About this book:

Air Products & Chemicals Inc. chronicles the remarkable journey of an American industrial giant, from its audacious founding in 1940 by Leonard Parker Pool to its current standing as a global leader in industrial gases. The book details Pool's revolutionary "on-site" concept, which disrupted the traditional industrial gas market by bringing production directly to customers, significantly reducing costs and enhancing reliability. It explores how this innovative model, honed through the demands of World War II, fueled the company's rapid expansion in the postwar boom and its strategic diversification into chemicals and even environmental systems. Readers will discover the pivotal mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures that shaped its portfolio, from acquiring Houdry Process Corporation to shedding its chemical divisions to become a pure-play industrial gases company.

Beyond its business evolution, the book delves into Air Products' relentless commitment to technology and innovation, particularly its pioneering work in cryogenics for the space program and its leadership in hydrogen production. It highlights the company's aggressive global expansion, especially into the burgeoning Asian markets, and its disciplined financial management that propelled it to a NYSE listing and sustained growth. Finally, it examines Air Products' bold strategic pivot in the twenty-first century towards a "Higher Purpose" focused on sustainability and leading the global energy transition through massive investments in clean hydrogen, demonstrating how the company is poised to shape a cleaner, more sustainable future for industries worldwide.

What You'll Find Inside:

• **Pioneering the "On-Site" Industrial Gas Model:** Discover how Leonard Parker Pool's revolutionary concept of producing industrial gases directly at the customer's location transformed the industry by drastically reducing distribution costs and ensuring reliable supply.
• **Strategic Diversification and Portfolio Reshaping:** Explore Air Products' journey from early expansion into chemicals and environmental systems to its modern strategic focus on becoming a pure-play industrial gases company through key mergers, acquisitions, and significant divestitures.
• **Leadership in the Emerging Hydrogen Economy:** Learn how Air Products, leveraging decades of expertise as the world's largest hydrogen producer, is investing billions in large-scale blue and green hydrogen projects and infrastructure to drive global decarbonization.
• **Commitment to Sustainability and ESG:** Understand Air Products' comprehensive "Grow, Conserve and Care" sustainability strategy, its ambitious net-zero carbon goals, and how its products and technologies enable customers to reduce their environmental footprint.
• **Innovation and Digital Transformation:** Examine the company's continuous investment in cutting-edge technology, from advanced cryogenic systems and membrane separation to digital tools for optimizing operations and enhancing customer service.

Who's It For:

This book is essential reading for professionals in the industrial gas, chemical, and energy sectors, including executives, engineers, and market analysts, seeking to understand the evolution of a global industrial leader. It also offers valuable insights for business students, entrepreneurs, and investors interested in corporate strategy, innovation, and the transition to a sustainable economy. Anyone curious about the history of American industry and the impact of visionary leadership on market disruption will find this book compelling.