Industrial Gases Association Switzerland IGS goes "full throttle" with new president
"Without gases, Switzerland stands still," says Dr. Ing. Hans Michael Kellner, newly elected president of the Industrial Gases Association Switzerland IGS, based in Zurich. On January 10, 2018, he was unanimously elected for a four-year term of office. Dr. Kellner has been active in the industrial gases sector for more than 30 years.
The Industrial Gases Association Switzerland IGS has elected Dr. Ing. Hans Michael Kellner as its new president. Hans Michael Kellner is Managing Director of Messer Switzerland AG based in Lenzburg, one of the leading suppliers and manufacturers of industrial gases.
Industrial Gases Association Switzerland emphasizes the importance of gases
The association's main goals for 2018 are to ensure the highest safety standards and to present a unified front to regulators and all gas users. "Standardization makes the processes in our highly regulated industry easier and clearer. In addition, gases, in our opinion, are given far too little attention, especially since Switzerland would come to a complete standstill if no gases were available," Dr. Kellner continued.
Little known to the general public, the Industrial Gases Association Switzerland IGS unites all industrial gases companies in Switzerland, which together generate annual sales of around CHF 450 million. "Highly qualified employees from all leading gas companies in Switzerland work for the IGS. SMEs, hospitals and private individuals benefit equally from the concentrated expertise on topics such as safety in the handling of gases," says the new president, Dr. Hans Michael Kellner.
Underestimated importance of the association
The professional handling of gases is essential for survival, which many people are not aware of until now. The main tasks of the association include:
- Advice on gas safety for members and non-members (storage, handling, transport, etc.)
- Promotion of education and training
- Exchange of information and cooperation in safety-related matters, also with authorities and official agencies
- Participation in Swiss and international committees in which legal norms, guidelines and other regulations are developed or implemented.
- Development of recommendations for members and third parties
No more blown balconies
In 2018, the association is creating a new website that will present the many applications of gases and how they are handled to the general public. "We want to ensure, for example, that private users handle gas cylinders correctly at their barbecues and that we don't have to read news of blown-up balconies in the future," Kellner continues. Gases are perfectly safe if you follow a few simple rules.
Further information: Industrial Gases Association Switzerland IGS, Bahnhofstrasse 37, 8032 Zurich, phone +41 (0)44 225 15 25
