Linde LLC, a Murray Hill, N.J.-based subsidiary of Linde North America, Inc., broke ground on a La Porte, Texas, plant designed to produce liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon.

“The La Porte liquefier will give us the size and operating efficiencies we need to meet the rapidly growing demand in the Houston Ship Channel area,” says Scott Latta, vice president of the South and West regions.

The liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon will be delivered by tanker truck to customers ranging from manufacturers of chemical and petrochemical products to food processors, metal fabricators, metal heat treaters, independent gases and welding distributors and healthcare providers. The large, state-of-the art air separation unit (ASU) plant is part of a $200 million investment that will also include a gasification train and will support equipment and facilities. When the plant comes on-stream in the first quarter of 2015, operations will employ more than 50 people. It will also be the largest such Linde plant in the United States.

“Until the liquefier comes on stream, we’ll continue to serve customers from nearby Linde plants in Texas and Louisiana,” Latta says. “When completed, the plant will bring product closer to our customers, which will improve their supply security and reduce Linde’s carbon footprint.”

The La Porte ASU Plant will use less electricity by taking advantage of the latest design technology from Linde Engineering. The La Porte ASU plant’s close proximity to Linde customers will also result in less fuel consumption by Linde’s delivery trucks.