Linde establishes S$30m Asia Pacific Digitalisation Hub to accelerate innovation and extend its lead in digital transformation

The Linde Group announced the launch of its Asia Pacific Digitalisation Hub, a strategic initiative to rapidly identify, develop and trial emergent digital technologies for industrial applications in the region and beyond. In partnership with Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Linde will invest over S$30 million in the Hub, which will expand the company’s digital capabilities and further extend its lead in the digital transformation of the gases and engineering industries, improving safety and process efficiency, and delivering better value to its customers.

At the Asia Pacific Digitalisation Hub, Linde Digitalisation teams will work alongside engineers and lines of business on projects and technology trials across the region. Though the Hub will be decentralised to better take advantage of the diversity and opportunities around Asia Pacific, Singapore will serve as a nexus for the Hub.

Prof. Dr. Aldo Belloni, Chief Executive Officer at Linde AG, said, “Linde has had a long and proven history of innovation and technological excellence that continues to this day. Digitalisation is central to our global strategy for growth and provides opportunities for Linde to differentiate by delivering better solutions and convenience for our customers. The Asia Pacific Digitalisation Hub builds on the successful Digital Accelerator at our Munich headquarters, and is an affirmation of our continued commitment to innovation.”

Mr. Sanjiv Lamba, Member of the Executive Board, Linde AG, and Chief Operating Officer for Asia Pacific, said, “Asia Pacific is Linde’s fastest growing market, and the region is especially open to new technologies and innovative gases applications. The Asia Pacific Digitalisation Hub will capitalise on the tremendous innovation coming out of the region, allowing Linde to extend its lead in digitalising the gases business. With its forward-thinking approach and openness to innovation, Singapore is a natural choice of partner for Linde.”

Speaking at the launch of the Asia Pacific Digitalisation Hub, Dr. Beh Swan Gin, Chairman, EDB, said, “Singapore is pleased to house Linde’s first digitalisation hub outside of Germany. With our vibrant tech community and capabilities in data analytics and Industry 4.0, we look forward to partnering Linde to develop advanced digital solutions and further enhance the competitiveness of its operations in Singapore.”

Philipp Karmires, Head of Digitalisation, Linde AG, said: “With the rapid pace of technological advancement and close to infinite computing power, organisations need to continuously reconfigure to deliver digital innovation at ever increasing speeds. By leveraging its massive data pool Linde has already implemented numerous digital innovations, like machine learning to forecast customer demands, augmented reality (AR) to help customers visualise application technology deployments, and virtual reality (VR) simulators for training and remote support.”

In Asia Pacific, Linde has already established Remote Operations Centres in Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur that combine artificial intelligence (AI) with big data from extensive sensor networks to remotely operate more than 200 plants across 14 different countries optimising production and energy usage.

About The Linde Group

In the 2016 financial year, The Linde Group generated revenue of EUR 16.948 bn, making it one of the leading gases and engineering companies in the world, with approximately 60,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business, with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com.