Plant development

Linde North America, a gas and engineering company, says it will build a new air separation plant in Lewisville, Ark., a $50 million project.

The 470 ton-per-day plant will produce liquid nitrogen and oxygen to meet rapidly growing demand in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. A spokesperson for the company tells Talk Business that Linde will be investing over $50 million dollars over the life of the project.

“This new plant will give us the size and operating efficiencies we need to support our top customers, who have seen great expansion in their own businesses and who are poised for even more growth in the future,” said Pat Murphy, president, Linde North America. “The plant’s capacity will complement production from our Terrell, Texas, plant, and strengthen our entire supply capability throughout the south.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2012. The plant, which will employ 24 people, is expected to begin operating by the fourth quarter of 2013.

The gases produced at the plant will be delivered by tanker truck to customers ranging from manufacturers of chemicals and petroleum products to food processors, metal fabricators and healthcare providers.