Air Liquide
A world leader in gases, technologies, and services for industry and health, providing specialized industrial gases and solutions for the entire additive manufacturing value chain.
- CEO / Founder
- François Jackow
- Team Size
- 10000+
- Stage
- Public
- Total Funding
- Publicly Traded
- Latest Round
- IPO
- Key Investors
- Institutional Investors (approx. 50%), Individual Shareholders (approx. 33%)
Technology & Products
Key Products
Industrial Gases (Argon, Nitrogen, Helium, Hydrogen, Oxygen), Specialty Gas Mixtures for Additive Manufacturing (e.g., ARCAL™ for welding), Gas supply and storage solutions (cylinders, bulk), Gas handling equipment and infrastructure, Post-processing solutions (heat treatment, cleaning)
Technological Advantage
The company's core advantage is its comprehensive control over the gas supply and its ability to develop customized gas solutions that enhance the quality, consistency, and safety of AM processes. Their extensive R&D and global infrastructure provide a significant competitive moat.
Patent position
Air Liquide filed 8 patent families from 2022 to 2024, rising 33% from 6 in 2019 to 2021, while tracked AM filings in the same patent offices fell 19%. AMPulse analysis
- Filing momentum
- 8 families filed 2022–2024, 6 in 2019–2021 (+33%); all tracked AM filings in the same offices -19%
- Filed in
- EP 46%US 46%CN 35%WO 27%
- Named competitors, AM patent families
- Linde 99
26 AM patent families in total. Recent years are still being published, so read a filing change against the same-office figure.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Providing a complete, reliable, and high-quality supply of industrial gases and related expertise to optimize the additive manufacturing process, improve part quality, and ensure operational safety and efficiency.
How They Differentiate
Air Liquide differentiates itself by offering end-to-end gas solutions tailored specifically for the additive manufacturing workflow, combined with deep technical expertise and a global presence. Their focus on innovation and sustainability, supported by a vast patent portfolio, also sets them apart.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Companies in industrial manufacturing, healthcare, electronics, and aerospace, with a specific focus on users of metal additive manufacturing technologies.
Industry Verticals
Industrial Manufacturing, Aerospace, Automotive, Medical & Healthcare, Electronics
Competitors
Linde plc; Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.; Messer Group
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Revenue of €27.61 billion in 2023. The company's ADVANCE strategic plan targets continued growth and margin improvement through 2025.
Major Milestones
Launched the ADVANCE strategic plan for 2025, focusing on financial and extra-financial performance., Acquired Airgas in 2016, significantly expanding its presence in the U.S. market., Consistently recognized by the CDP for leadership in corporate transparency and performance on climate change., Received the "Performance Award" at the 2024 Investor Awards by Boursorama for its solid financial performance.
Notable Customers
Additive Industries
AM patents
AM-relevant patents linked to this company.
- Patents
- 42
- Granted
- 5
- Families
- 26
Leading domains: process (38), material (34), equipment (17)
Filings by year: 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 1
- PROCESS CHAMBER AND METHOD FOR PURGING THE SAME03476972 · EP
- POWDER STORAGE DEVICE COMPRISING AN ENCLOSURE, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD04396565 · EP
- METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE PURIFICATION OF POWDERS04221917 · EP
- Method for structuring proteins as animal protein substitutes121463882 · CN
- METHOD FOR TEXTURISING PROTEINS WHICH ARE ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL PROTEINS2025012070 · WO
Funding rounds
- Grant€110M2024-12Source: Air Liquide Press Release
- Grant$192.0M2024-07Source: Tracxn
- IPOUndisclosed1913-02Source: Wikipedia
- Initial Capitalization100,000 francs1902-11Source: Wikipedia