| Murray Hill, New Jersey, U.S., November 24, 2009 – Linde North America and Macy’s are celebrating a unique partnership this November: 15 consecutive years of making children of all ages smile at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Linde North America is part of The Linde Group, a leading global gases and engineering group and one of the world’s largest helium suppliers. For the past 15 years, Linde has been the sole provider of helium to inflate the giant balloons that soar over the streets of New York City in celebration of the quintessential American holiday. This is Macy’s 83rd year producing the Parade.
Pat Murphy, president, Linde North America, said, “The Parade is America’s most recognizable Thanksgiving event. It is a national institution that people across the country look forward to enjoying year after year. Linde is proud of our longstanding partnership with Macy’s and look forward to working with them for many years to come.”
Helium used to fill the breathtaking balloons begins its journey in America’s heartland. Crude helium is transported by pipeline from its sources in Kansas and Texas to Linde’s helium production facility in Otis, Kansas – the world’s second largest helium plant. After the helium is purified in Otis, it is liquefied and trucked across the country to Linde’s plant in Middlesex, New Jersey. From there the helium is vaporized into gaseous form and compressed into high-pressure tube trailers that are then driven into New York City.
On the day before the Parade, Linde and Macy’s staff assemble near the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, where workers begin inflating the balloons using a gas filling apparatus Linde has customized for the Parade. Early Thanksgiving morning, the balloons are topped off with helium and poised for the Parade. The total amount of helium used – around 300,000 cubic feet – is enough to lift at least four cars.
John Piper, vice president, Macy’s Parade Studio, said, “Our giant helium character balloons are the signature of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Our 15-year partnership with Linde gives us the helium that’s crucial to bringing our world-famous character balloons to life.”
On Thursday, November 26, 15 giant balloons, 35 novelty ornament balloons, 25 floats, 10 bands and more than 8,000 participants will make the annual 2.6 mile trek down the streets of New York City, to the delight of millions.
With over 50 million viewers across the country and more than 3.5 million spectators that line up along the Parade route each year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a national icon that has grown into a world-famous holiday event that marks the official start of the holiday season.
The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 50,000 employees working in around 100 countries worldwide. In the 2008 financial year it achieved sales EUR12.7 billion (USD 15.9 billion). The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based 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. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
Contact:
Peter Gavigan
Linde corporate communications
908-771-1512
peter.gavigan@linde.com
Orlando Veras
Macy’s Media Relations
646-429-7450
orlando.veras@macys.com
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