Linde Gives Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Its Special Lift

On Nov 21, 2018

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®. What is New Jersey’s role in this event? Bridgewater-based Linde North America, Inc., as usual, is supplying helium that will help the balloons come to life on the Parade route.

Last night, Linde and Macy’s staff assembled near the Museum of Natural History where workers inflated the balloons using a gas-filling apparatus Linde has customized for the Parade. Early this morning, the balloons were topped off with helium and poised for the Parade flights.

“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.”

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.

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: