Industrial gas provider Air Products South Africa manufactures, supplies and distributes a diverse portfolio of atmospheric gases, specialty gases, equipment and services across Southern Africa. Air Products South Africa speciality gas sales manager Nelisiwe Dlamini spoke to Engineering News at PROPAK CAPE 2026 about the company’s innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and quality.

The focus at PROPAK CAPE 2026 is Freshline solutions, Air Products’ high-purity gases and equipment for the food and beverage sector. These food-grade gases have different applications to preserve the shelf life of products, prevent oxidation and give packaging stability.

“The first thing we do at Air Products for the Freshline portfolio, is hire food technologists who are familiar with the food industry,” says Dlamini, herself a trained food technologist. “We’ve studied the science of food. We have product specialists who manage this portfolio, so when they go into the food industry, they are familiar with the practices. At Air Products we offer solutions, we don’t just sell gas”.

This includes advising customers on Good Manufacturing Practice and providing food safety management certification (FSSC 22000). This ensures the production, distribution and supply to the customers is food safe for consumption and meets the requirements for traceability.

“We also work very closely with OEMs to offer the solutions customers are looking for.” This includes conducting trials with original equipment manufacturers for customised solutions.

The company’s developments including Modified Atmospheric Packaging. “This changes the atmosphere in the packaging with a tailor-made gas mixture to extend the shelf-life of the product in a natural way,” says Dlamini.

Founded in 1969 Air Products works to touch the lives of consumers in positive ways by serving customers across industries from food and beverage, mining and petrochemicals, primary metal and steel manufacturers, and welding and cutting applications to laboratory applications.