African Oxygen Limited (Afrox) is sub-Saharan Africa’s leading supplier of gases, and welding and safety products, employing 3 000 people and operating in South Africa and 11 other African countries. It manages operations in five more countries on behalf of its parent company, The Linde Group, a global gas, engineering and technologies company.
Afrox’ product offering includes the full range of large-volume on-site and bulk gases, cylinder gases, scientific gases, refrigerants, packaged chemicals and helium, carbon dioxide, medical gases and medical products, hospitality gases, gas equipment, welding products and ancillary safety products. In addition to liquefied bulk delivery countrywide and customer-specific on-site plants, an advanced supply chain network is capable of sourcing, manufacturing and delivering over 3 000 products and gases in 700 000 high-pressure cylinders and 2.5-million LPG cylinders.
Established in South Africa some 86 years ago, the company listed on the JSE in December 1963 and on the Namibian Stock Exchange in 1995. Its top shareholders include The Linde Group, Aberdeen Global Fund, the South African Government Employees Pension Fund (previously Public Investment Corporation), Allan Gray Investment Council and Investec Asset Management. In 2013, Afrox’ reported turnover was R5.825-billion.
The company has a well-developed and integrated safety, health, environment and quality management system, based on the principles of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, as well as relevant legislative requirements. In 2013, Afrox signed a R160-million contract with Columbus Stainless, Africa’s only producer of stainless steel flat products, to supply oxygen and nitrogen by pipeline to its works in Witbank. During the same year, Afrox announced an investment of R300-million in a new air separation unit in Port Elizabeth and a further R500-million in a new state-of-the-art hub outside Durban. These investments are part of a greater R1.5-billion strategic development programme aimed at boosting customer service levels and support Afrox’ investment strategy in South Africa and the sub-Saharan Africa region.