The $230 Billion Company Youve Never Heard Of Linde is the world’s largest industrial-gas company, and their products are the simplest elements on the periodic table, Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Carbon Dioxide Helium How they are so big? Why are these elements so important? Lets use Hydrogen as the example. Its the most abundant element in the universe, but most of it is attached to another molecule. Hydrogen by itself is just one proton + one electron It was first was first isolated in 1766, and called "inflammable air". Because its so small its extremely challenging to store and leaks through almost anything. But its a cornerstone of modern industrialization Globally the world uses about 100 million tonnes annually. Its used in oil refining, ammonia, methanol, and steel production So the demand is ginormous. The gas is worth billions on billions Making it is challenging, it uses a process called steam-methane reforming. You react natural gas with hot steam over a catalyst, this reaction produces hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide Then that has to be purified and the hydrogen separated out. This requires a chemical plant. Which brings us to Linde. They specialize in these basic elements, they do over $30B in sales a year Their next competitor is Air Liquide, and "only" worth $120B Theres other competitors as well, you can look them up, theyre all formidable companies They will never go out of business. They will never see lower demand. Their gasses are essential for advanced technology and human civilization itself to operate. Chemicals are the foundation which all other industries are built on. And also the most overlooked in the "hard tech" sector.