C o v e r S t o r y
Messer focuses on
environmentally friendly
technologies.
8
6
Zsolt Vadadi on
industrial gases in solar
cell production
No. 10 · February 2009 The magazine for industrial gases
13
Krypton and xenon:
Noble gases with special
properties
E
Thinking about tomorrow today – that is Messer’s priority. The company
therefore not only attaches great importance to its own responsible behaviour
but also to making customer processes more environmentally friendly.
C o v e r s t o r y : 8 –11
2 : C o n t e n t s
on air 10 · 2009
Imprint
Published by:
Messer Group GmbH
Corporate Communications
Otto-Volger-Straße 3c
D–65843 Sulzbach
Editorial Team:
Diana Buss – Editor-in-Chief
Tel.: +49 6196 7760-361
Benjamin Auweiler, Thomas
Böckler, Christoph Erdmann,
Tim Evison, Michael Holy,
Anita Kötél, Monika Lammertz,
Angélique Renier, Joachim
Rohovec, Marlen Schäfer
Concept and Realisation:
Maenken Kommunikation GmbH
Von-der-Wettern-Straße 25
D–51149 Köln
Translation:
Context GmbH
Elisenstraße 4–10
D–50667 Köln
Many thanks to all our
contributors!
A big thank you to Mareike
Tocha for the photos of the
children. Titel picture floodlight:
Bernd Bosco/PIXELIO
Go to www.messergroup.com
for comprehensive information
about on air, as well as the con-
tact details of the editorial team.
on air is published four times
a year in German, English and
Hungarian.
Enjoying nature carefree – this must remain possible in the future. Messer is doing what it can to ensure that we hand on an unpollutedenvironment to future generations, including the employees’ childrenEmma, Lilian and Emily (left to right).
EU action programme to reducethe number of road deaths
Zsolt Vadadi (left) and László Radnóti areoptimising the production of solar cells.
New filling plant in Vietnam
E d i t o r i a l : 3
N e w s : 4 – 5
I n t e r v i e w : 6 – 7
Solar cells: gases instead of silicon
Anita Kötél spoke to factory manager Zsolt
Vadadi about the role of industrial gases in
the production of solar cells at HelioGrid.
M e s s e r W o r l d : 1 2 – 1 4
Building work underway on new plants
A look at four building sites.
Objective: fewer road deaths
Messer has signed the
European Road Safety Charter.
Noble: xenon and krypton
Messer is building a production plant for
the noble gases in China.
Partnership to foster young talent
Commitment to fostering a new generation of
young employees in Serbia.
Always close to our customers
Messer is expanding in Vietnam.
G a s e t t e : 1 5
Tips, events and other useful information
Messer wants to minimise its carbon footprint
E d i t o r i a l : 3
on air 10 · 2009
Dear Readers,
The sight of children playing in a meadow
reminds us of our responsibility to the
environment – it is an image that forms a
perfect link between our own childhood and
the future. The so-called “carbon footprint”
is a globally applicable value that has been
created to enable companies, organisations
and private individuals to measure their
emissions of climate-damaging greenhouse
gases in order to take appropriate steps to
reduce them. We are putting our production
and logistics chain as well as other processes
to the test internally in order to reduce our
energy costs and conserve raw materials.
Furthermore, when developing technologies for the use of industrial gases, we
will be focussing even more intensively on applications that help reduce our
customers’ carbon footprint significantly. You can find out more about our targets
and measures in this issue’s cover story.
Many of our large customers are producers of steel or chemical or pharmaceu-
tical products and have cut back their production because of the general downturn
in the economy. However, our business is largely independent of economic trends
thanks to a highly diversified customer base and the fact that in many sectors
gases make production more economical or are a prerequisite for excellent product
quality. In an interview with our customer HelioGrid, you can find out how our gases
replace part of the silicon in solar cells, thereby saving a lot of energy and costs.
You can also read about how dry ice is used to cleanse oak wine barrels – or barri-
ques – of bacteria, crystals and wine residues so that they can be used again after
the next grape harvest. Maintenance makes particular sense at a time when costs
and resources have to be carefully managed.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue of on air!
Best regards
Stefan Messer
Stefan Messer
Editor-in-Chief:
The editorial team
Diana Buss
Corporate Office:
Benjamin Auweiler
Marlen Schäfer
Tim Evison
Application Technology:
Thomas Böckler
Monika Lammertz
Production & Engineering:
Dr. Christoph Erdmann
West Europe Region:
Angélique Renier
Central Europe Region:
Michael Holy
Joachim Rohovec
South-East Europe Region:
Anita Kötél
4 : N e w s
In December of last year, Messer was recognised
as one of the best B2B brands in 2008 with the
award in Hungary of the “Superbrands Certificate”.
An independent committee consisting of economic
and PR experts closely examined more than ten
thousand Hungarian enterprises on the basis of
strict selection criteria and put forward the
best 250 for the award. The award was created
by Superbrands, a London-based organisation
with global operations. For over twelve years,
it has been presenting awards for the best
product and corporate brands in more than
80 countries.
Anita Kötél,
Messer Hungarogáz
A brand of distinction
on air 10 · 2009
Fecne is one of the leading manufacturers of pressure
vessels and equipment in Romania. In order to fit
replacement parts in shipyard cranes, Fecne used
the shrink fitting process from Messer for the first
time. The replacement part is cooled in liquid nitrogen
with a temperature of minus 180 degrees Celsius,
thereby enabling it to be fitted with extreme precision.
1,450 cubic metres of liquid nitrogen was supplied to
cool four replacement parts.
Paula Mocanu, Messer Romania Gaz
Perfect fit with nitrogen
The Slovenian company Kolicevo Karton
has reduced its use of chemicals in paper
production by about 20% thanks to CO2
from Messer. The company, which produces
around 650 tons of cardboard a day, hired
Messer in Slovenia to optimise its production
processes. The six-month trial operation
was a success: in addition to a marked reduction in
environmentally damaging chemicals, the use of CO2
also led to an improvement in the
quality of the paper.
From January 2009, it is expected
that Messer will supply 400 tons of
CO2 a year to Kolicevo Karton. The
company is part of the Mayr-Melnhof
Group, Europe’s largest producer of
recycled cardboard.
Dejan Sibila, Messer Slovenia
Kolicevo Kartonproduces
650 tons of recycled card-
board a day.
The Superbrands Awardswere presented on 4 December in Budapest.
The use of CO2 reduces the need for environmentallydamaging chemicals.CO2 replaces chemicals
Employees of Fecne using the shrink fitting process.
Wine stored in oak barrels absorbs
almost all the aromas and flavours
the barrel has in the first two years.
After that, the barrels are only used
for inferior wines or are replaced.
But it is possible to give such barrels
a new lease of life. This involves using
dry ice to remove as much as possible of the top layer, once again
exposing the wood that is so important in terms of the taste of the
wine. This treatment also opens up the wood fibres, thereby increas-
ing the surface area that comes into contact with the wine. This
allows the wine to absorb more flavour. Moreover, dry ice also re-
moves bacteria, fungi, salt crystals and wine residues. Wine-growers
who have used this method are enthusiastic about it. Dry ice is an
environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution: the cleaning
costs come to less than ten per cent of the price of a new barrel.
Milos Kostic, Messer Tehnogas
on air 10 · 2009
Barrel cleaning
with dry ice
In France, Messer and its partner Easyclean have developed a new blast cleaning
process called “cryo-soft blasting”. This involves using a mixture of dry ice and
various abrasive materials. In comparison with conventional cryogenic cleaning
with dry ice, this process is three to four times more effective while
using 40 percent less dry ice and compressed air. Unlike with
conventional “soft blasting”, there is no abrasion while
user convenience is enhanced by reduced dust emissions.
Furthermore, the process is completely dry, so there is no
liquid waste to dispose of. Successful tests have already
been carried out for the removal of paint and welding beads.
The “cryo-soft blasting” process cleans wooden shutters with-
out altering the structure.
Angélique Renier, Messer France
“Cryo-soft blasting” improves
efficiency and convenience
The new “cryo-soft blasting“ process cleans steel without producing liquid waste.
N e w s : 5
Cleaning with dry ice exposes the wood that is so important for the taste of the wine.
Before (left) and after:effective barrel cleaningwith dry ice.
Successful
certification
The new German subsidiary of the
Messer Group has scored a success
in the shape of the DIN EN ISO 9001
and 14001 certifications. The certifi-
cation body DQS Deutschland
awarded the coveted certificate to
the Sulzbach and Siegen distribution
centres in September while at the
same time auditing the gas filling
plant in Siegen. “The auditor was par-
ticularly impressed by the electronic
manual, in which all the relevant
documents are linked and the work
processes are explained in a clear and
comprehensible way”, says Managing
Director Hartmut Böse.
Silke Römer, Messer Industriegase
6 : I n t e r v i e w
Our customer HelioGrid Hungary Kft. (HG) manufactures photo-electronic
thin-film solar cells north of Budapest. In addition to production, the
company also focuses heavily on research and development. On air talked
to factory manager Zsolt Vadadi about the role of industrial gases in the
production of solar cells.
Lászlo RadnotiTechnology ManagerSpecialty GasesMesser HungarogazTel.: +36 1 [email protected]:
YOUR CONTACT:
on air: Could you tell us about your thin-film
solar cell product?
Zsolt Vadadi: Solar cells with amorphous silicon
tandem thin-film are all the rage at the moment.
In contrast to conventional solar cells, most of which
have a mono- or poly-crystal structure, the thin-film
cells are also suitable for less sunny days. However, the
silicon crystal-based technology is extremely complex
and requires a great deal of energy in the production
process. Moreover, the raw materials which are re-
quired for this are expensive and only available in
limited quantities. This has led to the development of
an alternative technology. Now the main component
consists of industrial gases rather than silicon crystals.
The former are readily available and the silicon re-
quirement is a fraction of what it is for the original
silicon solar cells.
on air: Who are your customers?
Zsolt Vadadi: Our potential customers include solar
power plants, manufacturing plants, industrial estates,
supermarket chains and logistics centres. But there is
also growing interest in systems for private house-
holds. We are running several pilot projects to
try and find out how these systems can be optimised.
This also has to do with the fact that solar cell
systems are ideally suited for integration into electrical
energy supply systems. Solar energy serves as a source
of power, with any excess energy produced flowing
back into the user’s electricity network as a buffer.
on air: In addition to the gas supply, Messer has also
developed and installed a gas withdrawal point for HG.
How is the system working?
Zsolt Vadadi: Messer has installed two Spectrocem
expansion stations with automatic switching function
and a FloAlarm gas shortage warning device at our
factory. The system also includes three Spectropur
safety cabins, incorporating a purging device with
Photo
:Ulla
Tram
per
t/PIX
ELIO
On the sunny side – solar cells w
Factory manager Zsolt Vadadi (left) and László Radnóti, Technology Manager
Speciality Gases from Messer, workingon refining the technology.
on air 10 · 2009
nitrogen, a gas withdrawal station for high purity
gases and a FloAlarm gas shortage warning device.
The hardware was made by Messer Cutting &
Welding. The most important process in solar cell
production is treating the surface of the cells with a
mixture of gases to produce a semiconductor effect
on the surface. The light-sensitive layer is similar to
the technology used by semiconductor manufacturers.
The silicon layer on these cells consists of gaseous
silane, boron and phosphorus. The gas cylinders are
located in a safety cabin in our factory. From there
the gas is transported to the production line via a
network of pipes. The waste gases are combusted,
making both the production process and the product
environmentally friendly.
on air: Are you developing the technology further?
Zsolt Vadadi: We are working on refining the techno-
logy in terms of increasing its efficiency. Furthermore,
we are researching the use of the different gases and
gas mixtures – with due regard to maximum safety, of
course.
on air: How would you rate your working relationship
with Messer?
Zsolt Vadadi: In addition to the gas supply, we also
asked Messer to develop and install a gas withdrawal
and mixing system with special safety requirements.
The system is modern and reliable. I am glad that
we entrusted this job to such a competent partner.
We have regular contact with the experts from Messer,
both with regard to gas supply and technology devel-
opment.
on air: How do you see the future of solar energy?
Zsolt Vadadi: Fossil fuels are a finite resource, so the
sun is a possible alternative source of energy. At pre-
sent, around ten per cent of global energy demand is
met by solar energy. The production of solar cells is
still expensive compared with other energy sources.
The profitability of solar cell systems depends on a
number of factors, including geographical conditions
and state subsidies. In general, they pay for themselves
after seven to twelve years, with no significant system
maintenance required. The manufacturers provide a
warranty of at least 20 years for their products.
Anita Kötél, Messer Hungarogáz
I n t e r v i e w : 7
ith industrial gases
László Radnóti (left) and Zsolt Vadadi discussing theproduction of thin-film solarcells, which are also suitablefor less sunny days.
Did you know that ...> the energy emitted by the sun in one hour is enough
to meet the annual energy needs of everyone on
Earth?
> Hungary has more than 2,100 hours of sunshine a
year?
> by 2014 the costs of energy generation from solar
cells will be similar to those of generating energy
from fossil fuel sources?
> the world’s largest solar power plant is currently
being built in Leipzig, Germany? When it comes on
stream in 2009, it will supply 20,000 households
with solar energy.
Photo: Olaf Sachsenweger/PIXELIO
8 : C o v e r s t o r y
Messer wants to minimise
its carbon footprint
Responsibility meansconserving resourcestoday so that Emma,Emily and Lilian canlook forward to a worldworth living in whenthey grow up.
on air 10 · 2009
The efficient and environmentally friendly use of resources is a matter
of great importance to Messer. However, responsible behaviour extends far
beyond the company itself, as Messer focuses on technologies that make
customer processes more environmentally friendly.
C o v e r s t o r y : 9
on air 10 · 2009
Messer is fully aware of its corporate and social
responsibility. Its mission statement, which was
adopted in 2005, contains the following commitment:
“As a member of the worldwide community, we are
committed to protecting the environment”. Messer
thus respects values which are not necessarily taken
for granted, especially in times when the general focus
is not on climate policy.
The carbon footprint is a measure of the impact
human activity has on the environment in terms of the
amount of greenhouse gases produced. It is converted
to the emission of carbon dioxide and therefore meas-
ured as tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tonnes of CO2e).
Within a company’s supply chain, there are three areas
that have a direct or indirect impact on the production
of greenhouse gases. The first (direct) area includes
such things as the use of company cars as well as the
burning of fuels. The second (indirect) area includes
the purchased electricity that a business needs. The
third area, also indirect, covers the production of pur-
chased materials, outsourced activities, the use of the
company’s own products, employees’ business travel
and waste disposal.
New targets set
In the production of industrial gases, we talk about
“clean” production, yet the process uses a lot of ener-
gy. “Electricity is a significant cost factor for our
company”, says Tim Evison, Vice President Business
Development / Strategic Marketing of the Messer
Group. The main source of CO2 emissions, therefore, is
the purchase of electricity for the production of
oxygen, nitrogen and argon in the air separators.
“However, there is no direct impact on soil, air or
water quality as a result of the production of industrial
gases”, says Evison. The production of hydrogen by
means of steam methane reformers does, however,
produce CO2 emissions, says the expert.
New targets have already been set: “We are aiming
for a seven per cent reduction in the average specific
energy consumption of our air separation plants in
Europe”, says Evison. He adds that increasing the range
(transported tonnes of a delivered product per kilome-
tre travelled) is another primary goal.
Saving energy the cool way
In the third area, Messer wants to have an impact
on emissions even if these are not directly caused by
the company. “We are trying substantially to reduce
our customers’ emissions”, says Tim Evison. on air
has regularly reported on the ways in which Messer
supports its customers in the sphere of environmental
protection. Examples include refrigerator recycling in
the Baltic states (see on air No. 3) and the DuoCondex
process (on air No. 5 and p. 11 of this issue), with
which Messer indirectly recovers several hundred
thousand tonnes of CO2e a year.
How to save energy the cool way is demonstrated
by the application that Messer has installed at Seidel
in Deutschlandsberg, Austria. The manufacturer of
electronic printed circuit boards requires around a mil-
lion cubic metres of nitrogen a year for inerting of itscontinued on page 10
Messer’s air separation plant in Tarragona, Spain.The energy consumption of the European plantsis aimed to reduce by a further seven per cent inthe coming years.
Tim EvisonVice President Business Development /Strategic MarketingMesser GroupTel.: +49 (0) 6196-77 60 [email protected] Languages:
YOUR CONTACT:
10 : C o v e r s t o r y
on air 10 · 2009
brine circulation using a special heat exchanger.
Using the Cryocontrol heat exchanger developed
by Messer, the cooling brine can be continuously
cooled without freezing in spite of the nitrogen’s
evaporation temperature of minus 196 °C. But
this process not only benefits the customer who
saves around 40,000 kilowatt hours of electrical
energy per year (which is after all the requirement
of almost ten one-family households!): Messer,
too, benefits in that the finned tube heat exchanger
no longer has to be installed.
In general however, the environment is the
big winner in all these processes – and this one in
particular thanks to a 25-tonne annual reduction
in CO2 emissions.
Text: Editorial Team
A cool saving: Seidel, an electronic printed
circuit board manufacturerbased in Deutschlandsberg,
Austria, saves around40,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year
thanks to a Cryocontrolheat exchanger developed
by Messer.
soldering systems. Messer supplies the nitrogen in
cryogenically liquefied form. When the nitrogen is
released from the storage tank, it flows through a
finned tube heat exchanger, which helps to heat up
the liquid nitrogen through the heat of the ambient
air and converts it into the gaseous state. Since the
heat for this comes from the environment, no addi-
tional energy is required for evaporation. Considered
the other way round, however, the cold content of
the liquid nitrogen has been needlessly lost to the
environment.
Since the customer’s soldering systems require
cooling brine which is prepared with an electrically
powered refrigerating machine, Messer came up with
the idea of generating the necessary energy for
nitrogen evaporation from the refrigerating system’s
Photo
:Ver
ena
N./PIX
ELIO
C o v e r s t o r y : 11
on air 10 · 2009
More tonnes per kilometre: Messer is maximisingenergy efficiency with more effective logistics.
Anything but waste: CO2 is an important element in many production processes – including in the food sector.
“DuoCondex”: 500,000 tonnes
of CO2e reduced per year
Many industrial processes produce gaseous or vapor-
ous pollutants. These can be – through cooling with
cryogenic liquefied nitrogen – condensed, i.e. lique-
fied and captured and therefore do not get into the
atmosphere.
Messer has developed the DuoCondex process for
this purpose, which facilitates this kind of condensa-
tion at temperatures down to minus 160 °C. In most
cases, the recovery rate is more than 99.9 per cent.
Ideally, the resulting condensate can be re-used
in the production process. Sometimes the recovered
substances are processed, used as fuel or destroyed
in a controlled manner.
This technology from Messer is used in the recy-
cling of more than a million cooling appliances a
year, among other things. In this process, the propel-
lants (CFCs) contained in the insulating foam of the
appliances are released, then liquefied in the
DuoCondex units and rendered harmless.
The DuoCondex process is also used by chemical
companies. It helps them comply with emission
limits while at the same time saving costs by recy-
cling the condensed substances.
The principal beneficiary is our environment:
the recovery prevents around 1,000 tonnes a
year of ozone-depleting substances from being
released into the atmosphere, with a global
warming potential of 500,000 tonnes of
CO2 equivalent.
DuoCondex® instal-lation at a pharma-ceutical productionplant. The installa-tion is used forcleaning the pro-duction waste gasand recovering thesolvent vapours contained in thewaste gas.
on air 10 · 2009
1 2 : M e s s e r W o r l d
Objective: fewer road deathsEuropean Union: The Messer Group has signed the
European Road Safety Charter. In doing so, Messer
has committed itself to supporting the objective
of the European Union’s action programme to halve
the number of deaths on Europe’s roads by 2010.
“We have more than 350 tankers and 500 cylin-
der transporters making deliveries
to our customers every day.
Unfortunately, the possi-
bility of traffic acci-
dents cannot be ruled
out”, says Danilo Ritlop,
responsible for industrial
health and safety, environment and quality manage-
ment. “Special rules and regulations for the
industrial gases sector as well as regular training
are already helping our drivers transport and handle
gases safely.” Ritlop sees the high priority that
Messer accords to road safety as being further under-
lined by this new commitment. “We have committed
ourselves to clearly defined measures”, he stresses.
Messer will therefore launch a road safety campaign
in more than 30 countries. Driver training for tanker
drivers will also be further expanded.
Diana Buss, Messer Group
Building work underway on new plantsMesser is currently building new air separators all over Europe. on air takes a look at
four of the building sites:
Rybnik (Poland):
The Messer team is already on site and has begun pre-
parations for the start-up. The plant will produce 15,000
standard cubic metres of cryogenic air gases for our cus-
tomers in Poland and the neighbouring countries. The air
separator in Rybnik will exclusively deliver liquid oxygen,
nitrogen and argon.
Resita (Romania):
Work on the foundations and other construction work is in the final phase.
The main components of the air separator have already arrived on-site and will be
assembled from the middle of February.
Siegen (Germany):
Here, too, the finishing concrete and civil engineering works for the control room are currently
in progress. At the topping-out ceremony on 10 December 2008, project manager Dirk Giesecke
said: “After making rapid progress with the construction work, we are right on schedule.”
Nantes (France):
After completing a protracted approval process, there is now intense activity here too:
the site is currently undergoing preparation for the construction of the foundations for the
process plant, machine room, tanks and control room as well as for the underground cooling
water pipes.
Dr. Christoph Erdmann, Messer Group
Topping-out ceremony in Siegen
E
Employees of Messer completed a safety training course for tanker drivers.
Kr
Kr
M e s s e r W o r l d : 1 3
on air 10 · 2009
Not only precious but also valuable:
krypton and xenon
Kr
KrXe
Kr
China: The possible uses of the noble gases krypton and xenon are many and
diverse. Xianggang Messer is currently building a production plant in which
the precious gases can be extracted from the air. On air uses this opportunity
to take a closer look at the properties and uses of these noble gases.
Xe
Krypton and xenon are present in the
atmosphere at a concentration of only
1.1 and 0.09 ppm (“parts per million”)
respectively. Extracting them from the
air is a very complex and expensive
process, which makes them extremely
precious gases. That is why they are also
known as “gold air”. Krypton is primarily used
in lamps and lasers and also as a filling gas in in-
sulation glazing.
“Xenon lamps can produce a very bright light whose
luminous intensity vastly exceeds that of conventional
lamps. That is why, for example, they are increasingly
used in car headlights and floodlights”, explains Deng
Ming, Project Manager at Messer in China, highlighting
one of the advantages of the noble gas. “Krypton is used
in halogen lamps, significantly increasing their light
yield and extending their life while also allowing for a
more compact design.” Xenon is also used in plasma
screens, in various medical applications and as a fuel in
ion engines for satellites.
Rapid growth
Krypton and xenon accumulate at the bottom of the air
separation plants’ low pressure column due to their high
boiling point and are subsequently concentrated in a
special treatment facility, based on a messer patent, to
form a krypton/xenon crude gas. In Europe, this crude
gas is then refined into pure products. Most of Messer’s
customers in China for krypton and xenon products are
from the lamp industry. In China, this sector is growing
at a breathtaking pace. “The rapid
growth of the various applications
in the last few years has at times
even led to a global shortage of
krypton and xenon. Messer will
further improve its product avail-
ability with the new plant in
Xianggang”, stresses Qu Wei, Speciality
Gases Manager at Messer in China.
Jasmine Yan, Messer China
Due to its exceptional luminous properties, the noble gas xenon is
increasingly used in car headlights(above) and floodlights.
Photo
:Ver
ena
N./PIX
ELIO
Photo: hacks/PI
XEL
IO
1 4 : M e s s e r W o r l d
Serbia: Messer is actively committed to fostering a
new generation of young employees. On 5 November
2008, Ernst Bode, General Manager of Messer in
Serbia, signed a cooperation agreement with five tech-
nical universities, the Education Ministry and an insti-
tute for the promotion of scholarships. This coopera-
tion agreement will give students from the relevant
educational institutions the opportunity to put their
theoretical knowledge into practice. Serbia’s Education
Minister, Îarko Obradoviç, highlighted the importance
of the education programme. Graduates of the techni-
cal faculties supported by Messer are in great demand
on the Serbian labour market.
Messer in Serbia donated 30,000 euros to mark
the beginning of the new partnership, and the com-
pany plans to expand its support significantly in the
long term. “Investing in new technologies is impor-
tant”, stressed Bode and added: “But it only makes
sense if these technologies are then applied in a sys-
tematic way. In order to achieve this, it is absolutely
essential to train qualified staff.”
Marija Vukovic, Messer Tehnogas
E
Always close to our customersVietnam: We are wherever our customers are –
this is the new motto that guides Messer’s expansion
in Vietnam. Through its joint venture with Haiphong,
which is based in the north of the country, Messer has
been able to set up a nationwide distribution network.
The new filling plant on what is known as the “oil
coast” in Vung Tau represents another milestone. It is
130 kilometres east of Ho Chi Minh City and offers
efficient and fast cylinder filling with oxygen, argon,
carbon dioxide and mixed gases. The filling station can
fill 250 to 300 200-bar cylinders a day and supplies
cylinder bundles and mini-tanks.
Messer in Vietnam also supply its customers
via tanker. Furthermore, a five-
year contract has just been
signed with the Norwegian shipbuilder Aker Yards,
to whom Messer supplies oxygen and carbon dioxide via
a pipeline. Five-year contracts for the supply of liquid
oxygen and liquid carbon dioxide have also been signed
with three other customers.
Founded in 1998, Messer Vietnam started life as
a comparatively small distributor of speciality gases in
Ho Chi Minh City. Now Messer operates in four regions.
The next step, for the time being, will be Messer
Haiphong’s construction of an air separation plant in
Hai Duong in 2009.
Victor Lim, Messer Vietnam
New partnership to foster young talent
Ernst Bode (2nd from left) committed, with Messer, to education in Serbia.
An employee in VungTau connecting the gas cylinders to the filling plant.
The new filling plant islocated on what is known
as Vietnam’s “oil coast”– in other words, where
the customers are.
on air 10 · 2009
G a s e t t e : 1 5
This book brings you ice-cold haute cuisine. Kristof Coppens uses
cryogenic gases and food gases to create culinary delights such
as smoked eel sweets. To win, tell us on which page of the
magazine this photo appears? Keep your eyes peeled and send
your* answer in an e-mail to
C O M P E T I T I O N
A N N I V E R S A R YMesser i s ce lebrat ing i t s 111th b i r thday
. . . the new book “Cryo Cooking” by Kr i s tof Coppens
N OT I C E : S Y M P O S I U MAl l about lead
Congratulations to Anita Nemetz, Benda-Lutz GmbH (Austria), Dirk Weber, Euro Cheese Vertriebs GmbH (Germany)
and Dr. Wolfgang Hönle, Max-Planck-Institut (Germany). They found the right photo on page 10 of issue No. 9 of on
air and each of them can look forward to receiving a copy of the book “Deutsche Standards – aus bester Familie”.
The second Messer Lead Symposium will take
place from 30 March to 1 April 2009 at Messer
Austria in Gumpoldskirchen. It offers engineers,
scientists and specialists from the manufacturing
sector the opportunity to exchange opinions and
share their experiences. Four blocks of presentations
will deal with all the important areas of lead pro-
duction and processing, from energy efficiency and
process optimisation through to environmental is-
sues and new developments. Specialist companies
will be able to showcase their products and ser-
vices at an exhibition taking place in parallel with
the symposium. The event will be held in English.
For further information on how to register, please
contact Burkhardt Holleis at Messer Austria GmbH.
His e-mail address is:
Closing date
for entries:
31 March 2009
Win . . .
The Messer Group is 111 years old – it may not be an anniversary that is traditionally
celebrated, but we would like to use this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude
to our customers, partners and employees for their commitment and loyalty.
The animated birthday logo on www.messergroup.com shows that Messer is always
on the move. We’re not having a proper party but the company has organised a
t-shirt design competition amongst all its subsidiaries. The winning t-shirt will be raffled
among on air readers at the end of the anniversary year.
www.messergroup.com>
* This competition is not open to employees of
Messer or their relatives.
Coming up in the next issue:
Besides food, oxygen is the most important factor in fish farming. Oxygenated watermakes the fish more disease-resistant. In the next issue of on air, you will be able toread about the other advantages that oxygen brings to fish farming.
The recycling of plastic bottles is even more environmentally friendly if the processwater is also recycled – this involves treating the water with carbon dioxide.