Linde Helium Lifts Macy's Parade Balloons and People's Spirits on Thanksgiving 20th Year Supplying Helium for the Event
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Murray Hill New Providence, New Jersey, U.S. – Linde North America Inc., will supply helium for the 20th consecutive year to fill the world-renowned balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®. This year marks the 88th annual Macy's Parade, with 16 giant character balloons, 33 novelty/ornament balloons, 27 floats, 12 bands and more than 8,000 participants making the more than two-mile trek down the streets of New York City on Thursday, November 27, 2014.
Linde North America Inc., is a member of The Linde Group, a world leading gases and engineering company and one of the world's largest helium suppliers. Since 1994 Linde has been the sole provider of helium to inflate the giant balloons that sail over the streets of New York City lifting the spirits of people, young and old, and marking the official beginning of the holiday season. The event is expected to draw over 50 million television viewers across the country and more than 3.5 million spectators lining the streets along the parade route. Â
Pat Murphy, president, Linde North America, said, "The parade is America's most recognizable Thanksgiving event and has become an institution that people throughout the U.S. and abroad look forward to year after year. Linde is proud of its longstanding relationship with Macy's and we look forward to working with them for many years to come."
John Piper, vice president, Macy's Parade Studio, said, "Our giant helium character balloons, including four new balloons this year – 'six new giants including The Weinstein Company's Paddington™, Pokémon International's Pikachu™, Pillsbury®'s Pillsbury Doughboy®, Power Rangers' Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger, Skylanders® Eruptor, and Mattel's Thomas the Tank Engine® are the signature of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. And our long-time relationship with Linde gives us the helium that's crucial to bringing our world-famous balloons to life."
About the Helium
The helium to fill the breathtaking balloons floating over New York City in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade comes from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where Linde operates a helium trans-fill facility. It is there that pure helium liquid is converted to a gas and compressed into four high-pressure tube trailers that are trucked to New York City. On the day before the Parade, Linde and Macy's staff assemble near the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, where workers begin inflating the balloons using a gas filling apparatus Linde has customized for the Macy's Parade. Early Thanksgiving morning, the balloons are topped off with helium and poised for the Parade. The total amount of helium used is around 300,000 cubic feet, roughly the same as filling half a million Mylar balloons.
About the Linde Group
In the 2013 financial year, The Linde Group generated revenue of $23.1 bn (EUR 16.655 bn), making it the largest gases and engineering company in the world with approximately 63,500 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.
Contact:
Amy Ficon
Linde corporate communications
908-771-1491
amy.ficon@linde.com
Vinita Abraham
Linde corporate communications
908-771-1366
vinita.abraham@linde.com
Orlando Veras
Macy's Media Relations
646-429-7450
Orlando.Veras@macys.com
