Vacuum-insulated helium dewars and ISO containers

Chart Industries (NYSE: GTLS; Ball Ground, GA; ~$4B revenue post-Howden) is the world's dominant manufacturer of cryogenic equipment for LNG, including peak-shaving plant liquefiers, brazed aluminum heat exchangers (BAHX), cold boxes, storage tanks, and LNG vaporizers. Chart's Industrial & Commercial Energy (ICE) division is the primary vendor for utility LNG peak-shaving plant equipment in North America. Chart acquired Howden (Glasgow-based industrial compressor and fan manufacturer) in 2023 for $4.4B, adding compression technology to its cryogenic heat exchanger and storage portfolio — making Chart a near-complete LNG equipment systems integrator. Chart also produces the CAIRE/MVE biomedical cryogenic cylinders and acquired La Crosse Cooler and other brands. The La Crosse, WI cryogenic division manufactures vacuum-insulated storage vessels. Chart is the single most critical equipment supplier for US utility LNG peak-shaving — if a New England utility needs to expand or replace a peak-shaving liquefier, Chart is essentially the only qualified domestic source.

French cryogenic equipment manufacturer (HQ Laon, Aisne; Air Liquide Engineering & Construction subsidiary); designs and manufactures vacuum-insulated ISO tank containers, semi-trailers, and storage vessels for liquid helium, liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, and LNG transport. CRYOLOR is one of only two major manufacturers (alongside Chart Industries) of the large ISO bulk containers used to transport liquid helium from production sites in Wyoming, Qatar, and Algeria to end users globally. A liquid helium ISO container (40,000 liter capacity; maintains -269°C with multi-layer superinsulation and vacuum jacket) can carry enough helium to serve a major hospital MRI cooling program for 6-12 months. CRYOLOR also manufactures the specialized tank trailers that deliver liquid helium from distribution hubs to hospitals and semiconductor fabs. Air Liquide's ownership of CRYOLOR gives the industrial gas company a captive advantage in cryogenic container logistics.

American laboratory cryogenic equipment company (HQ Theodore AL; part of Worthington Industries after restructuring); manufactures laboratory and medical-grade helium dewars (typically 30-500 L) for university research, hospital MRI maintenance, and scientific instrumentation. Taylor-Wharton produces the 'Doris' series and other helium dewars that are the most common storage and transport containers at the last-mile delivery level — the helium cylinders that arrive on a hospital loading dock before being used to 'top up' an MRI magnet helium supply. Taylor-Wharton is a smaller scale alternative to Chart Industries for the non-bulk segment of the helium storage market.