Global Gases Group Proves it's Safe, Given Conditional Approval

A special exception sought by Wind-Drift Real Estate Association on behalf of a company that supplies a variety of gases for medical use was given conditional approval Thursday night by the  Zoning Hearing Board.

The realty company has leased a commercial building at 183 Mikron Road to Global Gases Group, a company headquartered in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

In order for the exception to be approved, representatives from Global Gases had to prove to board members that the business poses no significant hazard to public health and safety or to environmental quality.

Andy Stevenson, general manager for Global Gases, explained that the company purchases inert, non-flammable gases. The gases consist of argon, helium, neon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, xenon and krypton.

The gases will not be created at the Lower Nazareth location. The already-made gases will be blended and compressed into smaller containers with a water capacity of 5 to 10 liters, according to Stevenson. The gases are blended for use in various industries, such as medical applications.

According to www.globalgases.com, "Global Gases Group supplies a wide range of gases to support the medical sector. These include reference/calibration gases for laboratory calibration operations and gas mixtures for sterilization, anaesthetic and other uses."

For the full list of products created by Global Gases, click here.

Erv McClain, an attorney for Wind-Drift, told the board that -- for comparison to zoning definitions -- Global Gases is like a bottling company.

Stevenson said the company decided to “produce here, because of the expertise.”

“And quality” of the employees, added Daniel Tarafas, a chemist for the company.

There are no chemical reactions between the elements, Stevenson stressed.

Board members wondered if the gases can be vented.

“These gases are high value, so we have no wish to vent any gases,” Stevenson said. “We want to store every molecule that we can.”

Zoning board alternate Darin Lueders asked if there would be any danger to the community if there was an accident.

George Hansen, a representative for Global Gases, said there isn’t any danger if these elements exist in the air.

“We’d lose a lot of money, but there’s no danger,” he said.

The only byproduct of production is deionized water, Hansen explained. The water is collected and removed by General Water Services, a water treatment company. The water will not be sent into the sewer system because of its high sand content and because of iron oxides created by the sand blasting of cylinders.

Stevenson said the Lower Nazareth location will employ two or three managers and three or four operating personnel. He expects the company will grow in a few years and double its number of employees.

Global Gases will be sending about eight shipments of one to six cylinders per day overseas to Europe and China, Stevenson said. In time, he expects this to increase to 16 to 20 shipments per day.

Board members approved the exception with the condition that Global Gases has oxygen monitors and fire alarms installed and contacts the state Department of Environmental Protection to obtain either a permit or a waiver for exhaust fans over ovens. The ovens are used to dry up the water left on the cylinders after cleaning, Hansen said.

Stevenson said the company also plans to install a security system to protect the building from outsiders.