Air Products
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial gases, Chemicals |
| Founded | January 1, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Founder | Leonard Parker Pool |
| Headquarters | Trexlertown, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Eduardo Menezes (CEO) |
| Products | Industrial gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, carbon dioxide), process and specialty gases, refinery hydrogen, LNG equipment and technologies, epoxy additives, gas cabinets, advanced coatings, adhesives |
| Website | www |
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. is a multinational enterprise based in the United States that specializes in industrial gases and chemical products. Its global operations span sectors such as technology, energy, healthcare, food, and various industrial markets, with its main office located in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania.
20th century
Established in Detroit in 1940 by Leonard Parker Pool, the company initially focused on producing and selling industrial gases directly at customer sites. Following the United States' entry into World War II in 1941, Air Products expanded its production capabilities to include mobile oxygen generators designed for high-altitude military aircraft supporting the U.S. Air Force and allied forces.
In 1944, the company relocated its headquarters to Chattanooga, Tennessee, scaling up oxygen output to fulfill wartime requirements. After the war ended, Air Products moved again to Emmaus, Pennsylvania, situated in the industrially significant Lehigh Valley region. By the late 1950s, it had established its corporate headquarters in Trexlertown.
Air Products’ core business revolves around supplying atmospheric gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. Its offerings also encompass process and specialty gases. The company’s product range includes refinery hydrogen, equipment and technologies for liquefied natural gas (LNG), epoxy additives, gas cabinets, advanced coatings, and adhesives—key components that underpin its market presence and international reach.
21st century
In 2001, Air Products was honored with an Award of Merit from the WateReuse Association for conserving significant volumes of drinking water annually by utilizing recycled water at its Santa Clara, California facility. This accolade underscored the company’s dedication to environmental sustainability and operational excellence.
For over fifty years, Air Products has partnered with NASA, providing liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuels essential for all Space Shuttle missions as well as the Project Mercury and Apollo program spaceflights—highlighting its critical role in aerospace fuel supply.
Between 2008 and 2011, the company was featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index, reflecting its robust sustainability performance. In 2004, Air Products (NYSE: APD) earned recognition as a Maplecroft Climate Innovation Indexes Leader, ranking as the 17th largest U.S.-based corporation assessed for climate innovation and carbon management efforts. The firm continues to spearhead multiple international carbon capture and storage initiatives.
In 2010, Air Products received the Rushlight Hydrogen and Fuel Cells award for its Series 10 hydrogen fueling station project that supports clean energy adoption across the UK and Ireland. That same year, it was named among Corporate Responsibility magazine’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens.
The company’s high-purity built-in purifier argon played a pivotal role in enhancing the precision measurement of the Boltzmann constant in 2013, showcasing its advanced capabilities in specialized applications.
In September 2015, Air Products revealed plans to separate its Materials Technologies segment into an independent entity named Versum Materials, a process completed by October 2016. Versum was subsequently acquired by pharmaceutical leader Merck. Additionally, in January 2017, Air Products divested its Performance Materials business to Evonik, allowing it to concentrate more intently on its industrial gases operations.
Regarding international affairs, Air Products initially maintained operations within Russia despite sanctions imposed following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, under mounting global pressure, it eventually exited its Russian market interests.
In 2022, the company announced a green hydrogen production initiative located in the UK's Humberside area as part of expanding its clean energy portfolio. Nevertheless, this £2 billion project was discontinued in June 2025 due to inadequate governmental backing.
Chief executives
- Leonard Pool: 1940–1973
- Ed Donley: 1973–1986
- Dexter Baker: 1986–1992
- Hap Wagner: 1992–2000
- JP Jones: 2000–2008
- John McGlade: 2008–2014
- Seifi Ghasemi: 2014–2025
- Eduardo Menezes: 2025–present