German firm plans new industrial gas plant in Georgia

A Linde Group gas separation plant in Germany. Source: Linde Group

A Linde Group gas separation plant in Germany. Source: Linde Group

The Linde Group, a German maker of industrial gases, plans to build a $40 million air separation plant in South Georgia, according to a news release Tuesday from Gov. Nathan Deal’s office.

The project will be built near the city of Adel in Cook County, about 25 miles north of Valdosta. The complex is expected to employ 35 people and open in 2019, the news release said.

“Linde is committed to investing for growth in the Americas,” Pat Murphy, president of Linde Americas, said in the release. “We have been expanding the market in the Southeast for several years, and chose the location of the plant based on its proximity to customers and the strong, pro-business environment in Cook County and the City of Adel.”

Linde operates similar facilities in Cartersville, northwest of Atlanta and in Aiken, S.C., near Augusta. In total, the German firm said it employs 570 people in Georgia at 11 plants and offices.

The company sells argon, liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen for clients in health care, food processing and the metals industries.