Industrial Gas: Transforming The Modern Industries

Industrial gases are vital components of modern industries, supporting critical operations in manufacturing, healthcare, energy, food processing and more.

They are produced and supplied according to specific purity, volume and application requirements, and they help industries improve efficiency, maintain product quality, support safer processes and develop new technologies.

Industrial gas applications range from metal fabrication and chemical production to food preservation, and their influence is so strong in our everyday lives.

But what exactly are industrial gases, what are the different types of industrial gases and how are they supplied to small and large industries?

In this blog, we will explore the main types of industrial gases, their applications, available supply modes and what businesses should consider when choosing an industrial gas company.

What Is an Industrial Gas?

An industrial gas is a gas produced and supplied for use in industrial, commercial or specialized processes.

The most common industrial gas examples include oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, but other rarer industrial gases exist and may be required for more specialized applications.

How Are Industrial Gases Produced?

Many atmospheric gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon, can be produced through a process called cryogenic air separation.

In this process, atmospheric air is cooled to extremely low temperatures and separated into its main components through cryogenic distillation.

Other industrial gases are produced through different processes depending on the molecule and required purity.

Once produced, the gases can be supplied in many forms, such as cylinders, bulk tanks or onsite production systems, depending on consumption volume and operational requirements.

Types of Industrial Gases

Industrial Oxygen

One of the most versatile industrial gases, industrial oxygen is used across several industries and processes.

In manufacturing and metal fabrication, oxygen supports high-temperature combustion and metal cutting processes. It is also used in different industrial and energy applications where oxygen enrichment or controlled combustion is required.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen (N₂) is widely used because of its inert properties.

Applications include food preservation, purging, inerting, blanketing, temperature control, metal processing and chemical production.

In liquid form, nitrogen can also provide extremely low temperatures for cryogenic freezing and cooling applications.

Argon

Argon (Ar) is an inert gas commonly used where a stable atmosphere is required.

It plays an important role in welding as a shielding gas and is also used in several metal fabrication and specialized industrial processes.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) has applications across food and beverage, industrial processing and temperature control.

It is commonly used for carbonation, food packaging, chilling and freezing as well as other industrial processes.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is widely used across chemical, refining and energy applications.

It is also becoming increasingly important in lower-carbon energy value chains and can support the production of products such as green ammonia.

Helium

Helium is used across a range of industrial, scientific and technical applications because of its inert properties and very low boiling point.

Its applications include cooling, leak detection, pressurization and specialized processes that require a stable and non-reactive gas.

Acetylene

Acetylene is widely used in metal fabrication and industrial processes because of the high temperatures it can produce when burned with oxygen.

It is commonly used for oxy-acetylene welding, cutting, brazing and other applications that require an intense heat source.

Other Industrial and Specialty Gases

The list of industrial gases extends beyond the major gases above.

Depending on the application, businesses may also require gases such as xenon and krypton as well as high-purity gases and specialized gas mixtures for laboratory, analytical and technical applications.

Industrial Gas Uses and Applications

Industrial gases support a wide range of industries, with each gas offering properties suited to different processes.

Manufacturing and Metal Fabrication

Industrial gases are widely used in metal cutting, welding, heat treatment and other manufacturing processes.

Oxygen can support high-temperature combustion and cutting processes, while argon is commonly used as an inert shielding gas during welding. Nitrogen is also used across manufacturing applications, including heat treatment, laser cutting and cooling processes.

Food and Beverage

Nitrogen and carbon dioxide have several important applications across food and beverage production.

Carbon dioxide is widely used for beverage carbonation, while nitrogen can help protect food from oxidation and support longer shelf life through modified atmosphere packaging.

Industrial gases are also used for freezing, chilling, temperature control and inerting during food processing.

At Air Liquide, we offer ALIGAL™, our range of food-grade gases developed for food applications. ALIGAL™ gases can support Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), freezing, chilling, carbonation and inerting processes according to application requirements.

Contact us to learn more about our food-grade gases.

Chemical and Petrochemical Production

Industrial gases also support many processes across chemical and petrochemical facilities.

Nitrogen is commonly used for purging, inerting, blanketing, drying and pressurization to reduce oxygen exposure and control process conditions.

Other gases also act as reactants or process gases in the production of chemicals, fertilizers and other materials depending on the process involved.

Energy

Industrial gases are also necessary for conventional and emerging energy applications.

Hydrogen is an important molecule in the development of lower-carbon energy solutions, while oxygen is used in various combustion and industrial processes.

Industrial gases can also contribute to emerging and sustainable value chains such as green ammonia.

Industrial Gas Supply Modes

Choosing the right gas is only part of the decision. Businesses need a supply mode suited to their consumption volume and operating conditions. This is where our solutions can help.

Packaged Gases and Industrial Cylinders

Industrial cylinders provide a practical supply option for operations requiring smaller or variable quantities of gas.

High-pressure cylinders provide:

• Portability: Gases can be transported and positioned where they are required.
• Compact storage: High-pressure storage allows significant quantities of gas to be contained within a relatively compact format.
• Strength and safety: Cylinders are designed and manufactured to safely contain gases under specified pressure conditions.

Cylinder supply can be particularly suitable for workshops, laboratories and operations where gas demand is not high enough to justify bulk or onsite supply.

Bulk Gas Supply

For facilities with higher and more consistent demand, gases can be delivered in bulk.

Cryogenic gases such as oxygen and nitrogen can be transported in liquid form and stored in dedicated tanks at the customer's facility.

Bulk supply can provide businesses with access to larger quantities of gas without relying on frequent cylinder replacement.

Onsite Gas Supply

Facilities with continuous and high-volume requirements may benefit from onsite production.

Onsite systems can produce certain gases directly at the customer's facility, which reduces the need for repeated deliveries while providing supply aligned with ongoing production requirements.

Choosing the Right Industrial Gas Company

Partnering with the right industrial gas company is key to maintaining reliable operations, product quality and safe gas handling.

When assessing an industrial gas supplier, you should consider:

• Safety standards: The supplier should maintain established safety procedures across production, storage, transportation and handling.
• Gas quality: Purity and specifications should match the requirements of the intended application.
• Product range: Access to multiple gases, mixtures and supply modes can help businesses manage different operational requirements.
• Supply reliability: Gas availability and consistent delivery are critical for processes that cannot tolerate interruptions.
• Technical expertise: The supplier should understand the application and help determine the appropriate gas, purity and supply solution.

The right supplier should therefore provide more than the gas itself. Technical knowledge, supply infrastructure and application expertise are also important parts of the relationship.

Why Choose Air Liquide Egypt?

As the Egyptian subsidiary of Air Liquide, a global company specializing in gases, technologies and services for industry and healthcare, Air Liquide Egypt provides gas solutions designed around different operational requirements.

Gas Solutions That Cover Your Needs

Our industrial gas portfolio includes gases such as:

• Oxygen
• Nitrogen
• Argon
• Hydrogen
• Carbon dioxide
• Helium
• Acetylene
• Specialty gases and gas mixtures for selected applications

This allows us to support different industries, processes and purity requirements.

Different Supply Solutions

Air Liquide Egypt can support customers through packaged gases, bulk supply and onsite solutions that fit different gas requirements and consumption levels.

Advanced Technologies

We combine gas expertise with technologies designed to support the required levels of purity and performance.

Our approach is focused on finding the gas solution that matches the customer's process rather than treating gas supply as a one-size-fits-all requirement.

Local Expertise

Our presence in Egypt allows us to combine local market and operational knowledge with Air Liquide's wider global experience.

This helps us understand customer requirements and provide solutions suited to their applications, supply needs and operating environment.

Let’s Work Together

At Air Liquide Egypt, we work with customers to understand their industrial gas requirements and identify solutions suited to their processes.

Contact us today to discover how our industrial gas solutions can help drive your performance forward.