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Air Products

Air Products is a global industrial-gases and chemicals company supplying atmospheric and process gases, equipment, technology, and related services to heavy industry, healthcare, food, electronics, energy, and transportation markets.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

Air Products, formally Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., is a United States-based industrial-gases company serving customers in technology, energy, healthcare, food, chemicals, metals, refining, manufacturing, and other industrial markets. Its principal business is the production, distribution, and supply of gases used in industrial processes rather than consumer retail. The portfolio includes atmospheric gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon; hydrogen; carbon dioxide; helium; process and specialty gases; and synthesis-gas-related offerings. Depending on customer requirements, these products are delivered through dedicated pipelines, customer-site generation plants, bulk liquid distribution, packaged gases, and other engineered supply systems. The company was founded in Detroit in 1940 by Leonard Parker Pool with an emphasis on producing industrial gases at or near customer facilities. This on-site model became a defining part of Air Products' business because it could provide large industrial users with a continuous and dependable supply. During the Second World War, the company manufactured mobile oxygen generators for military aviation and expanded its production capacity. Its headquarters moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1944, and later to Emmaus and then Trexlertown in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, where the corporate headquarters remains located. Air Products has developed capabilities beyond gas sales. Its activities include gas separation, liquefaction, storage, transportation, distribution, engineering, equipment, and on-site plant operation. The company has supplied technologies and products for liquefied natural gas, refinery hydrogen, carbon capture, gas cabinets, coatings, adhesives, epoxy additives, and chemical intermediates. It also has a long relationship with NASA, supplying liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for U.S. human-spaceflight programs, including Mercury, Apollo, and Space Shuttle missions. In the twenty-first century, Air Products increasingly concentrated on industrial gases after separating or selling several materials businesses. It spun off its Materials Technologies business as Versum Materials in 2016 and sold its Performance Materials division to Evonik in 2017. Hydrogen has become one of the company's most visible strategic areas, covering conventional and lower-carbon production, liquid hydrogen, mobility infrastructure, and supply for refining, chemicals, steel, and energy-transition projects. Air Products announced a proposed green-hydrogen project in the United Kingdom in 2022 but withdrew from the Humberside project in 2025, citing insufficient government commitment. The brand is primarily associated with reliable supply, gas purity, technical engineering, safety, and long-term industrial relationships. It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker APD. Its business model is capital-intensive and commonly depends on long-term contracts, dedicated pipelines, customer-site facilities, regional distribution networks, and specialized production assets. Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., commonly branded as Air Products, is a United States-based industrial-gases and chemicals company headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1940 by Leonard P. Pool, the company developed from an industrial-gas supplier into a global provider of atmospheric gases, process gases, specialty and performance materials, gas-production equipment, process technology, and onsite supply infrastructure. The company’s principal gases include oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, and syngas-related products. These materials are used in steelmaking, refining, chemical manufacturing, electronics fabrication, food preservation and freezing, healthcare, glass production, welding, metal fabrication, water treatment, and other industrial processes. Air Products supplies customers through cylinders, liquid bulk deliveries, packaged gases, onsite plants, and large-scale pipeline networks. Its pipeline systems are an important part of its operating model, particularly in industrial clusters where multiple customers receive continuous supplies from centralized production facilities. Air Products has also built a substantial engineering and equipment business. It designs and supplies air-separation units, hydrogen-production systems, gasification and synthesis-gas technologies, liquefied-natural-gas process technology, and other equipment used by industrial and energy customers. This combination of commodity gases, long-term supply contracts, proprietary technology, and infrastructure gives the company a business model that is more capital-intensive and operationally integrated than a conventional chemicals distributor. Hydrogen has become a major strategic focus. Air Products has long produced, distributed, and handled hydrogen for refining and chemical customers, but it has increasingly promoted low-carbon hydrogen, including hydrogen made with carbon capture and hydrogen associated with renewable-power projects. The company has announced and pursued large projects in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and other regions, while also participating in the development of hydrogen fueling and export infrastructure. Its projects have included proposed clean-hydrogen production, liquefaction, pipeline, ammonia, and maritime-fuel applications. Air Products is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol APD. It operates internationally and competes with industrial-gas groups such as Linde and Air Liquide, as well as with regional gas suppliers and specialized technology providers. The company has periodically reshaped its portfolio through acquisitions, divestitures, and business separations. A significant strategic change occurred in 2017, when its materials technologies business was separated as Versum Materials, allowing Air Products to concentrate more heavily on industrial gases and related equipment. Versum Materials was subsequently acquired by Merck KGaA. The Air Products brand is therefore associated less with consumer products than with the physical infrastructure behind manufacturing and energy systems: gas plants, pipelines, storage, delivery fleets, engineering projects, and technical services. Its present identity centers on industrial gases, large-scale process technology, operational reliability, and the energy-transition applications of hydrogen and carbon-management systems. In the twenty-first century, Air Products increasingly focused on industrial gases by divesting or selling several materials businesses. In 2016 it spun off its Materials Technologies business as Versum Materials; in 2017 it sold its Performance Materials division to Evonik. Hydrogen has become one of the company's most prominent strategic areas, spanning conventional and low-carbon production, liquid hydrogen, mobility infrastructure, and supply for refining, chemicals, steel, and energy-transition projects. Air Products announced a proposed green-hydrogen project in the United Kingdom in 2022 but withdrew from the Humberside project in 2025, citing insufficient government commitment. The company also announced participation in a large renewable-powered hydrogen and ammonia project at NEOM in Saudi Arabia in 2020, with hydrogen intended for conversion into ammonia and export to international markets.

History

Air Products was established in Detroit in 1940 by Leonard Parker Pool to develop on-site production and sales of industrial gases. The concept addressed the needs of industrial customers requiring dependable supplies close to their facilities. Rather than relying exclusively on cylinders transported from a central plant, on-site generation could support continuous, high-volume consumption and integrate directly with customer operations. The Second World War accelerated the company's development. In 1941, after the United States entered the war, Air Products began manufacturing mobile oxygen generators for high-altitude military aviation. In 1944, it moved its headquarters from Detroit to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and expanded oxygen-production manufacturing capacity to support the U.S. Air Force and allied forces. After the war, the company moved its headquarters and operations to Emmaus, Pennsylvania, in the industrial Lehigh Valley. It later completed its corporate headquarters in neighboring Trexlertown in the late 1950s. Air Products subsequently broadened its industrial-gases platform. Its supply methods came to include customer-site plants, pipeline networks, bulk liquid delivery, packaged gases, and specialized distribution systems. It also developed or supplied equipment and technologies for air separation, gas purification, liquefaction, storage, and transportation. This combination of molecules, infrastructure, engineering, and operating services allowed the company to serve customers with very different volumes and purity requirements. The company built an international presence across technology, energy, healthcare, food, metals, chemicals, refining, and general manufacturing. Its products included oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, helium, process gases, and specialty gases. Other activities included refinery hydrogen, liquefied natural gas equipment and technology, gas cabinets, coatings, adhesives, epoxy additives, and chemical intermediates. Air Products also became a significant supplier to the U.S. space program. It supplied liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for the Mercury and Apollo programs and liquid hydrogen used in Space Shuttle launches, reflecting its expertise in cryogenic gases and large-scale handling systems. Environmental and sustainability-related activities became more visible in the 2000s. In 2001, the company received recognition from the WateReuse Association for a water-conservation project at its Santa Clara, California facility that used recycled water for cooling. It was also recognized in sustainability and climate-innovation indexes during the following decade. The company participated in carbon-capture and storage demonstrations and developed hydrogen fueling technology, including a Series 10 hydrogen fueling station that received a 2010 Rushlight Hydrogen and Fuel Cells industry award. Air Products later streamlined its portfolio. In 2015 it announced the planned separation of Materials Technologies; the transaction was completed in 2016 through the creation of Versum Materials. In 2017 it sold its Performance Materials division to Evonik. These transactions left industrial gases and associated equipment and technologies as the central business identity. Hydrogen has since become a major strategic theme. Air Products supplies hydrogen to established industrial users and has pursued liquid hydrogen, mobility infrastructure, lower-carbon production, and large energy-transition projects. In 2022 it announced a proposed green-hydrogen project in Humberside, United Kingdom. In June 2025, it withdrew from that project, stating that government commitment was insufficient. The company also faced criticism over its initial response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine; according to the cited account, it subsequently changed its position and divested its Russian interests. Air Products remains an active publicly traded industrial-gases company headquartered in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania. Air Products was founded in 1940 by Leonard P. Pool in the United States. Its early development was based on supplying industrial gases and creating practical delivery systems for customers that needed gases at manufacturing sites. Rather than treating gases only as packaged commodities, the company developed an integrated model involving production equipment, storage, transportation, and technical support. During the postwar expansion of American manufacturing, Air Products grew alongside industries that consumed large volumes of oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and other gases. Steel, chemicals, petroleum refining, glass, metals, food processing, healthcare, and electronics all became important applications. The company expanded beyond cylinders into bulk liquid distribution and onsite production, allowing it to build plants near customers and enter long-term supply arrangements. Pipeline systems later connected centralized production facilities with industrial customers in major manufacturing regions. Air Products became a public company and expanded internationally through new facilities, technology development, joint ventures, and acquisitions. Its engineering capabilities became increasingly important because industrial-gas businesses often require customized production plants and specialized separation, purification, liquefaction, and distribution systems. The company’s technology activities included air-separation equipment, hydrogen systems, gasification-related processes, and liquefied-natural-gas technology. The company also operated businesses outside its core industrial-gases franchise. Its Materials Technologies activities supplied specialty materials and chemicals, including products used by semiconductor and electronics manufacturers. In 2017, Air Products separated that business into an independent company, Versum Materials. The separation sharpened Air Products’ strategic focus on industrial gases, equipment, and related technologies. Versum Materials was later acquired by Merck KGaA in 2019. Under chief executive Seifi Ghasemi, who became CEO in 2014, Air Products emphasized operating discipline, portfolio focus, productivity, and large infrastructure projects. The company increasingly presented hydrogen as a central growth opportunity. Hydrogen was already a longstanding product for refinery and chemical customers, but the energy-transition debate expanded its potential uses in heavy transport, clean power, steel, ammonia, shipping, and industrial decarbonization. Air Products subsequently announced projects involving clean hydrogen, carbon capture, hydrogen liquefaction, export terminals, pipelines, and fueling networks. Its announced and proposed hydrogen projects have included developments in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and other markets. Some projects involve hydrogen produced with natural gas and carbon capture, while others are associated with renewable electricity or alternative low-carbon production routes. The company has also pursued opportunities involving clean ammonia and maritime fuel, reflecting the possibility that hydrogen may be transported or used through hydrogen-derived molecules. Air Products remains an infrastructure-heavy industrial company. Its activities span merchant gases delivered in cylinders or bulk tanks, onsite plants dedicated to individual customers, pipeline networks serving industrial clusters, specialty gases for advanced manufacturing, and engineering projects that can involve very large capital commitments. This model creates long-term customer relationships but also exposes the company to construction risk, energy costs, project delays, regulation, and changing demand for hydrogen and other energy-transition products. The company’s current identity is consequently built around industrial gases and process technology rather than the consumer-facing chemicals businesses that once formed part of its broader portfolio. It competes globally with Linde and Air Liquide, while also facing regional competition and project-specific rivals. Air Products’ brand is associated with large-scale technical infrastructure, continuous supply reliability, and the application of gas technology to industrial production and decarbonization. Under chief executive Seifi Ghasemi, who became CEO in 2014, Air Products emphasized operating discipline, portfolio focus, productivity, and large infrastructure projects. Hydrogen has since become a major strategic theme. Air Products supplies hydrogen to established industrial users and has pursued liquid hydrogen, mobility infrastructure, lower-carbon production, and large energy-transition projects. In 2020 it announced participation in a large renewable-powered hydrogen and ammonia project at NEOM in Saudi Arabia, with hydrogen intended for conversion into ammonia and export to international markets. In 2022 it announced a proposed green-hydrogen project in Humberside, United Kingdom. In June 2025, it withdrew from that project, stating that government commitment was insufficient. The company also faced criticism over its initial response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine; according to the cited account, it subsequently changed its position and divested its Russian interests. Air Products remains an active publicly traded industrial-gases company headquartered in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, competing globally with Linde and Air Liquide.

  • 2025

    Humberside project withdrawal

    [1]

    Air Products withdrew from the proposed United Kingdom green-hydrogen project, citing insufficient government commitment.

  • 2022

    Humberside green-hydrogen plans announced

    [1]

    The company announced plans for a green-hydrogen production project in Humberside, United Kingdom.

  • 2020

    Air Products announces a major clean-energy investment in Saudi Arabia

    [6]

    Air Products announced its participation in a large renewable-powered hydrogen and ammonia project at NEOM in Saudi Arabia.

  • 2019

    Versum Materials acquired by Merck KGaA

    [7]

    Merck KGaA completed its acquisition of Versum Materials, the former Air Products Materials Technologies business.

  • 2017

    Performance Materials division sold

    [1]

    Air Products sold its Performance Materials division to Evonik and sharpened its focus on industrial gases.

  • 2017

    Materials Technologies separated

    [5]

    Air Products completed the separation of its Materials Technologies business into an independent company, later known as Versum Materials.

  • 2016

    Versum Materials spinoff completed

    [1]

    Air Products completed the separation of its Materials Technologies business, creating Versum Materials as a standalone company.

  • 2014

    Seifi Ghasemi becomes chief executive

    [4]

    Seifi Ghasemi became chairman, president, and chief executive officer, beginning a period of portfolio focus and operating-efficiency initiatives.

  • 2013

    High-purity argon used in fundamental measurement

    [1]

    The company's high-purity built-in purifier argon was used in work that helped establish a more accurate value for the Boltzmann constant.

  • 2010

    Hydrogen fueling technology award

    [1]

    Air Products received a Rushlight Hydrogen and Fuel Cells industry award for its Series 10 hydrogen fueling station.

Products and positioning

A technically integrated industrial-gases supplier and engineering partner for large industrial, energy, healthcare, food, technology, and manufacturing customers. A global industrial-gases and process-technology provider focused on reliable supply infrastructure, engineering-intensive customer solutions, and the expansion of hydrogen and other lower-carbon energy applications.

  • Industrial gases

    Industrial gases

    Air Products supplies atmospheric, process, and specialty gases to customers in manufacturing, chemicals, energy, healthcare, food, metals, electronics, and other industries. Supply formats include customer-site generation, pipelines, bulk liquids, and packaged gases, allowing the company to serve both very large continuous users and smaller specialized applications. Air Products supplies oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, and other gases through packaged, bulk, onsite, and pipeline delivery models. Customers use them in refining, chemicals, metals, food, healthcare, electronics, glass, water treatment, and general manufacturing. Supply arrangements range from cylinders and liquid deliveries to dedicated production plants and continuous pipeline service.

  • Industrial and energy-transition gases

    Hydrogen

    Hydrogen is supplied for refining, chemicals, metals, steel, mobility, and other industrial applications. Air Products' hydrogen activities include production, distribution, liquid hydrogen, fueling infrastructure, and technologies intended to support lower-carbon energy systems. Its newer initiatives emphasize low-carbon hydrogen, carbon capture, renewable-powered production, clean ammonia, and export or maritime applications. Hydrogen is a longstanding Air Products business used chiefly in refining, chemicals, metals, food processing, electronics, and mobility applications. The company produces, liquefies, distributes, and supplies hydrogen through plants, pipelines, trailers, fueling infrastructure, and other systems. Its newer initiatives emphasize low-carbon hydrogen, carbon capture, renewable-powered production, clean ammonia, and export or maritime applications.

  • Atmospheric industrial gas

    Oxygen

    Oxygen is used in metal production and processing, chemicals, healthcare, combustion, wastewater treatment, and other industrial processes. Air Products supplies it through on-site plants, pipeline systems, bulk liquid deliveries, and packaged-gas channels according to customer scale and purity requirements.

  • Atmospheric industrial gas

    Nitrogen

    Nitrogen supports inerting, blanketing, cooling, food preservation, electronics manufacturing, chemical processing, energy operations, and general industrial production. It is supplied in gaseous or liquid form through on-site, bulk, pipeline, and packaged arrangements.

  • Atmospheric industrial gas

    Argon

    Argon is used in welding and metal fabrication, specialty manufacturing, electronics, scientific work, and other applications requiring an inert atmosphere. Air Products offers industrial and high-purity argon through multiple distribution formats.

  • Industrial equipment and technology

    Liquefied natural gas equipment and technology

    The company produces or supplies technologies and equipment associated with gas processing and liquefaction, including systems used in liquefied natural gas applications. These activities complement its gas molecules business with engineering and capital-equipment capabilities. Air Products supplies liquefied-natural-gas process technology and equipment, including systems associated with gas liquefaction and cryogenic processing. These technologies are used in large energy projects and reflect the company’s broader engineering role in industrial gases, refrigeration, separation, and low-temperature process systems.

  • Process equipment and technology

    Air-separation units

    Air Products designs and supplies equipment that separates atmospheric air into oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and related products. These systems support both Air Products' own supply network and customer-owned industrial facilities. They are used in steel, chemicals, refining, healthcare, electronics, energy, and other operations requiring dependable high-volume gas production.

  • Specialty chemicals and gases

    Specialty and electronics gases

    The company supplies high-purity and specialty gases for semiconductor fabrication, laboratories, research, analytical applications, and advanced manufacturing. These products require stringent purity, packaging, handling, and quality-control systems. The business differs from commodity gas supply because customers depend on precise specifications and consistent performance in sensitive production environments.

Controversies

  • 2022

    Russia operations and subsequent divestment

    Air Products initially declined to stop operations in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of international sanctions. The company later reversed its position and divested its Russian interests, according to the cited account.

Read more

Marketing campaigns

  • 2020NEOM Green Hydrogen Company project

    Saudi Arabia · Middle East · Global hydrogen market

    Air Products announced an agreement to participate in a large renewable-powered hydrogen project at NEOM, with hydrogen intended for conversion into ammonia and export to international markets. The project was developed as a flagship clean-hydrogen and green-ammonia initiative, with Air Products positioned as an investor, technology participant, and intended off-taker.

    Outcome. The project was developed as a flagship clean-hydrogen and green-ammonia initiative, with Air Products positioned as an investor, technology participant, and intended off-taker.

  • 2010Series 10 hydrogen fueling station

    United Kingdom · Ireland

    Air Products promoted its Series 10 hydrogen fueling station as a hydrogen and fuel-cell technology for reducing transport emissions, receiving a Rushlight Hydrogen and Fuel Cells industry award.

    Outcome. Received a Rushlight Hydrogen and Fuel Cells industry award.

  • 2001Santa Clara recycled-water conservation project

    United States

    Air Products converted cooling operations at its Santa Clara, California manufacturing facility to recycled water and was recognized by the WateReuse Association for conserving drinking water, receiving an Award of Merit.

    Outcome. Received an Award of Merit from the WateReuse Association.

Brand decisions

  • 2025

    Withdraw from Humberside green-hydrogen projectStrategy

    Background

    The company concluded that public-sector commitment to the United Kingdom project was insufficient.

    Action taken

    Air Products ended its involvement and investment in the proposed project.

    Aftermath

    The withdrawal reduced Air Products' planned participation in that United Kingdom green-hydrogen development.

  • 2022

    Develop a Humberside green-hydrogen projectStrategy

    Background

    Air Products pursued large-scale hydrogen projects as hydrogen became a more prominent part of its energy-transition strategy.

    Action taken

    The company announced plans for green-hydrogen production in Humberside, United Kingdom.

    Aftermath

    Air Products withdrew from the project in 2025, citing insufficient government commitment.

  • 2020

    Commitment to large-scale renewable hydrogen and ammoniaStrategy

    Background

    Air Products identified hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels as strategic growth areas linked to industrial decarbonization and the energy transition.

    Action taken

    The company announced participation in the NEOM renewable-powered hydrogen project and related green-ammonia export plans.

    Aftermath

    The initiative strengthened Air Products’ profile as a large-scale clean-hydrogen developer and expanded its role beyond traditional merchant-gas supply.

  • 2017

    Sell Performance Materials to EvonikM&A

    Background

    Following the Materials Technologies separation, Air Products continued simplifying its portfolio.

    Action taken

    The Performance Materials division was sold to Evonik.

    Aftermath

    Industrial gases became the company's central business identity.

  • 2017

    Separate Materials Technologies from Air ProductsStrategy

    Background

    Air Products reviewed its portfolio and determined that its Materials Technologies activities had a different strategic and operating profile from the core industrial-gases business.

    Action taken

    The company completed a separation that created an independent Materials Technologies company, later named Versum Materials.

    Aftermath

    Air Products concentrated more heavily on industrial gases, equipment, and process technology. Versum Materials later became part of Merck KGaA.

  • 2015

    Separate Materials TechnologiesStrategy

    Background

    Air Products reviewed its portfolio and chose to separate its Materials Technologies business from the core industrial-gases operations.

    Action taken

    The company announced a planned spinoff, which became Versum Materials and was completed in 2016.

    Aftermath

    The transaction narrowed Air Products' strategic focus toward industrial gases and related technologies.

Recent events

  • Air Products announces Alberta hydrogen complex plans[9]

    Reported:

    Air Products announced plans for a nearly $1.1 billion net-zero hydrogen production and liquefaction facility in Edmonton, Alberta, scheduled to open in 2024. The project is subject to completion of agreements with Canadian authorities and permit approvals.

  • Unconfirmed

    Air Products acquires remaining stake in China gasification joint venture[10]

    Air Products acquired the remaining 50% stake in a gasification joint venture from China Shenhua Coal to Liquid and Chemical, bringing its ownership to 100%.

  • Air Products announces North American industrial gas price increases[11]

    Reported:

    Air Products announced price increases of up to 15% for liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen and liquid carbon dioxide, and up to 20% for monthly service charges for merchant customers in North America, effective October 1, 2020, or as contracts permit. Prices for helium, hydrogen and argon would also increase, with adjustments potentially customer-specific.

  • Unconfirmed

    Air Products appoints Serhan as COO[12]

    Reported:

    Air Products appointed Dr. Serhan as COO, adding full profit and loss responsibility for the Americas to his responsibilities.

  • Air Products prices $3.8 billion and €1.0 billion debt offerings[13]

    Reported:

    Air Products announced the pricing of registered offerings of $3.8 billion in U.S. dollar-denominated notes and €1.0 billion in euro-denominated notes. The company said it intended to use the proceeds for debt repayment and general corporate purposes, including a planned equity investment in a joint venture.

  • Air Products completed its acquisition of five hydrogen plants from PBF Energy[14]

    Reported:

    Air Products announced that it completed the $530 million acquisition of five hydrogen production plants from PBF Energy.

  • Air Products agrees to long-term hydrogen supply for PBF refineries[15]

    Air Products announced agreements with PBF Energy that include long-term hydrogen supply from the operating plants to PBF refineries.

  • Air Products announces purchase of five hydrogen plants from PBF Energy[15]

    Air Products announced that it had signed agreements with PBF Energy to purchase five operating hydrogen production plants for $530 million. The deal was targeted to close during Air Products’ third quarter of fiscal 2020.

  • Air Products introduces Freshline QuickChill Injector[16]

    Reported:

    Air Products introduced the Freshline QuickChill Injector, a liquid-nitrogen-powered device designed to rapidly chill sauces and other liquid food products.

Sources18 sources

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