Linde, based in Ireland, is a multinational chemical company formed by the merger of Linde of Germany (founded in 1879) and Praxair of the US. It is one of the world's largest industrial gas companies by market share and revenue. The Linde Group has 600 affiliated companies in 100 countries, with customers in the industrial, retail, trade, science, research and public sectors. It has two principal business areas: gas (industrial gases and medical gases) and engineering. Its vision is to be the best performing global industrial gases and engineering company, where its people deliver innovative and sustainable solutions for customers.