Gardner Cryogenics: Setting the global industry standard

August 5, 2020—As featured in gasworld online

Founded in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in its almost 60 years of business, Gardner Cryogenics has today produced more than 1,900 cryogenic tanks, the first of which is still operational today.

Specialised in developing high-performance, high reliability, long-lasting storage tanks for the transportation of liquid hydrogen and helium molecules globally, Gardner’s team of cryogenic experts work around the clock to provide its customers with high quality products.

The company’s story begun back in 1961 but then gained momentum later in 1981 when it was acquired, giving Gardner an increased opportunity to develop crucial products for the cryogenics industry.

1967 saw Gardner design its 8,500-gallon liquid helium ISO container, and then later in 1973 the company went on to introduce the first 11,000-gallon ISO container, which eventually become the global industry standard for moving liquid helium molecules.

Gardner’s early product innovations are still widely respected in the industry, and it’s first ever 11,000-gallon ISO tank is still in operation today and, to date, only five of the 1700-plus ISO containers manufactured by Gardner have been decommissioned. 

Today, Gardner Cryogenics has a diverse portfolio of products for liquid helium and liquid hydrogen with storage containers from 1,500 to 45,000 gallons and transportation containers ranging from 1,500 to 17,000 gallons.

Talking to gasworld exclusively about its products, Ravi Subramanian, Business and Product Development Manager at Gardner Cryogenics, said, “Our most popular products are the 11,000 gallon 175 psig-40 days liquid helium ISO container and the 17,000-gallon liquid hydrogen semi-trailer.”

“The 11,000 gallon 175 psig-40 days container is the ultimate ISO container, an innovation built to meet our customers’ demand for high-reliability, long-lasting and high-performance.”

A key feature that makes Gardner’s innovations highly popular throughout the market is the company’s unique technology that provides the lowest heat-leak for the highest yield when transporting, storing and transferring liquid helium and liquid hydrogen.

But whilst Gardner’s products have successful been serving the industry for years, it is also important to stay up to date with the latest trends in the market by adapting the company’s offering to align with those trends.

Discussing the trends Gardner is currently seeing, Ravi explained, “We are seeing continued demand for our liquid helium ISO containers. Also, with increasing demand from helium in Asia, we are expanding our aftermarket services globally to support our customers where they are located.”

“With ‘Hydrogen for Mobility’ expected to grow in North America, Europe, China, and Korea, Gardner is expanding its product portfolio and adding manufacturing floor space to meet market demand globally.”

When talking to gasworld, Ravi also explained that with a new source of helium expected in the coming years, and the growing hydrogen energy demand, Gardner is planning to expand its product portfolio accordingly.

“We plan to offer a LHY stationary tank, meeting European, Chinese, and Korean regulations and LHY transportable semi-trailers to store and move the molecules. Gardner added more floor space to increase its manufacturing capacity to meet market demand.”

“The Gardner engineering team continues to push the limit by developing novel concepts to enable our customers to address challenging logistic issues, regulatory demands and manage their operational needs.”