Change in Asian Leadership
After more than 30 years with Messer – including 13 years as CEO of Messer in China and three years as a member of Messer’s Executive Board in his role as COO Asia – Werner Hickel will retire upon the expiration of his contract on November 15, 2026.

Under his leadership, Messer’s business in China became a cornerstone of the company’s global success. At the same time, he drove strategic expansion into Southeast Asia, successfully expanded Messer’s presence, and tapped into new growth opportunities throughout the region.

“The enduring success of Werner Hickel’s work is reflected not only in the strong business performance but also in the resilient organizational and leadership culture he helped shape. Werner’s contributions have had a lasting impact on our company, and his legacy will continue to shape our future in Asia,” emphasizes Stefan Messer, shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

Marc Wachter, who has served as CEO of Messer China since July 2024, assumed responsibility for the Asian business effective August 1, 2026. He will continue to serve as CEO of Messer China and, in his new role as COO Asia, will report directly to CEO Peter Mohnen. A particular focus of his work will be on strengthening Messer’s long-term position in the region and continuing to capitalize on its exceptional growth potential. Marc Wachter began his career at Messer more than 20 years ago and has many years of leadership experience, both in various roles as managing director of Messer subsidiaries and as a regional manager.

Initially, the CarbonBridge Joint Venture is expected to achieve a maximum handling capacity of approximately 2.3 million metric tons per year—with plans to increase this to about 4 million metric tons annually in the future. Together, Ambrian Energy and Messer are paving the way for a sustainable future by combining state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology to combat industrial CO₂ emissions.

A Milestone for Germany’s Climate Goals
CarbonBridge will serve as a versatile provider of CO₂ logistics solutions—including temporary storage, transport, and loading. These represent a significant milestone in Germany’s efforts to combat climate change and transition to a sustainable economy.

The CO₂ export terminal was developed to meet the urgent need for a functional logistics chain for captured carbon dioxide from CO₂-intensive industries, such as the cement, glass and steel industries, as well as waste incineration. Due to the high volumes of CO2 that are inevitably generated in their production processes, these industries require technical and logistical decarbonization strategies. In the future, CarbonBridge will provide a reliable and scalable solution for transporting recovered CO₂ from the emitter to the sink, where the CO₂ will be permanently stored. This will enable CO₂-intensive industries to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining operational efficiency. As a result, CarbonBridge plays a central role in supporting Germany’s transition to a climate-neutral future.

“We are very pleased with the antitrust approval for CarbonBridge, a project that underscores our commitment to implementing Carbon Capture Utilization & Storage (CCUS) in Germany—covering the entire value chain from the CO₂ source to the sink. In most projects, the logistics involved in transporting CO₂ to the final storage site are the biggest challenge. With CarbonBridge, we aim to offer a flexible solution,” says Ralph Spring, Senior Manager Commercials CCUS, Messer SE & Co. KGaA.

Strategic Partnership for Sustainability
Ambrian Energy and Messer are among the leading companies in their respective industries and combine decades of expertise in the fields of energy logistics and CO₂ recovery, respectively. The CarbonBridge export terminal is intended to serve as a flagship project to advance CO₂ capture, including transport and storage, in Europe—particularly in Germany—and to offer CO₂-intensive industries a reliable export option for captured carbon dioxide.

Daniel Pätzold, Managing Director of Ambrian Energy GmbH, adds: “Industrial companies rely on a reliable export infrastructure for captured CO₂ to achieve decarbonization. This is precisely the gap we aim to close with CarbonBridge. The European Commission’s approval is therefore not only an important step for our project but also a strong signal for the development of a competitive carbon capture and storage infrastructure in Germany.”

Ambrian Energy is contributing a strategically located, three-hectare property in Bremen, Germany, to the project. This site offers logistical advantages, including an existing rail connection for CO₂ transport by train and a port berth capable of accommodating ships with a capacity of up to 30,000 metric tons. These features will facilitate the seamless onward transport of the captured CO₂ to geological storage sites in the North Sea. Messer brings its decades of expertise in CO₂ capture and processing to the partnership, underscoring its commitment to “ZeCarb,” the company’s innovative “Carbon Capture as a Service” solution. This offering enables industrial emitters to have Messer and its partners handle the entire process, from CO₂ capture to final storage in a sink.

This expansion will add 900 metric tons per day of liquid gas capacity, thereby increasing Messer’s total production capacity in Northern Vietnam to 2,000 metric tons per day. It will also significantly strengthen the supply of liquid nitrogen to support the region’s rapidly growing electronics and semiconductor industries. 

The nitrogen liquefier is expected to commence operations mid-2027, followed by the ASU by the end of 2027. 

Through continued foreign direct investments and the expansion of major technology manufacturers, Northern Vietnam is reinforcing its position as a strategic manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia. This additional capacity will enable Messer to meet the needs of existing customers and drive future growth projects across the region. 

“This strategic investment underscores Messer’s commitment to sustainable, long-term growth in Southeast Asia, and will reinforce our position as a leading industrial gases supplier in Vietnam. For nearly three decades, we have partnered with local industries and consistently invested in our facilities to support the country’s economic growth and industrial development.” said Peter Mohnen, CEO of Messer. 

"Vietnam remains one of the most promising industrial markets in Southeast Asia and Messer is confident in the country’s economic potential and manufacturing future," said Adrien Rameaux, Country Manager of Messer in Vietnam. "By expanding the production capacity at our existing facilities, we will strengthen our ability to serve customers in high-growth sectors and continue to be a reliable partner." 

Doctors in Germany are legally required to earn at least 250 recognized continuing education credits within a five-year period. To support them in this effort, Messer has developed free e-learning courses that provide practical knowledge and promote the safe handling of medical gases and gas-based therapeutic procedures.

Currently, three certified online training courses are available for healthcare professionals in the DACH region. The continuing education offerings cover a broad spectrum: In addition to the existing course on “Pain Management and Sedation in Pediatric Practice,” Messer has now released two additional e-learning courses — one on “Analgesia in Emergency Medicine,” which will be available through the end of 2026, and one on “Sedation in Pediatric Dentistry,” which will be available through early 2027. All training courses are offered exclusively in German. All courses are CME-certified and are conducted in collaboration with MedLearning AG.

A reliable partner
Through the continuous expansion of its comprehensive portfolio of medical gases, supply systems, services, and continuing education programs, Messer underscores its commitment to being a trusted solutions provider in the healthcare sector.

The provision of high-quality gases, customized solutions, and comprehensive services from a single source ensures a high level of supply reliability and efficiency in medical facilities. Decades of experience in the production and application of medical gases, as well as a team of skilled experts, underscore this commitment.

Learn more and register now
Physicians who wish to earn continuing education credits and acquire practical knowledge can learn more about Messer’s free training programs and register directly.

Lhyfe (EURONEXT: LHYFE) – one of the world's pioneers in the production of green and renewable hydrogen for the decarbonization of industry and mobility – announces the signing of a major commercial, industrial and financial partnership with Messer, the world's largest privately-owned specialist in industrial, medical, electronic and specialty gases. Messer is taking a 30 percent stake in four of Lhyfe’s hydrogen production sites in France and Germany. Moreover, the two partners will sign a 10-year contract on the supply of renewable hydrogen. 

With that single transaction, Messer will not only become a long-term customer for Lhyfe, but also a reference industrial partner and an investor in the assets' equity. It gives concrete form to the priorities announced by Lhyfe — commercial growth through indirect sales, revenue visibility and the demonstration of value created by its portfolio of sites — and marks Lhyfe's first capital rotation. The partnership brings together two highly complementary organizations. Messer contributes decades of expertise in hydrogen technologies, applications, logistics and gas distribution, while Lhyfe has established itself as a leading developer and operator of renewable hydrogen production assets. 

A structuring partnership built around three levers 

The 10-year supply agreement is backed by three of Lhyfe's sites in France and one in Germany. Messer commits to a minimum volume starting in 2026, which is expected to gradually increase and reach several hundred tons per year. Beyond this commitment, Messer aims to purchase half of the output of the three French sites concerned. By becoming a 30 percent shareholder in the company holding these four sites, Messer validates their industrial quality, commercial positioning and the value-creation potential of the assets developed by Lhyfe. Messer will bring its expertise in industrial gases, particularly in safety, operations, logistics, gas handling, customer relations and multi-gas distribution. This partnership is expected to contribute to the performance, resilience and commercial ramp-up of the sites concerned. 
Through this agreement, Messer secures long-term access to renewable hydrogen, including RFNBO-certified hydrogen, sourced from multiple production sites in France and Germany. By integrating this hydrogen into its multi-gas offering, Messer will be able to meet the decarbonization needs of both its existing industrial customers and new clients. 
Beyond its commercial dimension, this partnership reflects a convergent view of the renewable hydrogen market between Lhyfe and Messer, including regarding its development potential over the medium to long term. 

For Lhyfe: a partnership that strengthens the Group's financial profile 

This partnership strengthens the financial profile through more visible and recurring cash flows resulting from the long-term contract and the minimum purchase commitment as well as a strengthening of the Group's financial position through the sale of a 30 percent stake in the company holding the four production sites. Lhyfe will continue to consolidate this company on a full consolidation basis and strengthen capacity to focus resources on the most advanced, commercially secured and value-creating projects. 
With this transaction, Lhyfe takes a further step in its model as a developer and operator of renewable hydrogen assets. Having completed the permitting, financing, construction and commissioning phases, the Group demonstrates its ability to crystallize the value of its assets through a first capital rotation, while retaining majority exposure to their growth potential and remaining the exclusive operator of these sites — as such, operation and management services continue to be invoiced by Lhyfe to the companies holding these assets. 

Completion of the transaction is expected in the coming months and remains subject to lenders' consent, in accordance with in-place financing documentation. 

Peter Mohnen, CEO of Messer SE & Co. KGaA:
“This agreement marks a major milestone for Messer and Lhyfe and underlines our long-term commitment to enabling the hydrogen economy. By securing access to substantial volumes of renewable hydrogen, we are strengthening our ability to support the decarbonization ambitions of our customers and prospective customers across a wide range of industries. Demand for renewable hydrogen continues to increase, and the geographically diversified production footprint of these sites allows us to optimize supply chains, shorten transport distances and reduce transport-related emissions. At Messer, we see it as our responsibility to actively contribute to addressing the challenges of our time, and this partnership is an important step toward building a more resilient, competitive and decarbonized industrial future.” 

Matthieu Guesné, founder and CEO of Lhyfe: 
“The decision of a worldwide leading industrial gases company such as Messer, with more than over 125 years of experience, to join us sends a strong signal to the entire industry. It confirms both the strength of our business model and the accelerating adoption of renewable hydrogen across industrial sectors. Together with Messer, already a Lhyfe customer for several years, we share the conviction that renewable hydrogen is set to become one of the cornerstones of the new industrial energy mix. This agreement gives us the means to strengthen Lhyfe’s financial solidity, to pursue our ambition and to develop increasingly transformative and large-scale projects, helping to accelerate Europe’s decarbonization.” 

About Lhyfe 
Lhyfe is a European group devoted to energy transition, and a producer and supplier of green and renewable hydrogen. Through its production sites and portfolio of projects, it seeks to provide access to green and renewable hydrogen in industrial quantities, fostering a virtuous energy model that both decarbonizes entire sectors of industry and transport and enhances regional energy sovereignty. 
In 2021, Lhyfe inaugurated the first industrial-scale green hydrogen production plant in the world to be interconnected with a wind farm. In 2022, it inaugurated the first offshore green hydrogen production pilot platform in the world. Since then, Lhyfe has installed four other production sites and has several sites under construction or extension across Europe. In September 2025, Lhyfe became Europe’s largest producer of bulk RFNBO hydrogen from the electrolysis of water. 
Lhyfe is represented in 11 European countries and had 188 staff at the end of December 2025. The company is listed on the Euronext market in Paris (ISIN: FR0014009YQ1 – LHYFE). For more information go to Lhyfe.com.
 

WKS Group is a privately owned leading local player in industrial gases consisting of six companies, 195 employees, with operations in Singapore and south Malaysia. This strategic acquisition marks a significant step into the largest industrial gases market in SEA region, unlocking new growth opportunities and synergies across the region.

The WKS Group boasts a strong local reputation and a diversified portfolio of businesses, including packaged gases filling stations, dissolved acetylene plants and a distribution network of welding equipment and consumables, cylinder gas depots and specialized services for the marine and offshore industry.

Wipco Industrial Sdn Bhd is a privately owned industrial gases company established in 2000, based in Ipoh, Perak, with operations spanning northern Peninsular Malaysia. The company operates a cylinder filling station and a modern PLC-controlled dissolved acetylene (DA) production plant. With an established customer base serving the manufacturing, semiconductor, and electronics sectors, Wipco provides Messer with an immediate operational platform in one of Malaysia’s most dynamic industrial corridors — anchored by Penang’s world-class semiconductor fabrication and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

Kobewel Kogyo Gases Sdn Bhd is a privately owned packaged gases company established in 2007, operating from a modern facility in Sepang, Selangor. The company serves a diversified industrial customer base with a high proportion of direct end-user relationships. The signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Kobewel strengthens Messer’s position in the central region and enables the strategic consolidation of Messer’s existing Kuala Lumpur operations with Kobewel’s Sepang facility, creating a unified and more efficient central hub.

Unlocking Synergies and strengthening local expertise

The acquisition of WKS Group, Wipco and Kobewel aligns with Messer’s strategic vision to expand its footprint in the SEA region, leveraging the strong growth potential of Singapore and Malaysia’s industrial gases markets. The strong local reputation and established customer relationships of these companies will enhance Messer’s ability to deliver tailored solutions to industries such as electronics, medical, and marine/offshore. The addition of WKS Group’s expertise in welding equipment distribution and marine services further diversifies Messer’s offerings, ensuring comprehensive support for customers’ evolving needs.

A Commitment to Excellence

“This acquisition represents a milestone in our journey to become a leading player in the SEA industrial gases market,” said Peter Mohnen, CEO. “By combining WKS Group, Wipco and Kobewel’s local expertise with our global capabilities, we are well-positioned to deliver innovative solutions and drive sustainable growth in Singapore, Malaysia, and beyond.”

Photos

WORK HISTORY

Other Positions

• Member of the Southern Regional Advisory Board, Commerzbank AG, Frankfurt/Germany
• Member, Google Executive Council
• Board Observer, Supervisory Board of Exotec SAS. Lille/France

EDUCATION

LANGUAGES

• German – native speaker
• English – fluent
• Italian – good knowledge
• Hungarian – basic knowledge

As planned, Bernd Eulitz, Deputy CEO since February 2022 and CEO of Messer since April 2023, will retire upon the expiration of his term. Under his leadership, key milestones were achieved, including the acquisition of the shares in Messer Americas from CVC, the recruitment of the global long-term investor, GIC, as a minority shareholder, and key refinancing measures. Bernd was instrumental in bringing the global Messer teams together operating as one global team with harmonized governance structures.

“After an intense and highly rewarding period at Messer, and after a long, global executive career, the time has come for me to step down from this responsibility and focus on my family and personal pursuits. I have thoroughly enjoyed developing this company globally during such a pivotal phase. Together with an outstanding team, especially in close collaboration with the Executive Management Board and Supervisory Board Chairman Stefan Messer, I am proud of what we have accomplished. I am confident that Messer is excellently positioned to continue its successful path,” said Bernd Eulitz.

“Bernd Eulitz has made a significant contribution to Messer and has our deepest appreciation. He has guided Messer through a transformative phase and turbulent macroeconomic environment with great clarity, personal integrity, and a compelling global vision. He strengthened the focus on new growth opportunities and established partnerships in key markets. On behalf of the shareholders and the Supervisory Board, I thank him for his leadership and for exemplifying Messer’s values,” said Stefan Messer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

Peter Mohnen to Become New CEO

Effective July 1^st, 2026, Peter Mohnen will assume the role of CEO of the world’s largest privately held industrial gas company. Having recently been appointed to Messer’s Supervisory Board, he will resign from this position upon taking office as CEO. Peter Mohnen brings more than 30 years of international leadership experience at global industrial companies, most recently serving as CEO of automation specialist KUKA from 2018 to 2025.

“Peter Mohnen will preserve and promote what has made Messer strong as a family-owned company. Simultaneously, he will drive the sustainable development of the global organization - in close coordination with the owner family. Our new CEO embodies what matters to us: respecting people in their diversity, building on their strengths, and creating an environment where trust drives motivation, so that we can continue to be an important and reliable partner for our customers. We are very much looking forward to working together,” said Stefan Messer.

“I am honored to take on responsibility for a company built over generations on reliability, customer focus, and long-term thinking. My goal is to carry on this legacy while also exploring new opportunities. I assume this role with great respect for Messer’s history and strong confidence in its future,” said Peter Mohnen.

Change in European Leadership

After the successful integration of the three European regions, Virginia Esly, member of the Executive Management Board and COO Europe, will leave the company as of June 30^th, 2026, at her own request. Over the past years, she has shaped the European business into a high-performing, more profitable, and future-ready organization.

Under her leadership, the European region recorded strong business performance with revenues of approximately 1.3 billion euros and a significant EBITDA increase. With a clear focus, she has significantly advanced safety culture, process excellence, and digital transformation and thereby sustainably strengthened the European companies in the long term.

Stefan Messer: “On behalf of the Supervisory Board and the entire Messer team, I would like to thank Virginia for her valuable contribution and commitment. Under her direction the European business has become more integrated and profitable. We wish her all the best for her future career.”

Virginia Esly: “I would like to thank Messer’s Supervisory and Executive Management Board, all my colleagues and our customers and business partners, for their excellent and trusting collaboration. It has been a privilege to work with such talented teams. Together, we have strengthened Messer’s position in Europe and made it even more resilient. I am convinced that Messer is very well prepared for the future.”

Matthias Thiele, who has been Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Messer since January 2026, will assume responsibility for the European business as COO Europe effective July 1^st, 2026. In this role, he will report directly to CEO Peter Mohnen. His focus will be on driving customer-centric growth and further strengthening the country organizations. Matthias Thiele has been with Messer for more than 40 years and brings extensive leadership experience, including numerous roles as Managing Director of Messer companies since 2002.

Family-Owned Company with Clear Values

With its new leadership structure, Messer reaffirms its commitment to remaining an independent, family-owned company guided by long-term thinking, reliability and strong values. “Trust, integrity, responsibility, and entrepreneurial spirit remain the cornerstones of our governance. Messer is financially sound, organizationally strong, and deeply rooted in its identity as a family-owned business. On this basis, we are taking the next step,” said Stefan Messer.

“Sustainability at Messer is not a standalone initiative—it is integral to how we operate, manage risks, and create long‑term value. This report highlights our progress on GHG emissions reduction, Messer’s safety and people‑oriented culture, and responsible business practices across our operations and value chain. It also reflects our continued progress in aligning our reporting with evolving regulatory and stakeholder expectations.” said Patricia Hargil, Chief Sustainability Officer of Messer. 

The 2025 Sustainability Report is available for download at https://sustainability.messergroup.com/messer-sustainability-report-2025. 
 

Water treatment with pure oxygen 

In wastewater treatment plants, the efficiency of biological stages is highly dependent on the ambient temperature, because warmer temperatures reduce the solubility of oxygen in water. The resulting reduction in the aeration system’s oxygen injection reduces, in turn, the efficiency of contaminant degradation. Moreover, the volume of wastewater streams in industrial processes, such as those in paper mills, is often subject to extreme swings. An increase in production can also rapidly push existing capacities to their limits. Messer offers several proven technical solutions under the brand BIOX^® to handle peak loads or rapid capacity expansion. They inject additional pure oxygen into the biological stage – oxygen that is optimally distributed in the form of microbubbles by hose mats or injectors. This pure oxygen improves living conditions for the bacteria, which in turn raises their contaminant degradation performance. And that shortens throughput times and reduces foaming and odors. The installation is simple and also possible during normal operation. 

Ozonation for the fourth treatment stage 

In the fourth treatment stage of a wastewater treatment plant, ozone can significantly increase process efficiency: this highly reactive gas can act very rapidly to break down complex molecules such as pharmaceutical residues, for example, facilitating their degradation. It leaves largely biodegradable reaction products behind, which are then easily removed from the wastewater in a downstream filtration stage. The process is efficient and reliable: the required ozone can be produced on site from oxygen, integration into existing systems is easy, and maintenance costs are minimal. Here, too, Messer offers complete solutions ranging from needs assessment to the start-up of the ozone generation and injection systems. 

Wastewater neutralization with recovered CO₂

Many industrial processes generate large volumes of alkaline wastewater, notably in the construction industry. To comply reliably with strict regulations governing the discharge of treated wastewater into sewage systems, its pH must be in the neutral range. CO₂ presents an environmentally friendly and economical solution here. This gas is generated as a byproduct in industrial processes such as hydrogen or bioethanol production. In specialized plants, Messer can recover, purify, liquefy and recycle it. When dissolved in water, CO₂ forms carbonic acid, which is an environmentally friendly alternative to more commonly used mineral acids. Other benefits: the salt load of wastewater is not increased, the safety of workers is enhanced and the corrosion of plant components is prevented. 

Waste gas purification with nitrogen cooling

Many industrial processes release gaseous substances that can be harmful or even toxic. These include, for example, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are found in high concentrations in waste gas streams from the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The DuoCondex process from Messer is an effective solution for capturing gases and vapors released in this way: the waste gas flows through cryogenic condensers cooled with cryogenic gaseous nitrogen. The extreme cold liquefies the pollutants on the interior walls, making it possible to separate them out selectively and then dispose of them properly. This ensures reliable compliance with applicable regulations for emission control. The recovered solvents can even be returned to the process and reused. 

Energy optimization with cryogenic gases

Gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and argon are usually supplied and stored in cryogenic liquid form. Before they can be used in the production process, they must be warmed up and vaporized – whereby their “cooling energy” is generally lost. Plants with processes that also need cooling can avoid this waste with the EcoVap vaporizer from Messer. Installed in the return line of a refrigerating installation, it transfers the cold energy of the liquefied gas directly to the surrounding cooling medium. This cooling effect reduces the load on existing electrically driven refrigerating installations considerably – reducing energy consumption and indirect greenhouse gas emissions as a result. In addition, there is no ice or fog formation around the air vaporizers. 

Customer focus and applications expertise 

Along with the needs-based supply of gases, Messer provides its customers with application-specific technologies. Application specialists leverage proven concepts and their comprehensive know-how to develop tailored solutions through close collaboration with customers. Pilot plants can be installed upon request to demonstrate the practical benefits under real operating conditions. The necessary equipment is designed for optimal performance across all operating conditions and implemented.

Messer SE & Co. KGaA, the world's largest privately held specialist for industrial, medical, electronic, and specialty gases, published its annual report for 2025 today. The company’s solid performance in 2025 underpins Messer’s resilience and innovative strength. Messer has successfully adapted to a volatile environment marked by geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.

In 2025, Messer generated revenue of 4.5 billion euros and an EBITDA of 1.4 billion euros, largely stable compared to 2024, while Messer maintained a margin of 31 percent. The company generated a strong cash flow. Net debt decreased by 304 million euros to 3.2 billion euros.

“Our results show that Messer is a stable and solid company that operates successfully even in challenging times. Our strong balance sheet and targeted investments in future-oriented markets and technologies secured our long-term competitiveness,” emphasized Bernd Eulitz, CEO of Messer SE & Co. KGaA.

Continued high investments in global capacity

In 2025, Messer invested 747 million euros, primarily in new production facilities and the modernization of existing plants. The focus was on the construction of air separation plants in the United States, China, and Vietnam, as well as on-site plants, CO₂ production facilities, and cylinder gas filling plants in Europe. In addition, investments were made in the development of technologies for decarbonizing industrial processes. These investments followed a disciplined capital allocation strategy and underscore Messer’s commitment to sustainable solutions and support for the energy transition.

The 2024 strategic investments in helium facilities and reserves in the United States further strengthened Messer’s procurement capabilities and operational flexibility in supplying customers.

Global presence remains a key factor in stability

Messer’s balanced international footprint, based on a “local-for-local” approach, and its diversified portfolio of products, end markets, and customers form the foundation of the company’s business resilience. Excluding currency effects, all regions achieved revenue growth.

In Asia, revenue rose—despite a persistently deflationary environment in China—particularly in the electronics and battery materials sectors as well as in the steel industry.

In Europe, growth was driven by rising demand from the food and beverage industry as well as for medical gases.

In the Americas, revenue increased primarily due to higher demand from sectors such as aerospace, electronics, and the food and beverage industry.

Innovation and Sustainability

Messer continued to focus on research and development to drive innovative application technologies across all industries. A key focus is on the decarbonization of processes and the use of green hydrogen at customer sites. In addition, the company is investing in the digitalization of its processes to further increase efficiency and sustainability.

Outlook for 2026

For 2026, Messer expects a macroeconomic environment that will continue to be characterized by geopolitical tensions and high economic uncertainty. On a currency-adjusted basis, both revenue and EBITDA are anticipated to increase. The company also plans to consistently expand its market position through sustained high investments in high-growth regions and technologies. Consequently, a slight increase in net debt is expected.

“We look to the future with optimism. With our clear strategic direction, our financial strength, and our focus on innovation and sustainability, we are excellently positioned to capitalize on the opportunities of the coming years,” said Bernd Eulitz.

The state-of-the-art air separation plant (ASU) is capable of producing up to 210 tons of oxygen and 16 tons of nitrogen per day. At the Aurubis site in Luenen, the air gases are used across all metallurgical processes. Oxygen is deployed in copper production in the furnaces – from the smelting furnace to the converter, the mixed tin furnace, the anode furnace, and all auxiliary furnaces. Nitrogen is used throughout the entire process chain for purging and in filtration systems.

“From the very beginning, our close and cooperative partnership with Aurubis has been characterized by a shared vision of sustainable production, security of supply, and efficiency,” says Virginia Esly, Chief Operating Officer Europe at Messer. "We produce industrial gases for our customers precisely where they are needed in the manufacturing process, thereby supporting Aurubis' competitiveness and long-term success at its Luenen site. We are present in 25 countries across Europe and operate more than 100 plants to provide our customers and industry with innovative and efficient products and solutions. Our mission is clear: to be a reliable partner, a technological leader, and to shape the future together with our customers."

“The new air separation plant is a key component for the future viability of our recycling site in Luenen,” says Inge Hofkens, COO Multimetal Recycling at Aurubis AG. “It strengthens our security of supply, increases the efficiency of our processes, and makes a measurable contribution to climate protection. Luenen is a cornerstone of our international smelting network and plays a crucial role in supplying the industry with strategically important metals from recycled materials.”

Industrial gases such as nitrogen, oxygen and argon are as essential to industrial production as electricity and water, forming a fundamental basis for industrial value creation. They are used in nearly all industries—from metallurgy, chemicals, medicine and food production to the electronics and semiconductor industries, where gases are indispensable for precise manufacturing processes.

Satellites are subject to north-south drift in space, caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. This gradually changes their orbit. To compensate for the deviation and maintain the desired orbit they have to achieve a speed change of about 45 to 50 meters per second per year. In the weightlessness of space no great forces are needed for such a correction. A small, precisely measured impulse from time to time is enough to adjust the position.

Light electric motor vs. heavy combustion engine

In contrast to the heavyweight burner of the rocket, ion thrusters – in particular so-called Hall Effect thrusters – are small and light: the thruster for a satellite weighing up to one ton weighs just 1.5 kilograms, and the gas tank holds only a few hundred kilograms of fuel, even for large communication satellites. The thruster is only ignited for a few minutes at a time for the correction maneuver and usually draws its energy from the solar collector that also supplies the space probe with electricity.

In an ion engine, a small amount of a gaseous propellant is ionized. An electric field is then used to accelerate the ions to speeds of up to 400,000 kilometers per hour and direct them into space through the outlet. The resulting recoil causes the desired change in position; after the targeted impulse, the engine is switched off again. In addition to satellites, space probes for space research also use this type of propulsion to penetrate into the depths of space. In both cases, the limited gas supply must last for many years of operation.

Ideal propellant

The noble gas xenon is particularly suitable as a propellant for ion propulsion; it is used in most of today's satellites and space probes. Krypton has been used much less frequently, but this could change in the future. Unlike some of the metals that were initially experimented with, the gases do not need to be vaporized first; they are also environmentally neutral and easy to handle. Ion propulsion is remarkably efficient: with xenon in the tank, the specific impulse by weight is more than six times higher than that of a thermal rocket engine.

The only source of both noble gases is the Earth's atmosphere. They are only present in the air we breathe as trace elements, but krypton, at around 1 ppm, is more than ten times more abundant than xenon, at 0.09 ppm. This makes it easier and cheaper to extract. Xenon, due to its higher atomic weight, enables more thrust with the same tank volume, but this difference is becoming less and less important due to the increasing efficiency of the latest engine types. For example, SpaceX's Starlink satellites are powered by krypton.

Gas quality ensures efficiency

The efficiency of an ion engine depends, among other things, on the filament, a glowing thread used to generate electrons. It reacts sensitively to various molecules; in particular, oxygen and oxygen compounds can trigger unwanted reactions on its surface. Therefore, the gas of the supporting mass must meet high quality requirements, which are specified very precisely by the manufacturers of the drives – but not at all the same. In addition to the degree of purity, the composition of the remaining impurities plays an important role. The extent to which the performance of an ion engine is affected depends crucially on the type and quantity of residual molecules.

Messer offers two gases with a reduced level of impurities, Xenon 5.0 and Krypton 5.0 for ion thrusters. They were developed specifically for this application and enable the thruster to maintain a high level of efficiency. The extraction and quality control processes are meticulously tailored to the special requirements of use in an ion drive. They go beyond the standard specification of a purity level of 5.0 – 99.999 percent by volume of the respective gas.

Quality control process for gas and cylinder

Given their minimal concentration in the atmosphere, the only way to make the production of the two noble gases economically viable is to use very large air separation units (ASUs). These can be found at steel mills, for example, where they provide a continuous supply of the large quantities of oxygen and nitrogen needed there. Messer operates a number of such plants in Asia, Europe and America. This ensures a continuous supply in all regions of the world.

The first steps of the quality process are carried out in the LZA after the separation of the noble gases with downstream cleaning processes. This further reduces the small amounts of other substances that remain, including oxygen, hydrogen, methane, CO and CO₂, as well as moisture. At the same time, the containers for the engine gases undergo a multi-stage process to ensure that the purity achieved is maintained until delivery.

The cylinders are made of particularly high-quality stainless steel with extremely smooth, electro-polished surfaces. This helps to prevent any possible buildup of water molecules from the humidity in the air. In addition, the cylinders are purged with high-purity nitrogen before filling. During the purge, the quantity and size of any solid particles present are determined by means of laser light absorption. The cylinders are only used if they comply with the strictly defined limit values. Quality control also includes a valve test to ensure that the fitting is free of grease and oil. The cylinder certificate contains the dimensions of the cylinder as well as pictures of its condition before delivery. All relevant components are recorded in the detailed documentation.

Comprehensive documentation and customized solutions

Filling after removal of the purge gas follows a documented standard operating procedure. After filling, the quality of the gas is checked again – in other words, in the state in which it reaches the user. For this purpose, Messer uses a gas chromatograph with thermal conductivity detectors that is specially calibrated for the analysis of noble gases. The values obtained are also documented in the quality certificate.

The manufacturers and users of ion thrusters have defined individual specifications for their various Hall Effect thrusters. In addition to standard products, Messer's range, therefore, also includes customized solutions with appropriate documentation in accordance with the relevant specifications. The sales organization relies on personal contact and individual advice in order to tailor the supplied gases precisely to the customer's requirements.

Helmut Kaschenz joined Messer in early 2021 as Chief Strategy Officer and assumed responsibility as global CFO in 2022. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in the strategic development of the company and in securing Messer’s long-term independence.

Under his leadership as a member of the Executive Board and CFO, key milestones were achieved: the acquisition of the shares of private equity company CVC Capital Partners in Messer Industries in 2023, the integration of Messer Industries into Messer, and the comprehensive refinancing of the group, which is based in Asia, Europe, and America, with additional equity capital through the entry of the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC.

In addition, Helmut Kaschenz strengthened the finance functions, global governance, processes, and the company’s financial stability while further enhancing its capital market readiness and access. His more than 25 years of experience in investment banking and his broad network of institutional investors and banks enabled the successful implementation of complex financial transactions.

During his tenure, Messer achieved sales exceeding €4.5 billion and EBITDA of around €1.4 billion in 2024, combined with significant growth, margin improvement, and high investments in a capital-intensive industry. Messer plans to publish its results for 2025 in April.

Stefan Messer, shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, pays tribute to Helmut Kaschenz:

"With his strategic foresight, financial expertise, and great commitment, Helmut Kaschenz has played a decisive role in shaping Messer's history in recent years. His contribution to securing our ownership structure, long-term financing, and the further development of our global finance organization is invaluable.“

Bernd Eulitz, CEO, adds:

”I greatly value working with Helmut, especially during the landmark transaction. Messer is very well positioned and, thanks to Helmut’s work, has a strengthened and impressive finance organization."

Stefan Messer accepted further awards for the company as part of an international innovation contest. Messer Europe was awarded in the category ‘Digital Innovation & Operations Management’ for its digital cylinder gas bundle MegaPack D. "Our winning project shows that innovation is an integral part of our company culture and is driven by our employees and strongly supported by collaboration and opening doors for new ideas," says Virginia Esly, COO Messer Europe. “Messer’s MegaPack D technology is providing our customers with an automated, safe and efficient gas supply.” The jury also acknowledged the digital fill level control and the option to access further services provided by Messer, such as the automatic reordering. "With MegaPack D, we offer an outstanding innovative solution for the European market, which is highly valued by our customers," Virginia Esly continues. Messer's digital cylinder gas bundles are used in a wide range of industrial applications in the automotive, manufacturing, electronics & semiconductor sector, as well as in the laboratory and food industry.

In the category ‘Most Impactful ESG Initiative’, Messer's project ‘Climate-friendly CO₂ production from natural sources using renewable energies in North Macedonia’ was additionally recognized as runner-up. CO₂ from a natural source, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, is captured, purified and liquefied and made available as a valuable resource. By utilizing renewable solar energy in the production process and on-site e-mobility, this project contributes to decarbonization. “This award recognizes the commitment and hard work of our highly dedicated team in North Macedonia. It is important for us at Messer to drive ESG projects in all our European countries, also in smaller geographies such as North Macedonia,” concludes Virginia Esly.

The Cái Mép plant is designed in alignment with the green and circular economy models, utilizing cold energy from the LNG storage system of PVGas to provide deep refrigeration for the gas separation process. This facility serves as a strategic link in Petrovietnam’s LNG–industrial gas–clean energy value chain, contributing to enhanced energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and optimized use of existing gas infrastructure.

The project applies European Cryogenic Air Separation (CAS) technology, combined with recovery of cold energy generated during the LNG regasification process. This solution significantly reduces electricity and cooling water consumptions, thereby lowering indirect greenhouse gas emissions and improving overall environmental performance.

This is not only a pioneering project in energy transition, green economy, and circular economy — linking the value chain of Petrovietnam and implemented by PVChem to contribute to the national energy strategy but also a pioneering project for the industrial gases specialist Messer, demonstrating its strong commitment to the green production transition by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving energy (electricity and water).

Le Manh Hung – Chairman of Petrovietnam, emphasized: “The Messer – PVChem Joint Venture Project is a concrete step in realizing Petrovietnam’s green energy and circular economy strategy, aligning with Vietnam’s carbon neutrality goals.”

Bernd Eulitz – CEO of Messer SE & Co. KGaA, shared: “Messer is proud to partner with PVChem and Petrovietnam to deliver its first Cold energy recovery solution for air separation units worldwide - an innovation that optimizes energy efficiency and fully complies with European environmental standards.”

Stefan Messer – Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Messer SE & Co. KGaA, added: “This is an exciting opportunity for Vietnam’s industry to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by using low-carbon industrial gases essential for many economic and medical fields.”

Truong Dai Nghia – Chairman of PVChem, stated: “The joint venture with Messer is a strategic step for PVChem to expand into green manufacturing, enhancing internal linkages within Petrovietnam and promoting sustainable value chains.”

About Petrovietnam
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Petrovietnam's establishment and development. Spanning half a century, Petrovietnam is currently the number 1 economic group in Vietnam, playing a pillar role in economic development and ensuring national energy security. With strong financial potential and an advanced science and technology foundation, along with a team of highly qualified managers and technical experts, Petrovietnam owns a large-scale business ecosystem, including many units and member companies operating and providing products and solutions in 03 core pillars: Energy - Industry - Services.

About PVChem
PVChem, a member of Petrovietnam, operates in oilfield chemicals, technical services, green manufacturing, and renewable energy. With over 35 years of development, PVChem aims to become a regional leader in chemical and industrial services, pioneering in green transition and circular economy development.

This milestone agreement marks Messer’s first direct long-term partnership with QatarEnergy, one of the world’s largest producers of helium. By diversifying sources and strengthening supply chains, Messer is ensuring its customers benefit from enhanced reliability and long-term security of supply of this rare gas.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, attended by senior leaders from both companies, His Excellency Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said, “Messer is a leading global supplier of helium with a strong reputation and diverse assets. We are delighted to enter into our first direct supply agreement with Messer and to continue providing high-quality helium to the world through reliable partners.”

Helium is an essential building block for advanced technologies and industries, including medical imaging and other healthcare applications, semiconductors, quantum computing, fiber optics, and space exploration. Messer’s recent acquisition of the former Federal Helium System in the United States secured its position as a major global helium player. This agreement with QatarEnergy expands Messer’s sourcing portfolio, strengthening its global reach.

Bernd Eulitz, CEO of Messer SE & Co. KGaA, added, “Through this agreement, Messer’s customers will gain greater confidence in consistent, high-quality supply to power their business and innovations. Most importantly, it reinforces our commitment to customers by ensuring the secure and reliable delivery of helium they need to support their long-term growth.”

By partnering with QatarEnergy, Messer is taking another step forward in building a robust, diversified, and dependable global helium supply chain— to support the rapid growth of its customers around the world, today and well into the future.

Lowering emissions and improving quality are also the focus in the field of welding. Here, Messer is presenting solutions for hand-held laser beam welding along with an innovative shielding gas for welding unalloyed steels. 

Cutting with hydrogen: HyCut offers a clear competitive edge 

Two years ago, together with Messer Cutting Systems, Messer was the first industrial gases supplier to commercialize hydrogen for oxyfuel technology. Marketed under the brand name HyCut, the solution uses 100% hydrogen as fuel gas. Hydrogen contains no carbon atoms, thereby enabling oxyfuel cutting without emitting any CO₂. This helps HyCut users meet their own sustainability goals and comply with legal requirements. 
HyCut makes it possible to apply heat with absolute precision with performance that matches or exceeds that of acetylene. Moreover, the service life of the nozzles is extended and they are also easier to recycle because they require no chrome plating. Last but not least, the noise level drops by 5 to 8 dB(A). In addition to flame cutting, HyCut has also proven itself in heating and straightening, brazing and flame spraying applications. 

Live demonstrations at the trade show will present HyCut’s advantages. 

Laser cutting: New benefits with nitrogen and oxygen 

The sharp increase in laser power in recent years has opened new opportunities: When cutting unalloyed steels, we can use the exothermal reaction process with oxygen to dispense with the energy share. This results in cut surfaces with less oxidation and significantly higher feed rates. For a long time already, nitrogen has been one of the alternatives used to produce components that require little reworking. Up until now, the disadvantages have included heavy burr formation on the underside of the components. This has changed thanks to new mixtures of nitrogen with a two to five percent share of oxygen. 

At the trade show, Messer will be showing customized solutions that optimize the use of nitrogen and oxygen according to need. 

Hand-held laser beam welding: Innovative welding gases 

Hand-held laser beam welding is fundamentally changing the world of welding. It features high precision, low heat input, high welding speed, easy handling and minimal component distortion. Messer has developed a new portfolio of shielding gas mixtures for these applications and will be presenting at the trade show how these gases, marketed under the brand Lasline, can be optimally used for hand-held laser beam welding. 

Welding unalloyed steels: Less welding fumes and particles 

At the cutting and welding trade show “Schweissen & Schneiden 2025”, Messer will present the shielding gas Ferroline C6 X1 for unalloyed steels. This special mixture of argon, carbon dioxide and oxygen, significantly reduces the emission of welding fumes and particles. This enables users to comply, simply and effectively, with increasingly demanding health protection regulations around the world. 

The advantages of this gas mixtures will be showcased at the trade show in practical demonstrations. 
 

A total of 26 innovative buses will replace their predecessors with conventional diesel engines by the end of June 2025, enabling the Rhein-Erft district to avoid emitting around 1,500 tons of greenhouse gases annually. The buses have a range of up to 350 kilometers per tank filling. They will be refueled at a hydrogen filling station provided by Messer on the REVG premises. This is also the location of the H. Freund freight forwarding company, which began commissioning the filling station in October 2024. Messer, the world's largest privately owned specialist for industrial, medical, and specialty gases, was selected as a partner. 

Andreas Noky, specialist for H₂ filling station projects at Messer: "Since the start of trial operations in November 2024, the fleet has gradually expanded from two to 26 buses. Over 400 refueling operations have taken place, filling approximately 6 tons of hydrogen. The average refueling time was less than 10 minutes, which is no longer than refueling with diesel fuel. To date, the operation of the new fuel cell hybrid buses and the refueling of additional vehicles from REVG partner companies have already avoided the emission of around 65 tons of greenhouse gases." 

Messer has been a technology and hydrogen supplier for one of the largest fleets of fuel cell-powered electric buses in the US since 2011. In Jülich (North Rhine-Westphalia), Messer is building a plant for the production of green hydrogen in a joint venture with the district of Düren. With a rated output of 10 megawatts and a production capacity of up to 180 kilograms of hydrogen per hour, the plant will be one of the largest of its kind in Germany. In neighboring Belgium, Messer is a partner in the Hyoffwind project in Zeebrugge for hydrogen electrolysis with a rated output of 25 megawatts. 

Project scope and location advantages
The CO₂ terminal is to be built on an unused area of around 12 hectares on the Ambrian Energy site. The location offers ideal logistical conditions: An existing rail connection enables CO₂ to be transported by train, while a port jetty for ships with a capacity of up to 40,000 tons ensures onward transport to geological CO₂ storage facilities in the North Sea. The planned terminal capacity is initially two million tons of CO₂ per year.

The scope of the pre-FEED study included the feasibility of constructing a specialized tank farm for liquefied CO₂, which will have an integrated quality assurance system and a gas recovery facility. In addition, a modern unloading facility for CO₂ transport by train is to be built to ensure efficient delivery of the liquefied CO₂. Another key element is the ship loading facility, which will enable the safe and loss-free transportation of the CO₂ to geological sinks in the North Sea.

Strategic partnership for sustainable CO₂ logistics
Messer, the world's leading privately owned specialist for industrial, medical and specialty gases, has decades of experience in CO₂ recovery and processing.

Last fall, Messer launched “ZeCarb® ‘, a new offering in the field of ’Carbon Capture as a Service” (CCaaS). “ZeCarb® “ stands for ‘Zero Carbon’ and helps to decarbonize industries with high CO₂ emissions. Ambrian Energy, on the other hand, has extensive expertise in the logistics of fuels. Together, the two companies are pursuing the goal of offering customers a complete value chain from CO₂ recovery from industrial emitters to transportation by train and loading onto ships for CO₂ sequestration.

Following the successful completion of the feasibility study, the two companies are planning a strategic partnership to jointly implement the CO₂ terminal. This would create a central infrastructure that supports Germany in achieving its climate targets and contributes to the scaling of the CCS infrastructure.

About ZeCarb®
ZeCarb® is a service brand for the “Carbon Capture as a Service” (CCaaS) offering from Messer, the world's largest privately owned specialist for industrial, medical and specialty gases. With ZeCarb® (“Zero Carbon”), Messer helps various industries and municipalities, for example from steel, cement, glass, paper and chemical production or fossil-fired power plants, to achieve their “net zero” climate targets by capturing CO₂ emissions directly at source. In doing so, Messer draws on decades of experience in the field of CO₂ recovery. As a global player, Messer offers its sustainable products and services in Asia, Europe and America. This enables Messer to offer all areas of the Carbon Capture Utilization & Storage (CCUS) value chain from a single source. Messer has already installed more than 90 plants worldwide, which are among the most proven and scalable systems for CO₂ recovery.

Web: https://zecarb.messergroup.com

Mail: request@zecarb.messergroup.com

About Ambrian Energy
For 50 years, Ambrian Energy GmbH has been a reliable and competent partner for international oil companies as well as numerous independent companies in the German energy and mineral oil industry. Ambrian Energy GmbH offers a wide range of products, high capacities and fast service. We trade all fuels and mineral oils available on the market and act as a reliable link in the supply chain. In addition to fossil mineral oil fuels, the proportion of alternative fuels is also growing continuously - and is an integral part of our range.

Web: https://ambrian-energy.com

Mail: contact@ambrian-energy.com

Despite the challenging economic environment, Messer, the world’s largest privately owned specialist for industrial, medical and specialty gases, demonstrated resilience in the financial year 2024. Group sales rose by 2 percent* to approximately EUR 4.5 billion as new capacities were added and new customers were supplied, including in the aerospace and semiconductor industries. EBITDA increased by approximately 10 percent* to EUR 1.4 billion. Messer invested around EUR 0.9 billion to foster future growth by building additional plants and maintaining existing assets. In addition, Messer secured helium volumes in the US during 2024.

“The industrial gases business proves resilient even in globally challenging times, supported by a broadly diversified customer base and regional footprint,” explains Bernd Eulitz, CEO of Messer, adding, “the vast majority of our products are produced locally to serve local customers, with only limited cross-border business.” Messer also expanded its team and employed over 11,800 people at the end of 2024, compared to around 11,500 in the previous year.

Regionally diversified industrial gas business

Sales of Messer’s companies in the Americas amounted to approximately EUR 2.4 billion in the 2024 financial year, up 4 percent* year-on-year. Around EUR 1.6 billion of total regional sales is attributable to the US, EUR 0.3 billion to Canada and EUR 0.4 billion to Latin America.

Capital investment projects in this region were concentrated in the US. The primary focus was on strategic projects expanding the market segments aerospace, semiconductor and medical industries, as well as on investments in the helium business. Investments in Latin America support Messer’s growth and enhance reliability in the region.

In Europe, Messer generated stable sales of around EUR 1.3 billion. In Western Europe, Messer achieved sales of EUR 0.5 billion, while Central Europe and Southeast Europe contributed sales of EUR 0.4 billion each.

Investment projects in the region included carbon dioxide production plants in Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Serbia. In Belgium, Messer inaugurated the construction of the country’s first industrial-scale green hydrogen production plant. The 25 MW facility in Zeebrugge is part of the joint venture Hyoffwind, which is expected to commence operation in 2026. Meanwhile, in Germany, Messer pursued the realization of a 10 MW green hydrogen plant as a joint venture partner of HyDN GmbH in Dueren, with operations planned to begin this year. A new filling plant started its operations in Spain to support growth and enhance logistical efficiency in the Northeast of the country. Further investments in generators, purification and filling plants were made across the region.

In Asia, Messer generated stable sales of EUR 0.8 billion. EUR 0.7 billion is attributable to China and EUR 0.1 billion to the ASEAN region. Strong sales growth in Vietnam compensated lower sales in China. The positive development in Vietnam is due to the demand from pipeline customers and for liquefied gases, which facilitated the ramp-up of new production assets.

In its ASEAN region, Messer continued to invest particularly in Vietnam. In addition to further expanding on-site capacities for customers in the steel industry, investments in end-markets such as food processing, electronics and healthcare support diversification of end-markets for Messer in the country. In Thailand, Messer’s investment into its first production facility continued.

In China, the group invested in air separation plants, generators and specialty gas production and purification facilities to support customers across end-markets such as the steel, chemical, electronics, pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries.

Long-term financing successfully secured

In the financial year 2024, EUR 1.3 billion in private placements and EUR 1.15 billion in promissory notes were successfully raised to fully refinance outstanding acquisition loans and securing long-term financing.

Net debt at the end of 2024 amounted to EUR 3.6 billion, with cash and cash equivalents totaling EUR 0.5 billion.

* Consolidated financials for Messer, with prior year figures presented on a pro-forma basis, reflecting the current year’s scope and adjustments related to the acquisition of Messer Industries in November 2023.

Austenite refers to an iron and carbon crystal structure which is found in many steels but is not always desirable. This structure only has a low degree of hardness and, as a rule, is difficult to cut, which considerably limits the processing possibilities. At Pilana, a Czech tool manufacturer, hardened steel is therefore frozen with nitrogen prior to machining, because at very low temperatures austenite is transformed into different, desirable structural forms. Messer has installed the technology for this and is supplying the nitrogen coolant. Among other things, Pilana produces wood milling machines and circular saw blades, as well as woodworking tools, plane blades and industrial cutters. The company employs 650 staff and is one of the largest tool manufacturers in Europe. The tools are manufactured in compliance with the DIN and ISO standards. A crucial factor here is, of course, the quality of the steel and this, in turn, is dependent on the crystal structure of the material. Depending on the tool and the application, the austenite in the steel needs to be transformed into a different crystal structure – martensite, which has an extremely high degree of hardness.

Lattice change
The classic method of transforming austenite into martensite involves repeated heating and cooling of the material. This takes a long time though and consumes a lot of energy. Cryogenic treatment offers a modern alternative, which saves both time and energy. In 2011, Pilana placed an order with Messer in the Czech Republic to install a facility for the cryogenic treatment of steel for cutting tools. This was designed to allow the steel to be cooled with cryogenic nitrogen to temperatures as low as minus 180 degrees Celsius and to be heated to a maximum temperature of plus 180 degrees Celsius. The centrepiece of the cryogenic process is the injection of liquid nitrogen into the refrigerated part of the chamber. Here, ventilators disperse the cryogenic gas so that its effect on the material is even. The entire cooling and reheating process is pre-programmed and centrally controlled to ensure accurate adherence to all the steel hardening parameters. This includes the cooling rate and time, the retention time for a predetermined temperature as well as the heating rate and time.

The advantage of controlled heating is that the entire process takes place in the box without air ingress. A further benefit is the rapid transition from the held temperature to ambient temperature, which saves a lot of time. Nitrogen and energy are also used very efficiently. Approximately two to three kilograms of liquid nitrogen is sufficient for one kilogram of material. A vacuuminsulated nitrogen supply pipe also helps to minimise the energy requirement.

Difference in quality
Besides being very efficient, the process also improves quality. When comparing the service life of cutting tool steels used in woodworking, there are measurable benefits from cryogenic treatment. The Austrian company Stora Enso Building and Living, based in Ybbs, has compared steel in tools (blades for removing tree bark) with and without subsequent cryogenic treatment at a minimum of minus 150 degrees Celsius. Cryogenic treatment reduces the tension in the material and facilitates the formation of particularly fine martensite needle grains – a prerequisite for a robust crystal structure. It therefore also facilitates improved cutting performance. Consequently, steels for tools that have been cryogenically treated have a significantly longer service life.

Hardening of steel is only possible by first allowing the carbon content to dissolve in the austenite at high temperatures followed by quenching of the work piece in liquid oil. This changes the steel’s crystal structure. The dissolved carbon content, hardening temperature and quenching medium determine the nature of the change as well as the properties of the hardened steel at room temperature. In practice, the quenching oils are usually maintained at a constant temperature of 50 to 70 degrees Celsius so that the heat treatment creates reproducible hardness and dimensional stability .. At these temperatures, however, the austenite is not completely transformed into martensite during quenching. In steels with a carbon content of more than 0.5 percent by weight, the formation of martensite during quenching to room temperature may not take place completely.

After hardening, the proportion of retained austenite in the steel can be up to 20 percent by volume. Retained austenite has an adverse effect on dimensional accuracy, wear resistance and hardness, as well as on processing qualities. It is also undesirable from a safety point of view. It is therefore essential to reduce its fraction in the steel. For these reasons, the cryogenic process is nowadays the method of choice, since it combines reproducibly better results with – compared to the conventional procedure – significantly reduced time and energy requirements.

Additional cooling of the hardened parts to temperatures as low as minus 150 degrees Celsius facilitates the transformation of retained austenite into martensite and, for certain alloys and proportions, makes this process possible at all. The hardened components are cooled in cold chambers under controlled conditions, the temperatures (typically between minus 80 and minus 120 degrees) depend on both the alloy involved and any particular requirements . After cooling they are then re-heated. This procedure should be carried out as soon as possible after hardening and repeated several times. The martensite finish temperature (Mf) is a decisive factor here. It indicates the temperature at which the expected rate of transformation will be achieved.

The key element of the cryogenic process is the injection of liquid nitrogen into the refrigeration area of the cold chamber where fans distribute the cryogenic gas, enabling it to act uniformly on the material.

The entire process of cooling and reheating is programmed and centrally controlled using up to date equipment like Messer’s Cryogen® cold chambers, thus ensuring that all parameters for hardening the steel are precisely maintained. These include the speed and duration of cooling, the time for reaching and holding the prescribed temperature,, as well as the speed and duration of heating.. Controlled heating has the advantage that the entire process takes place in a box without air contact, thus preventing the batch from becoming iced over. Another plus is the rapid transition from the holding to the ambient temperature, which saves a great deal of time. Nitrogen and energy are used very efficiently in modern cooling chambers: less than one kilogram of liquid nitrogen is sufficient to treat one kilogram of material. The use of a vacuum insulated pipe for conveying liquid nitrogen from the tank to the cooling facility allows for a further reduction in energy consumption. It is advantageous to use a piping system which is as short as possible; this should therefore be taken into account when planning the system as a whole.

Difference in quality

Not only is the process particularly cost effective, it also improves quality. Comparing the lifetime of cutter blades for wood machining gives a measure of the benefit of cooling. An Austrian company compared tool steels (for industrial blades for removing bark) with and without subsequent cryogenic treatment. The holding temperature used here was minus 150 degrees Celsius. The cryogenic treatment reduced the compressive stresses in the cutter blade and allowed particularly fine needles of martensite to form – a prerequisite for a resilient crystal structure as well as for increased cutting edge retention. The lifetime of tool steels that undergo cryogenic treatment also increases significantly.

The same is true for work pieces in which the accuracy of fine contours plays a crucial role. Moulds for yoghurt pots, for example, must comply with minimum tolerances, since even small variations can cause disruption to the process of preparing, filling and labelling the plastic pots. Cryogenic treatment increases the wear resistance and dimensional stability of the moulds and thus helps to reduce overall costs. Furthermore, cryogenically treated steels are easier to work with.

Typical products and applications

The benefits of cryogenic treatment are exploited for a wide variety of work pieces and applications. Alongside the tool steel and moulds already mentioned there are other typical examples. Cold treatment is used to improve the dimensional stability, among other things, of case hardened injectors, vacuum hardened plain bearing rings and the blades used in electric shavers. The safety aspect is also important in the case of specialised folding bellows,. Durability and safety are at the forefront in applications such as safety chains for the tyres of large vehicles.

Characteristic features of the martensitic transformation

The diffusionless and exothermic transformation begins with the nucleation of martensite at lattice defects in the austenite (dislocations, grain boundaries). The crystal volume increases by three to four percent after the transformation. Depending on the chemical composition of the alloy, a specific content of retained austenite remains. The final extent of transformation is primarily determined by the cooling profile applied.

Effects on the proportion of retained austenite during hardening and tempering

How much retained austenite remains in the material depends on numerous factors. The hardening temperature, the holding time as well as the level of carbon activity in the furnace atmosphere during the heat treatment play a role. During quenching, the type of quenching oil, the oil temperature, the rate of quenching and the oil circulation are factors alongside the work piece parameters (material, geometry, etc.). In the batch removal phase, the immersion time, the draining time, the quenching chamber temperature, and the storage and cooling times are significant. In the cleaning phase, important factors are the temperature of the cleaning solution and steam/spray treatment, as well as the drying and total cycle times. During cold treatment, significant factors are the rate of cooling, the temperature and its distribution, the holding time, heating up and tempering. In order to achieve reproducible quality, treatment specifications that include a work plan as well as monitoring of the process flow and the final quality are essential.

Safe, rapid cooling in every situation

Messer cold chambers enable efficient and reproducible cold treatment in which the customer’s specific requirements can be exactly implemented. They are characterised by high cooling efficiency and operational safety. If the chamber is opened, for instance, the coolant supply automatically shuts off. All of our cold chambers are delivered ready for connection, which speeds up their initial operation at the desired location and thus ensures that all their advantages can be exploited immediately. In addition, the cold chambers can be rapidly and easily redeployed to a different location with minimal installation timel.

The injection of liquid nitrogen permits very efficient and cost-effective operation. It ensures that the cooling temperature is achieved quickly and uniformly. At the same time, a very rapid change in temperature and heating for a quick batch change is possible. Accurate control of the process steps is facilitated through processor controlled temperature regulation. . The high quality construction of the chambers guarantees a long service life. They are also suitable for high loading capacities. Last but not least, the size of the nitrogen tanks can also be specified to precise customer requirements. Experts from Messer consult with customers to determine their product quality needs and seek out appropriate solutions. Analysis of the processes and identification of the potential for improvement are used as a basis for the planning and design of the cold treatment. Once the process has been introduced, long term support and service are an integral component of our business relationship.

During the production of a tyre, up to 30 sorts of rubber are blended together to create different mixtures with proportions that depend on whether they are to be used to make summer or winter tyres, treads or side walls. The individual rubber layers are assembled layer by layer with the other components, such as textile fabrics or steel belts, and are then provisionally bonded with one another by powerful rollers. Only when vulcanised in the heating press do the layers finally merge to become an inseparable unit. It is here that the tyre also gets its tread, and the previously mouldable rubber mass transforms into the stable, but still elastic, material that we know in the form of car and bicycle tyres. Nitrogen (N₂) plays an important role in this critical step. In the heating press, nitrogen can be used in two separate processing steps. In the first of these, the so-called bladder is inflated with nitrogen. This is a kind of balloon that is located in the middle of the heating press and which presses the tyre blank into the mould with a pressure of about one bar. Steam was formerly used for this step. But it is safer with nitrogen since the press is still open at this phase. As a consumable item, the bladder is regularly replaced; however, any damage that it might suffer before replacement could lead to an uncontrolled release of steam and endanger the workers. Compressed air is out of the question due to the risk of ignition. Inert nitrogen offers the best possible protection here.

In the second step, the press is closed and the bladder is filled with hot steam at 15 to 20 bars. This supplies the heat and pressure that are needed for vulcanisation, but it is replaced with nitrogen after a short time because steam would heat up again too much under pressure. However, heat and pressure must be kept within an optimal range if the desired quality is to be achieved. The larger the tyre is, the longer the process takes. For conventional car tyres, it requires about 10 minutes; for the tyres used on heavy goods vehicles, which can be up to four metres across, it can take a whole day. The use of nitrogen guarantees a uniform distribution of heat over the entire period.

The improved pressure stability and uniform heat distribution during vulcanisation that results from the use of nitrogen reduce the cycle time while extending the service life of the bladder. This allows higher rates of production as well as lower production and maintenance costs.

Following on from the hot N₂, very cold CO₂ comes into play when removing excess rubber from the press mould. The use of carbon dioxide dry ice allows the moulds to be cleaned without disassembly and with minimal loss of time. Cryogenic dry ice pellets are “shot” at the moulds from a blasting machine, such as the ASCOJET from Asco Carbon Dioxide Ltd, at up to 300 metres per second. Thermal shock and impact energy completely strip away the contaminants. The pellets change into the gaseous state, leaving behind a clean and dry surface. The tyre mould of the heating press has small venting holes into which the rubber is forced during vulcanisation. This is what gives rise to the small nubs that are found on new tyres. When a new car is fitted with tyres for the first time, the tyres are not only deburred, but also “de-nubbed”. The method of choice for both: The protruding bits of rubber are made brittle with cryogenic nitrogen and are then simply brushed off.

With or without nubs, tyres roll optimally only when they are at the correct pressure. Here, too, nitrogen – or a mixture of nitrogen and argon – is clearly superior to simple compressed air. Tyres that are filled with nitrogen maintain their pressure better and hence retain their optimal rolling properties for longer. This helps to save fuel and, furthermore, prevents oxidation of the inner wall of the tyre, which gives the tyre a longer service life. In Formula 1, on vehicles transporting dangerous goods, on vehicles used in tunnels or mines and on commercial aircraft, the use of nitrogen to fill tyres is a safety requirement. When a jet lands, the tyres are accelerated to about 260 kilometres per hour in an instant as it touches down and thus become hot very rapidly. In order to prevent them from being able to ignite from inside, they are filled with nitrogen.

Gases are also used when recycling tyres. In order to reclaim the valuable raw materials from old tyres, they must first be reduced to small pieces. Cold grinding is used to achieve the best quality here. The ground material is cooled and embrittled with liquid nitrogen. A very fine grain can be achieved by grinding in this way. The raw materials in the tyres – rubber, metal and plastic fibres – can then be sorted into their different types, and some can be reused for tyre production.

Old tyres in which the load-bearing structure, the carcass, has remained undamaged can be reused by replacing the tread. This is a particularly common practice for old lorry tyres. The first step of retreading is to inspect the carcass. If it is in good condition, the old tread is stripped away, producing rubber “buffings” in the process. The new tread can then be laid down. There are two procedures for this: the cold and the hot retreading processes. In the cold retreading process, a pre-vulcanised tread is attached to the carcass and is then bonded with the carcass under pressure in an autoclave at about 110 degrees Celsius. An alternative to this is the hot retreading process. In this process, the new tread is laid down in the form of strands of extruded rubber mass and is subsequently vulcanised with nitrogen in a heating press. This fuses the rubber mass and the carcass into a single unit. Nitrogen offers the same advantages here as it does for the production of new tyres.

Every wine grower is glad of dry and sunny weather at harvest time. The grapes get one last ripening boost and the harvest stays healthy – only in this way can truly great vintages be created. However, a warm autumn also encourages premature fermentation. As soon as the grapes are pulled from the panicles and get slightly squashed in the process, the ubiquitous microorganisms start to attack the must. They multiply particularly quickly in warm temperatures. If the wine grower does not intervene, they will immediately start to convert the fructose into alcohol.

Golden October spells danger
While this conversion – the fermentation process – is what turns the juice of the grapes into wine, it would be premature at this stage, because the must needs some time to allow important constituents to be released from the grape skin. This includes some of the flavour compounds that help give the wine its fruity taste. The tannins, which are essential to the “body” of the wine, and the colour compounds, which give it its shimmering lustre, are also predominantly derived from the grape skin and extracted prior to fermentation.

Colouring bath of skins
To ensure that this subtle process is not interrupted by premature activity on the part of the alcohol-forming yeast cells, many vintners rely on so-called cold maceration. The process was originally developed in Burgundy to help give the not so intensely coloured Pinot Noir a darker density. In most cases, a temperature of approximately five degrees Celsius is aimed for. This is achieved by adding dry ice with a temperature of minus 78 degrees Celsius. The cryogenic carbon dioxide cools the must to the desired temperature and also keeps the ambient air away from it: It changes from the solid state to the gaseous state (sublimation) and rises above the must, remaining just above it as a blanketing CO₂ cloud since it is heavier than air. After a while, fermentation can finally begin. With good red wine, it takes place “on the skins” – the must and grape skins stay together. In the case of white wine, the two are first separated. The must is pressed, and this juice is then clarified, id est turbidities such as leftover particles of grape skin is removed.

Nowadays, with larger batch sizes, the flotation process is predominantly used for this step. Many wineries use nitrogen for this as it does not react with the sensitive contents. Nitrogen is fed into the grape juice inside a pressure tank. At a pressure of five to six bar, it remains absorbed in the liquid, but is then released again as soon as the pressure is reduced. Gas bubbles rise to the surface, taking with them the particles to which they are still adhering. This leaves clear must at the bottom, which can simply be drawn off. The process also works with compressed air, but the oxygen it contains can cause undesirable reactions, oxidation and a loss of flavour.

Tank flooded with gas
During fermentation, the microorganisms themselves produce plenty of carbon dioxide, thus preventing air from getting into the fermentation tanks during this phase. However, before these are filled, as well as a few weeks later when transferring the fermented young wine into the storage tank, the question of how to avoid contact with oxygen arises again. The best way to prevent changes in the flavour and colour of the wine is to use inert gases – nitrogen or argon for red wine and carbon dioxide for white wine. These gases displace the air during the storage, transfer or bottling of wine and thus prevent oxidation by atmospheric oxygen. They are stored in gas tanks or gas cylinders and dosed via pipes and hoses as required. There is another very simple method of tank inerting. This involves manually adding a measured quantity of dry ice to the empty tank. Inside the tank, it sublimates to gaseous carbon dioxide and pushes the air out through the opening at the top of the tank.

The same inert gas processes are used when different wines are blended to make a cuvée, as is the case with the majority of the fine Bordeaux wines for example. These expensive wines are made from the wines of different grape varieties, which are made separately before being mixed at a later stage. Here too, of course, it is desirable to avoid contact with oxygen, and this can be achieved by using inert gases. When the vintner bottles the wine later on by drawing it from stainless steel wine tanks, it is often done in several stages. This leaves a number of half-full tanks, quite often over a longer period of time. Inside these tanks, a layer of the relatively heavy noble gas argon offers the most efficient protection against flavour-destroying oxidation. It is generally used in a nitrogen-argon mixture and can also preserve a wine’s freshness and flavours in bottles that have been opened.