Industrial gases are fundamental to countless industries responsible for keeping Australia moving. Michael Cirillo, field sales manager for NSW and ACT, explained how Supagas is there to support them.
From steelmaking to food production, fabrication to logistics, Supagas plays a vital role in delivering the gases that fuel the nation’s industrial heartbeat.
With production facilities and distribution depots across every state and territory, Supagas is positioned to meet Australia’s industrial gas needs – from single cylinders to bulk supply.
“The scale of the industrial business is quite significant,” said Cirillo. “We deliver a huge volume of industrial gas per month.”
According to Cirillo, the primary industrial gases include oxygen, argon, nitrogen, and acetylene – all essential to sectors like metal fabrication, manufacturing, and engineering.
Each plays a distinct role in powering Australia’s industries:
- Oxygen: The most widely used industrial gas, oxygen supports combustion and is critical in cutting and welding processes. It’s also used in steelmaking, wastewater treatment, and various chemical manufacturing applications, where it enhances efficiency and reduces impurities.
- Argon: A shielding gas used in welding and metal fabrication, argon protects molten metal from atmospheric contamination, ensuring strong, clean welds. It’s also employed in the production of specialty alloys and in processes that require an inert atmosphere.
- Nitrogen: Valued for its inert properties, nitrogen is used to prevent oxidation and contamination in metal production and food packaging. It’s also a key component in pressure testing, purging, and cooling systems across manufacturing and engineering sectors.
- Acetylene: A versatile fuel gas known for its high flame temperature, acetylene is widely used in oxy-acetylene cutting and welding. Its clean, intense flame makes it ideal for precision work and for applications requiring rapid, high-temperature heat.
Together, these gases underpin the cutting, welding, and production processes that form the backbone of Australia’s industrial output — keeping factories running, products moving, and industries growing.
Supporting a growing manufacturing base
Cirillo said the industrial gas sector is crucial to Australia’s economy, particularly as attention turns to revitalising local manufacturing.
“The Australian government is trying to support local manufacturing,” he explained. “We’re an integral part of that, because the industrial gases are a key fuel for that manufacturing.”
Supagas’s national network ensures that customers – whether large-scale manufacturers or small fabrication workshops – can access reliable, cost-effective gas supply anywhere in the country.
“We have the infrastructure, we have the abundance of stock, and we have a nationwide footprint, which really helps us from the industrial perspective,” said Cirillo.
Logistics and demand on the rise
One of the biggest growth areas within Supagas’s industrial portfolio is the forklift cylinder market.
“The demand for the forklift cylinders is huge,” Cirillo said. “It is our fastest moving product nationally, and that demand is being fuelled by the logistics companies who are our primary user of that product – and the economy itself is driving that with the use of online shopping.”
That growing demand has put Supagas at the centre of Australia’s logistics boom, ensuring forklift fleets across the country remain fuelled and operational.
Close to customers, competitive on cost
Supagas’s extensive network of depots and branches across metropolitan and regional Australia gives it a logistical edge in ensuring a dependable supply to its customers.
“It also helps with competitive pricing,” added Cirillo. “And the reason for that is when you’re in close proximity to customers, that really helps lower our cost – and we pass that cost over to the customer.”
For more on the Supagas industrial gases range, visit: https://www.supagas.com.au/categories/_industrial-gases