Oct 22 2010
Linde North America has signed California Tool & Welding Supply of Riverside, California, to its Platinum Partner™ program.
Linde North America is a member of The Linde Group, a world-leading gases and engineering company. In operation since 1976, California Tool is an independent gases distributor that sells industrial, medical, hospitality, medical and specialty gases in Southern California and Nevada.
“California Tool has a great history of providing high quality products and services to gases users in that area of the country,” said Bob Van Kirk, head of key customers and distributors for Linde North America. “They are now managed by second-and third-generation family members who have cut their teeth in the business and have developed great relationships with their customers. We expect our Platinum Partner program will help bring them to the next level.”
California Tool has 12 retail locations covering eight counties across Southern California and Southern Nevada. The company sells industrial gases, including hospitality gases, under the Serv-O-Tek brand name and its specialty gases and mini-bulk products under the Elite Air brand name.
The Linde Platinum Partner program is designed to create a true partnership between Linde and independent gas and welding distributors. The platinum program combines the strengths of Linde’s global technology and resources with the local commitment and service of its Platinum Partners, providing the end users with the best products and services in the industry. “Linde and California Tool will work together to develop marketing programs and sales leads, as well as jointly visit customers and prospects in the region. In September, for example, the California Tool sales team participated in its first applications training session provided by Linde sales and engineering personnel,” said Van Kirk.
“California Tool is extremely pleased to join Linde’s Platinum Partner program which will allow us to enhance our products and services to the region’s medical, scientific and industrial markets,” said Chris Craig, California Tool Manager, who is one of many of the third generation family members involved with the business today. “Our expectations for California Tool is to continue to expand and grow within the region and through our partnership with Linde, we will enhance our product and service offering to reach new customers in diverse markets,” Craig said.