8 6 Helmut Gutenberger and Wojciech Pastuszczyn on ... - Messer

on air
No. 9 · November 2008 The magazine for industrial gases
8
6
<strong>Helmut</strong> <strong>Gutenberger</strong> <strong>and</strong>
<strong>Wojciech</strong> <strong>Pastuszczyn</strong>
on paper production
Cover Story
Industrial gases
make lead smelting
cost-effective
13
Enthusiasm
for science

2 : Contents
Editorial : 3
News : 4–5
Interview : 6–7
Green paper production
Diana Buss spoke to <strong>Helmut</strong> <strong>Gutenberger</strong> <strong>and</strong>
<strong>Wojciech</strong> <strong>Pastuszczyn</strong>, experts for paper, about
environmentally compatible paper production
Messer World : 12–13
New air separators under construction
Messer is currently building eleven new gas
production plants in Europe.
100 years of oxygen filling
A century of oxygen under “business licence”
E
Enthusiasm for research
Messer in Hungary
supports European Researchers’ Night
People at Messer : 14
Meeting of retirees:
being together is what counts
Gasette : 15
Tips, events <strong>and</strong> other useful information
Cover story : 8–11
Lead – from ore or scrap to metal
Industrial gases such as oxygen are used in lead melting <strong>and</strong> lead recycling,
where they make the processes even more economical <strong>and</strong> effective.
Angela Bockstegers, business/commercial trainee at Messer with
a lead hot type as used in the printing industry in the past.
Today lead is mainly found in lead accumulators such as in car batteries.
<strong>Helmut</strong> <strong>Gutenberger</strong> (2nd from left)
explains paper production to customers
Messer supports the European
Researchers’ Night
Retired Messer sales managers have been
meeting regularly for 15 years.
Imprint
Published by:
Messer Group GmbH
Corporate Communications
Otto-Volger-Straße 3c
D–65843 Sulzbach
Editorial Team:
Diana Buss – Editor-in-Chief
Tel.: +49 6196 7760-361
diana.buss@messergroup.com
Benjamin Auweiler, Thomas
Böckler, Christoph Erdmann,
Tim Evison, Michael Holy,
Anita Kötél, Monika Lammertz,
Angélique Renier, Joachim
Rohovec, Marlen Schäfer
Concept <strong>and</strong> Realisation:
Maenken Kommunikation GmbH
Von-der-Wettern-Straße 25
D–51149 Köln
Translation:
Context GmbH
Elisenstraße 4–10
D–50667 Köln
Many thanks to all our
contributors!
A big thank you to Mareike
Tocha for lots of great photos!
Go to www.messergroup.com
for comprehensive information
about on air, as well as the
contact details of the editorial
team.
on air is published four times a
year in German, English <strong>and</strong>
Hungarian.
on air 09 · 2008

The editorial team
Editor-in-Chief:
Diana
Buss
Corporate Office:
Benjamin
Auweiler
on air 09 · 2008
Tim
Evison
Application Technology:
Thomas
Böckler
Monika
Lammertz
Production & Engineering:
Dr. Christoph
Erdmann
West Europe Region:
Angélique
Renier
Central Europe Region:
Michael
Holy
South-East Europe Region:
Anita
Kötél
Marlen
Schäfer
Joachim
Rohovec
Dear Readers,
Since 2005, the “European Researchers’
Night” has traditionally taken place on the
fourth Friday in September. Scientists
across Europe open the doors to their
research facilities, inspiring young <strong>and</strong> old
with their research work. In this issue of on
air, you can find out more about the
Researchers’ Night in Hungary as well as
the innovation fund with which Messer is
supporting research projects at various
universities.
E d i t o r i a l : 3
The financial crisis has been dominating
Stefan Messer
the headlines in Europe <strong>and</strong> around the
world. However, as far as our thoughts <strong>and</strong> actions are concerned, it has not superseded
the most important subject of all: that of protecting our planet. On the contrary,
when the economy is weaker it is all the more important to make targeted
investments in efficient technologies that make a lasting contribution to stopping
climate change <strong>and</strong> improving water, air <strong>and</strong> soil quality. The aim of “green paper
production”, a concept that Messer has been putting a lot of work into, is to produce
paper with considerably reduced water <strong>and</strong> energy consumption, thereby reducing
the carbon footprint (CO2 emissions) during the entire process chain. In an interview
with on air, the experts from Messer reveal why this has to be the primary
objective in paper production.
Still on the subject of environmental protection, but in a different industry: leadfree
is not always possible – today this metal is primarily used for energy storage
in car batteries <strong>and</strong> other lead acid accumulators. Since lead is a toxic heavy metal,
particular attention has to be given to environmentally friendly <strong>and</strong> resourceconserving
production <strong>and</strong> processing. In smelting, as in many other combustion
processes, the air is therefore enriched with pure oxygen. Increasing the oxygen
content raises the burning temperature <strong>and</strong> thereby accelerates the combustion process.
This saves energy <strong>and</strong> produces fewer harmful substances such as nitrous oxides
due to the reduced nitrogen content. The cover story in this issue of on air also
looks at the process of lead recycling which is made more cost-effective by the
use of industrial gases.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue of on air!
Best regards
Stefan Messer

4 : N e w s
Messer has installed a further nitrogen generator for Bosch in
Hungary. The Bosch Group is a leading international technology
<strong>and</strong> service company that uses nitrogen for wave soldering of
electronic assemblies. Messer secured the construction of
the production unit with a ten-year contract. Bosch put its
first nitrogen generator from Messer into operation back in
April 2006. The company’s rapidly advancing technological
Messer’s European Control
development led to an increased dem<strong>and</strong> for gas, making the construction
Center for On-Site Plants
in Budapest also monitors of another unit necessary.
the operation of the new Anita Kötél, Messer Hungarogáz
nitrogen generator.
Castolin Eutectic wins
Frost & Sullivan Award
The renowned business consulting firm Frost &
Sullivan has honoured Castolin Eutectic, a member
of the Messer family, as the European market
leader for customer service. As part of a study,
Frost & Sullivan looked at the most important
companies in the welding industry, including related
repair <strong>and</strong> maintenance processes, <strong>and</strong> assessed
their quality of customer service.
The comparison shows that, with its filler
materials, Castolin Eutectic offers the most comprehensive
<strong>and</strong> innovative service across Europe.
The jury was particularly impressed by Castolin’s
flexible <strong>and</strong> direct customer support. The central
elements of which comprise deficiency analysis,
application <strong>and</strong> wear analysis - both generally
<strong>and</strong> in key industries as well as comprehensive
customer management via special telemarketing
activities.
Dr. Gary Heath, Castolin Eutectic
More nitrogen for Bosch in Hungary
Castolin Eutectic’s
award for outst<strong>and</strong>ing
customer
service
Very successful market entry
Messer only resumed selling its products in the German market at the
beginning of May, since which time it has clinched more than 75 contracts
for the supply of liquid gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon
dioxide <strong>and</strong> argon. To date, the young German Messer subsidiary
has installed 25 gas storage facilities on customer sites; a further 25
will follow by the end of the year, with the same again in the first
half of next year. Since May 2008, Messer has managed to sign contracts
with more than 150 new customers in Germany for cylinder
gases with a total annual value of around two million euros. A comprehensive
network of 16 sales partners in the states of Hesse,
Rhinel<strong>and</strong>-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg <strong>and</strong> North Rhine-
Westphalia ensures reliability of supply to our customers.
Diana Buss, Messer Group
Old acquaintance:
Schages is once
again being supplied
by Messer
Messer recommenced
supplying gases in
Germany in May.
on air 09 · 2008

New “old” customer
The Krefeld-based firm Schages, one of the industry’s largest <strong>and</strong>
most flexible contract-cutting companies, is once again a Messer customer,
having also been supplied back in the Messer Griesheim days.
Since July 2008, Messer has been supplying nitrogen 5.0 for high
pressure laser cutting of aluminium <strong>and</strong> high alloy steels as well as
oxygen 3.5 for optimum laser flame cutting.
Messer has signed a long-term supply contract with Schages with
a two-year extension option. The contractually specified yearly requirement
comes to more than 700,000 cubic metres of liquid nitrogen 5.0
<strong>and</strong> more than 25,000 cubic metres of liquid oxygen.
Karl-Heinz Breilmann, Messer Industriegase
High-protein
treats
Functional food refers to
value-added products that
not only taste <strong>and</strong> look good,
but are also supposed to have a positive
effect on our health. Protein Foods
Vejprnice (Czech Republic) produces highly concentrated
protein food, consisting of 100 per cent pure chicken egg protein. It is fat-, sugar<strong>and</strong>
cholesterol-free <strong>and</strong> contains only 220 kilojoules per 100 grams. After successful
tests by Messer in the Czech Republic, protein products frozen with liquid nitrogen
are now on sale in the shops. Freezing this protein food improves the quality.
Monika Lammertz, Messer Group
Reference project with SPAR
In August of this year, SPAR opened its second
logistics centre – one of the most modern logistics
depots in Hungary – in Üllő near Budapest.
SPAR has opted to use the Siber technology,
developed jointly by Messer <strong>and</strong> the French company
Olivo, as an innovative cryogenic system
for cooling <strong>and</strong> freezing food in transport containers.
The 2,400 Siber containers used at SPAR
are suitable for transporting <strong>and</strong> storing both
on air 09 · 2008
Freezing with nitrogen
improves the quality of
protein food.
refrigerated <strong>and</strong> frozen food, with flexible cold
chain maintenance of up to 48 hours. The compartments
in the Siber containers are filled with
dry ice in the SPAR logistics centre, thereby providing
direct refrigeration without any power
consumption. This collaboration between Messer
<strong>and</strong> SPAR is a reference project for the whole
South-East Europe region.
László Kapás, Messer Hungarogáz
Messer supplies
nitrogen <strong>and</strong>
hydrogen to its
partner TS Tubes
Systems.
Aktuelles : 5
Messer supplies Slovakian
automotive suppliers
The Swiss-Slovakian company TS Tubes Systems,
which was established in Surany (Slovakia) at the
beginning of this year, is a supplier to the European
automotive industry. Its Swiss parent company,
Zobex AG based in Sarnen, decided to relocate
its brazing hose production to a former textile production
hall at this location in the south-west of
the country. Messer has been a partner of TS Tubes
Systems since the start of operations. The two partners
have signed a supply contract for 100,000 cubic
metres of liquid nitrogen <strong>and</strong> 3,500 cubic metres of
hydrogen. Production started in September 2008.
Michael Holy, Messer Tatragas
Filling a Siber container:
flexible refrigeration for up to 48 hours

Photo: www.Pixelio.de | Stephanie Hofschlaeger
6 : Interview
YOUR CONTACTS:
<strong>Helmut</strong> <strong>Gutenberger</strong>
Application Technology
Messer Austria
Tel.: +43 (0) 50603-366
helmut.gutenberger@messergroup.com
Languages:
<strong>Wojciech</strong> <strong>Pastuszczyn</strong>
Production
Messer Polska Sp. z o.o.
Tel.: +48 327726-121
wojciech.pastuszczyn@messer.pl
Languages:
Green paper production
<strong>Helmut</strong> <strong>Gutenberger</strong> (Manager Pulp <strong>and</strong> Paper) <strong>and</strong> <strong>Wojciech</strong> <strong>Pastuszczyn</strong>
(Specialist Pulp <strong>and</strong> Paper), both paper experts at Messer, want to make
paper production in Europe much more environmentally friendly through the
use of industrial gases. In an interview with on air, they reveal some inter-
esting facts about this mass-produced yet extremely varied product.
on air: How would you characterise the paper industry?
To what extent can the different manufacturers
<strong>and</strong> their processes be compared?
<strong>Wojciech</strong> <strong>Pastuszczyn</strong>: Only the basic principle of
paper production is the same for all producers: it
requires a raw material – wood or recycled paper or
both, lots of water <strong>and</strong> a huge amount of energy, as
well as chemicals, various process materials <strong>and</strong>, of
course, a paper machine. But there are just as many
papermaking processes as there are types of paper.
You can’t have a paper mill without an appropriate
production process. The paper for one issue of
Germany’s biggest daily newspaper, the Bild Zeitung,
is produced in just two hours because a large number
of processes take place simultaneously. We therefore
have to be very customer-oriented, since the customer
knows the production cycle best. A precise system
analysis will pinpoint the problems we have to solve
together. Our focus is on the European market, where
there are many paper mills, especially in Germany,
France <strong>and</strong> Italy.
<strong>Helmut</strong> <strong>Gutenberger</strong>: In Slovenia, we are working
very intensively with the Koliçevo paper mill <strong>and</strong> the
University of Maribor in order to achieve the best
results in terms of optimising the process technology.
In Italy, we are collaborating with the University of
Fabriano. This is something people in the industry are
aware of: the paper mill operators know <strong>and</strong> support
each other because, as manufacturers of different
types of paper, they are not in direct competition with
each other.
Carbon dioxide is
used during waste
paper recycling.
on air: What are the potential problems in paper
production?
<strong>Helmut</strong> <strong>Gutenberger</strong>: I can give you an example here:
mixtures of recycled paper <strong>and</strong> water are stored in
large storage tanks or vats. Recycled paper is a resource
that has passed through many h<strong>and</strong>s, resulting in a
high level of microbiological activity in the storage
tank. The bacteria, or acidifiers as they are called, lead
to a lowering of the mixture’s pH to around 6.5. Solid
calcium carbonate – which is used as a filler in the
papermaking process – dissolves when the pH is less
than 8, resulting in the formation of free calcium. Free
calcium is very reactive <strong>and</strong> forms calcium sulphate
<strong>and</strong> calcium soaps among other things, <strong>and</strong> agglomerates
microstickies to form macrostickies. This not

only leads to unwanted deposits; the solid calcium
carbonate, due to its high degree of whiteness, also
has a very big influence on the whiteness of the paper.
We raise the pH value by adding carbon dioxide from
Messer, which reduces the dissolution of calcium carbonate.
Though carbon dioxide also forms a mild acid
– carbonic acid – when dissolved in water, it has a
bacteriostatic effect <strong>and</strong> therefore inhibits the growth
of microbes in a natural way.
on air: Is the use of carbon dioxide really a good
choice in terms of environmental compatibility?
<strong>Helmut</strong> <strong>Gutenberger</strong>: We obtain most of the carbon
dioxide from industrial waste gas, thereby preventing
the CO2 from getting into the atmosphere in the first
place. Instead it is used in processes in which its role
is to prevent environmental pollution. In the aforementioned
example, the carbon dioxide is completely
dissolved in the water. A paper mill’s extremely high
energy dem<strong>and</strong> means that its “carbon footprint” – the
CO2 emissions during the entire process chain – is
inherently very large. We are currently working on the
concept of a “green paper mill” which produces absolutely
no CO2 emissions <strong>and</strong> in which fresh water consumption
is reduced significantly by recycling the
water. The paper industry must aim to reduce CO2, water <strong>and</strong> energy consumption – as must we all!
Sustainability is vital. We entered the market with the
aim of being the partner of choice for the paper industry.
We want to conserve resources together.
<strong>Wojciech</strong> <strong>Pastuszczyn</strong>: By using CO2 we can reduce the
use of biocides. Biocides get into the wastewater
on air 09 · 2008
where they inhibit microbiological activity, without
which wastewater treatment plants don’t work. Most
paper mills have their own wastewater treatment
plants; here, too, carbon dioxide can be used as an
environmentally friendly substitute for sulphuric acid
in order to achieve wastewater neutralisation.
on air: How do you achieve know-how transfer?
<strong>Wojciech</strong> <strong>Pastuszczyn</strong>: I know what I don’t know – the
paper industry is developing at a rapid pace, so in my
view the best way to learn is to study the processes
intensively. At the beginning, I carried out system analyses
at twelve Polish mills before concluding the first
contract for pulp washing with carbon dioxide. After
initial contact has been made, it can take anything
from six months to three or four years for a contract
to be concluded.
<strong>Helmut</strong> <strong>Gutenberger</strong>: Both my father <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>father
were papermakers <strong>and</strong> I myself have worked in the
paper industry for over 20 years. I am hugely fascinated
by this industry – which is why I am happy to pass
on my knowledge, although the diversity factor does
make transferring know-how difficult. After four years,
we can say that we are very successful in the pulp <strong>and</strong>
paper sector thanks to the good working relationship
we have with our customers, with institutes <strong>and</strong> with
our colleagues in Messer’s European subsidiaries. To
quote figures: we have sold 14 million cubic metres of
our gases to paper manufacturers.
Diana Buss, Messer Group
Paper webs during the production
process. “There are just as many
papermaking processes as there
are types of paper”, says <strong>Wojciech</strong>
<strong>Pastuszczyn</strong>.
Interview : 7

8 : Cover story
Lead by the bar:
recycling the heavy
metal also involves
the use of industrial
gases.
Lead – from ore or
scrap to metal
Lead is a heavy metal that was used as long ago as the early Bronze
Age thanks to its low melting point. Today it is mainly used in lead acid
accumulators such as car batteries. The process of lead smelting is made
particularly efficient by the use of industrial gases.
on air 09 · 2008

Today we need lead as much as we ever did,
though the number of applications has decreased
sharply. “The popularity that this metal enjoyed just
a few decades ago has declined markedly. This is due
partly to the health hazards <strong>and</strong> environmental pollution
associated with lead compounds, which were
caused by outdated production methods, <strong>and</strong> partly
to the issue of economic efficiency”, explains
Burkhardt Holleis from Application Technology
Metallurgy at Messer Austria.
Nevertheless, the heavy metal is still of great
value, particularly for special applications such as
radiation shields or in accumulators such as car batteries.
Lead (latin Plumbum, chemical symbol Pb) is a very
soft <strong>and</strong> malleable heavy metal with a low melting
point. It very rarely occurs in its pure form in nature,
with lead sulphide (PbS, blue lead, galenite) being
the most important lead mineral. The most frequent
natural deposits are found in seams where the galenite
is mainly found in combination with zinc blende
(ZnS, sphalerite) <strong>and</strong> pyrite (FeS2, iron pyrite).
Primary lead
“Lead metal can either be produced from lead ores
(primary lead) or recycled products (secondary lead)”,
says Holleis. In primary lead production, the lead ore
is first converted, by means of physical processes,
into a fine-grained concentrate with maximum
metal content - this process is called ore dressing.
The ore is crushed <strong>and</strong> graded in several stages.
on air 09 · 2008
During the subsequent flotation in an emulsion, the
fine-grained solids are separated from one another.
In order to convert the enriched lead sulphide into
metals in classic smelting, it is roasted in the sinter
plant with the addition of hot air. The liquid lead
oxide that is separated in this process is reduced to
metallic lead bullion <strong>and</strong> slag in a shaft furnace with
the aid of coke, lime <strong>and</strong> iron. “By adding oxygen,
this process becomes even more effective”, explains
Burkhardt Holleis.
Modern technological methods involve direct
reduction processes. The advantage here relates to
the greater efficiency of the plants, in which the
roasting <strong>and</strong> reduction processes take place in one step.
“Accordingly, environmental pollution is reduced <strong>and</strong>
economic efficiency increased”, says the expert.
Roasting is not fully completed <strong>and</strong> lead oxide
can react with lead sulphide to form metallic lead.
This produces lead bullion <strong>and</strong> slag with a higher
lead concentration than with the previously mentioned
process. The reduction of the slag means
that the remaining lead in it can also be recovered
as a resource. “Here, too, oxygen is used in order to
keep down the production costs”, says Holleis,
highlighting another advantage of the use of oxygen
in smelting. The raw lead now has to be refined
before further processing.
Secondary lead
Liquid lead being tapped from
a short rotary furnace
It is not just the lead in lead-acid batteries that is
recycled, but also the plastic housing <strong>and</strong> the sulphuric
Cover story : 9
YOUR CONTACTS:
Burkhardt Holleis
Application Technology Metallurgy
Messer Austria GmbH
Tel.: +43 (0) 50603-281
burkhardt.holleis@messergroup.com
Languages:
Dr. Martin Demuth
Application Technology Metallurgy
Messer Austria GmbH
Tel.: +43 (0) 50603-205
martin.demuth@messergroup.com
Languages:
continued on page 10

10 : Cover story
Oxygen burner – the key
to more efficiency
Nowadays lead is used in
storage batteries such as
car batteries, from which it
is also recycled.
acid. The process begins in remelting plants with the
breaking down <strong>and</strong> grading of the storage batteries.
This is followed by the lead smelting process, i.e. the
melting <strong>and</strong> refining.
In shaft furnaces or direct reduction plants, the
roughly broken down batteries have their sulphuric
acid removed <strong>and</strong> are then processed in a mixture with
additives such as coke, limestone <strong>and</strong> iron. The air that
is required for combustion is enriched with oxygen.
Again, this process produces slag <strong>and</strong> raw lead.
Recycling with rotary furnaces involves separating
the metallic lead fraction (lattice) <strong>and</strong> the lead oxide
fraction (paste) from plastic <strong>and</strong> sulphuric acid. By
adding coke, iron <strong>and</strong> soda, these lead fractions are
then processed into raw lead, with slag again being
produced in the process. Depending on its quality, the
slag is disposed of or used in road construction. The
energy required for the melting process in rotary furnaces
is delivered by means of fuel/oxygen burners.
Refining
Refining involves purifying the raw lead of the
traces of other elements that are still contained in it
<strong>and</strong> producing the lead alloy requested by the customer.
After removing the copper with sulphur, the residual
elements antimony, arsenic <strong>and</strong> tin are removed
through selective oxidation with oxygen. The leadcontaining
dross that is produced in this process is
recycled <strong>and</strong> remelted.
Use of oxygen
Combustion processes are optimised by, on the one
h<strong>and</strong>, preheating the fuel <strong>and</strong> combustion air <strong>and</strong>, on
the other, adding oxygen. The best combustion effi-
+
on air 09 · 2008

Controlled system for a natural
gas/oxygen burner
ciency is achieved with pure oxygen since the waste
gas heat losses are minimised by the removal of the
79% of non-reactive nitrogen ballast that exists in air.
Furthermore, the less nitrogen, the less environmental
pollution through nitrous oxides (NOx).
A large number of lead works in Europe are already
benefiting from Messer’s know-how <strong>and</strong> industrial
gases for lead refining in order to maximise the efficiency
of the melting process with Oxijet® lance
systems or the tailor-made burners of the Oxipyr®
family (see table).
Dr. Martin Demuth, Messer Austria
THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF
USING OXYGEN ARE:
+ Greater flexibility due to higher melting efficiency
<strong>and</strong> shorter load times
+ Reduction in specific energy consumption
+ Decrease in amount of waste gas
+ Less environmental pollution from emissions
+ Less dust discharge due to lower flow rates
+ Lower investment costs due to smaller
filtration systems
+ No air preheating necessary
+ Integrated afterburning possible
on air 09 · 2008
Lead bullion before further processing: Today the heavy metal is
mainly used for lead accumulators
Cover story : 11
Possible applications of oxygen in lead production
Oxygen Pure Messer
enrichment oxygen process
Primary production
Sinter plant (agglomeration) x Oxijet®
Pb shaft furnace x Oxijet®, Pulsox
Pb-Zn shaft furnace (I.M. furnace) x Oxijet®, Pulsox
Rotary furnace x x Oxipyr®
TBRC/Kaldo x x Oxipyr®
QSL x
Kivcet x
Isasmelt x x Oxijet®
Ausmelt x x Oxijet®
Flash smelter x Oxijet®
Recycling/Secondary production
Scrap cutting x
Rotary furnace x x Oxipyr®
TBRC/Kaldo x Oxipyr®
Isasmelt x Oxijet®
Ausmelt
Refining
x Oxijet®
Removal of Sb, Sn <strong>and</strong> As
Selective oxidation
x x Oxijet®
of Sb, Sn <strong>and</strong> As
Environment
x x Oxipot
Sulphur recovery x
Afterburning x x Oxipyr®, Oxijet®

12 : Messer World
E
This is what Gumpoldskirchen
looked like
100 years ago, when the
Austro-Hungarian oxygen
works were granted
permission for oxygen
cylinder filling.
New air separators under construction
Messer is currently building eleven new production units across Europe. These will produce
nitrogen, oxygen <strong>and</strong> argon by separating air into its constituent components. Three
of these projects are presented below:
Tarragona (Spain):
The plant, which was started up in September of this year, now provides a steady supply
of up to 16,000 st<strong>and</strong>ard cubic metres of oxygen <strong>and</strong> 16,000 st<strong>and</strong>ard cubic metres of
nitrogen per hour to major customers in the Tarragona industrial estate via gas pipelines.
Zenica (Bosnia):
The distinctive aspect of this project is that the new air separator will continue to
be supplied with compressed air by the two existing compressors of the ArcelorMittal
steelworks until the new, more efficient air compressor arrives next year. We are
currently completing the trial run at a maximum capacity of 16,000 st<strong>and</strong>ard cubic
metres of oxygen per hour.
Lonza (Switzerl<strong>and</strong>):
The installation of the production unit at the foot of the Matterhorn has begun thanks
to the timely delivery of the equipment from China. Messer will produce liquid oxygen for
medical purposes at the Lonza site, so the validation of the entire plant according to
The air separator
medical st<strong>and</strong>ards represents a particular challenge.
in Lonza will also
Dr. Christoph Erdmann, Messer Group
produce medical
oxygen.
A trip on the
Danube for a
family business:
the centenary
celebrations in
Austria
100 years of oxygen filling
Austria: The setting could not have been more
appropriate, on 11 July this year, Messer celebrated
100 years of oxygen cylinder filling in Austria with
240 business partners, customers <strong>and</strong> friends on board
the Danube steamer MS Austria. The magistrate of the
imperial capital Vienna granted a commercial license
to the Austro-Hungarian oxygen works on
11 July 1908. In his speech, Helge Kreiker, Managing
Director of Messer Austria GmbH, referred to the
location’s eventful history as well as to Messer’s
years of success in Austria. “Messer’s goal is
to be the preferred supplier <strong>and</strong> partner to our customers
in the core areas of food, industry, environment,
chemistry <strong>and</strong> medicine”, said Kreiker.
“We are <strong>and</strong> will continue to be a family-run business
<strong>and</strong> offer our customers a product portfolio which
is acknowledged as one of the most extensive in the
market”, said Hans-Gerd Wien<strong>and</strong>s, Chief Financial
Officer of the Messer Group, <strong>and</strong> promised “to work
hard to bring this vision to life”.
Herbert Herzog, Messer Austria
on air 09 · 2008

Children marvel at Messer experiments
Science inspires young people
Hungary: The aim of the European Commission’s “European Researchers’
Night” initiative is to get young people interested in science. In 2008,
Hungarian researchers once again took part in this event. Messer was one of
the main sponsors in Hungary.
Astonished children, surprised young people <strong>and</strong> interested
grown-ups – both young <strong>and</strong> old watched in
amazement as the Messer scientists <strong>and</strong> employees on
the stage performed their spectacular experiments.
Under the motto “miracles out of thin air”, the
researchers showed where <strong>and</strong> how gases that are
found in air are encountered in our everyday lives <strong>and</strong>
how interesting the world of oxygen <strong>and</strong> co can be in
their different states.
Open research establishments
This was the third time that Hungary took part in
the “Researchers’ Night”, which was held simultaneously
in more than 200 towns across 27 European
countries on 26 September. The European
Commission had once again called on laboratories,
museums, universities <strong>and</strong> research centres to open
their doors to the public in order to get young
people, in particular, interested in the world of science.
Messer was one of the main sponsors of the
on air 09 · 2008
event in Hungary, supplying the gases needed for a
wide range of experiments.
Supporting science <strong>and</strong> innovation is an important
part of the Messer Group’s policy. Within the framework
of an innovation fund, Messer has been supporting
research projects at several Hungarian universities
with gas supplies. One such project is based at
the University of Pannon, which is conducting research
into the possibilities of industrial gas applications in
the production <strong>and</strong> treatment of biofuel. The
University of Miskolc is home to another project supported
by Messer. The researchers there have studied
ways of using industrial gases to reduce environmental
pollution. Meanwhile, the Technical University of
Budapest is researching innovative technologies aimed
at improving the quality of welding applications in the
automotive industry. For the past two years, Messer in
Hungary has been supporting competitions for vehicles
powered by alternative fuels
Anita Kötél, Messer Hungarogáz
Messer World : 13
On the stage, young
people had the opportunity
to watch scientific experiments
up close.

14 : People at Messer
Messer retirees...
…met in the Swiss town
of Interlaken.
Being together is what counts
They have been meeting once a year for the past 15 years – last summer they
gathered in the picturesque town of Interlaken near the Swiss capital, Berne.
Gerd Haase from Berlin is one of the former Messer sales managers who stay in
touch with each other <strong>and</strong> get together to reminisce about the old days <strong>and</strong>
share their latest experiences.
In 1954, the student Gerd Haase got a temporary job
at the Messer head office in Frankfurt. His “Berliner
Schnauze” (manner in which people from Berlin speak)
was noticed <strong>and</strong> two years later he became assistant to
the commercial representative for Berlin, East Germany,
Pol<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Czechoslovakia. For various reasons, it has
become a rarity for someone to spend his entire career
with one company. “Changing companies was unusual
in those days, with firms outdoing each other when it
came to years of service”, says Gerd Haase. “After fifty
years of service, you got a
gold ring <strong>and</strong> a h<strong>and</strong>shake
from the boss.” In Interlaken,
the eight former sales
managers still vividly
remember the merger of
Messer GmbH <strong>and</strong> the
Hoechst subsidiary Knapsack-Griesheim in 1964.
“Suddenly we had to answer the phone with ‘Messer
Griesheim’”, recalls Reinhold Hartlieb, former head of
the Stuttgart subsidiary in southern Germany <strong>and</strong>, subsequently,
managing director of Messer in Switzerl<strong>and</strong>.
The merger brought a difficult integration phase that
lasted several years. After all, it was a merger of two
independent companies that had previously been fierce
competitors in the market place for many years. The conversations
get heated when they talk about the mistakes
that could have been avoided if “those at the top had
talked more frequently with one another” <strong>and</strong> had listened
to their employees’ suggestions for improvement.
The company first
Judging by the reaction of the wives, this isn’t the first
time that they have seen their husb<strong>and</strong>s get worked up
about this subject. One of the wives also used to work
at Messer, while the others looked after their families.
“We were a men-only club”, says Gerd Haase with a
smile, “just like our customers. Sales conversations
would start with a cigarette <strong>and</strong> a cup of coffee. We
knew what our customers liked, even their favourite
whisky.” “The family had to make sacrifices”, adds
Traute Haase, <strong>and</strong> the other ladies agree that the company
came first on too many occasions. Now that they
are retired, they have plenty of other things to talk
about <strong>and</strong> time to exchange photos from the last gettogether,
share a laugh <strong>and</strong> explore the surrounding
area. This year’s event was organised by Reinhold
Hartlieb, who stayed on in Switzerl<strong>and</strong> after retiring.
“We try to do things we find enjoyable”, he explains,
although the group excursion to his beloved Jungfrau,
Eiger <strong>and</strong> Mönch mountain peaks was thwarted by descending
fog. But that doesn’t matter, because being
together is what counts.
Diana Buss, Messer Group
on air 09 · 2008

>
COMPETITION
Win...
one of three books about German family-owned businesses
The book “Deutsche St<strong>and</strong>ards – aus bester Familie”
was edited by Florian Langenscheidt <strong>and</strong> published by
Gabler, price 79.90 euros. To win, tell us on which
page of the magazine this photo appears? Keep your
eyes peeled <strong>and</strong> send your* answer in an e-mail to
diana.buss@messergroup.com
MEDICINE
Responsible advice over the Internet
www.laborex-sanesco.at
A medical practitioner expects a supplier of
medical products to be able to provide detailed
<strong>and</strong> comprehensive information about these
products – patients often wish to receive a personal
consultation. As a medical service provider,
Laborex-Sanesco GmbH, a Messer Group
company, supports hospitals, health care facilities,
doctors <strong>and</strong> the patients themselves. The
TRADE SHOW CALENDAR
In the coming weeks we will be at ...
IPA Salon
Food trade show
Paris, France
17 to 21 November
arenier@messer.fr
foodatech
Food <strong>and</strong> packaging
Budapest, Hungary
18 to 20 November
anita.kotel@messer.hu
Energetika
Energy trade show
Belgrade, Serbia
26 to 28 November
marija.vukovic@messer.co.yu
* This competition is not
open to employees of
Messer or their relatives.
ECOFair
Environmental trade show
Belgrade, Serbia
26 to 28 November
marija.vukoviç@messer.co.yu
Annual Meeting
Belgian Society for Pneumology
Brussels, Belgium
28 to 29 November
marina.deridder@messerbenelux.com
VINITECH
Vine fair
Bordeaux, France
2 to 4 December
arenier@messer.fr
Pollutec
Environmental trade show
Lyon, France
2 to 5 December
arenier@messer.fr
Closing date
for entries:
16.12.08
Congratulations to Rüdiger Strauß, Johnson & Johnson Medical GmbH, Norderstedt who submitted the right answer (“page 12”)
to the competition question in Issue No. 8 of on air. He can look forward to receiving a Messer mug in the style of a gas cylinder.
Gasette : 15
new website therefore features information
on products <strong>and</strong> applications as well as more
detailed descriptions of the individual departments
<strong>and</strong> contacts: the Laborex-Sanesco
experts are always happy to answer any personal
questions patients <strong>and</strong> relatives may have
in a direct <strong>and</strong> competent manner.

Coming up in the next issue:
Carbon footprint: Messer is committed to the efficient use of resources. In the next
issue of on air you can read about what we are doing to reduce our carbon footprint <strong>and</strong>
that of our customers.
By signing up to the EU Road Safety Charter, the signatories are helping to cut the
number of road deaths in Europe.