Air Liquide invests 40 million Euros in order to put up a new facility that will house a new carbon dioxide production unit and a cogeneration unit in Colombia. This expansion was made possible by the company's partnership and contract with Coca-Cola FEMSA.

According to Business Wire, Air Liquide will be responsible in supplying refrigerated water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, compressed air and steam to Coca-Cola FEMSA. Located in Tocancipa, north of Bogota, this new Air Liquide facility is said to start its operations in the late part of 2016.

 

The Tocancipa new facility is also strategically located at the Permanent Free Trade Zone FEMSA Industrial Park and will initially employ 30 workers upon operation. Coca-Cola FEMSA will not be the only company that Air Liquide will supply; rather, it will extend its additional production to nearby companies that uses such product. 

Michael J. Graff, member of Air Liquide Group's Executive Committee, said in a statement, "Our entry into Colombia provides a major opportunity for Air Liquide as we establish our presence in this strategic market and further expand our presence in Latin America. We are very pleased to have reached this milestone in our working relationship with Coca-Cola FEMSA, a long-term partner of Air Liquide. We look forward to our continuing partnership and to supporting Coca-Cola FEMSA's growth in Latin America by supplying safe, reliable and sustainable solutions."

Currently, Air Liquide supplies industrial and medical gasses to 14 countries across North America and industries that mainly work on energy, electronics, healthcare and industrial manufacturing benefits from Air Liquide's products. Its expansion in Colombia brought the company to supply one of the largest bottling facilities in the world, and with their primary product of purified and liquefied carbon dioxide, Coca-Cola fits the bill perfectly as the company uses carbonation for its beverages.

Air Liquide is home to over 50,000 employees and has served more than two million clients and patients all over the world. Since it started in 1902, the company has expanded to 80 countries among Central America, South America and the Caribbean. In 2014, the company had a total of €15.4 billion in revenue, 40 percent of which is from sales of products that had something to do with environmental solutions as well as health supplies.