Linde kicks off holiday season with Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Nov. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year, millions gather to usher in the holiday season and watch one of the most beloved events in New York City: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®. In 2018, Linde North America, Inc. continues its 24-year partnership with Macy's by supplying helium that will help the balloons come to life on November 22.  

"We're thrilled to support and partner with Macy's for this iconic event," said Chris Ebeling, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Linde. "To see people of all ages marveling at the balloons and sharing their delight continues to bring great happiness to everyone at Linde."

This year, Linde and Macy's will once again enchant Parade attendees, and those huddled around their televisions, with the help of the country's most recognizable balloons as they strut the streets of New York City.

"Our collaboration with Linde has helped delight a generation, or two, of spectators. Every Thanksgiving, more than 3.5 million spectators lining the Parade route and more than 50 million watching on television marvel at our signature helium balloons as they soar above New York thanks to our long-standing partnership with Linde," said Susan Tercero, executive producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. "This year, 16 giant characters' balloons and more than 35 legacy/novelty creations will continue the tradition and captivate people across the world."

Giving "Thanks" to Helium
The helium used to fill the balloons begins its journey at the Linde plant in Otis, Kansas. The plant refines crude helium purchased from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, as well as from private producers that extract it from natural gas fields in the U.S. mid-continent.

After the helium is purified and liquefied, it is loaded in to trailers for shipment across the country. For the breathtaking balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, product from Otis is shipped to Bethlehem, PA, where Linde operates a helium trans-fill facility.

Here the liquefied helium is converted to a gas and compressed into four high?pressure tube trailers that are trucked to New York City. Linde will supply some 300,000 cubic feet of helium to the parade.

On November 21, Linde and Macy's staff will assemble near the Museum of Natural History where workers begin inflating the balloons using a gas-filling apparatus Linde has customized for the Parade. Then, early Thanksgiving morning, the balloons will be topped off with helium and poised for the Parade flights.

About The Linde Group
In the 2017 financial year, The Linde Group generated revenue of USD 21.1 bn (EUR 17.113 bn), making it one of the leading gases and engineering companies in the world, with approximately 58,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business, with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The company is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development. For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com.

SOURCE Linde North America, Inc.