Afrox is the largest full-spectrum gases business in Africa, with a continuous history as a corporate entity that dates back to the 1920s. 2007 saw Afrox turn eighty years of age, a year that marked a renewal process that......Afrox is the largest full-spectrum gases business in Africa, with a continuous history as a corporate entity that dates back to the 1920s. 2007 saw Afrox turn eighty years of age, a year that marked a renewal process that will ensure the business is properly positioned to remain a leader in gases, manufactured gas equipment and welding consumables. It also marked the first full year of majority ownership by The Linde Group, itself a combination of two world-class gases companies, Linde and BOC. Afrox is one of southern Africa’s most trusted brands, with products and services that form part of most manufacturing, industrial and construction processes. With its African operations, Afrox is the largest gases and welding company in sub-Saharan Africa. The company’s gases and products are used in everything from the production iron and steel to the manufacture of motor vehicles and high quality industrial ceramics. Afrox’s gases are used for freezing and chilling, food preparation, in fire extinguishers and water purification, deodorant and insecticide propellants, refrigerators, air-conditioning systems, in most restaurants, pubs and hotels, and even for inflating balloons. Afrox’s welding products are equally popular. Virtually every piece of metal worked in southern Africa is welded, brazed or cut using Afrox electrodes, wires, gas cutting equipment and machines. Globally, an increasing number of the company’s locally manufactured products are being marketed in Europe, South East Asia and Australasia through the Afrox’s parent, The Linde Group, one of the largest gases and engineering companies in the world. Afrox operations function on a regional business unit basis, in line with the global reporting requirements of The Linde Group. This operational system affords the business an enviable advantage by providing best practices by which to benchmark the company against its international peers, and enabling Afrox, within The Linde Group, to “speak the same language” and access a worldwide research and development knowledge base.