For an industrial gas distributor, having its own production capacity means more than simply changing where the product comes from. It makes it possible to plan supply, respond more flexibly to demand and strengthen control over a key part of the supply chain.
This is the strategy that drove Gasos Felmar, a company based in Canovelles (Barcelona) that has specialised since 2007 in the production and distribution of industrial and food-grade gases, with a focus on CO₂ and nitrogen. The company carries out mixing, bottling and refilling for customers in Spain and Portugal with very diverse gas needs.
To expand its local supply capacity, Gasos Felmar installed a GasN2 GN94 nitrogen generator, producing gas directly at its own facilities.
The goal: expanding supply without relying solely on external sourcing
Gas distribution requires coordinating orders, production or purchase of the product, storage and delivery. When demand rises, the company must be able to react without logistics limiting its service capacity.
Gasos Felmar wanted an internal, stable supply of nitrogen for its bottling operations, reducing the need to receive it from third parties and making it easier to respond to peaks in activity.
The aim was to gain autonomy and commercial flexibility, with infrastructure ready to support the growth of its customer portfolio. Reducing the transport costs linked to its previous supply was also a consideration.
The GasN2 solution: in-house generation with the GN94 model
GasN2 implemented a high-capacity GN94 nitrogen generator to produce the gas at the Canovelles plant. The installation is integrated into the company’s supply operations and is designed for continuous operation.
GasN2 N₂ generators obtain nitrogen from pre-conditioned atmospheric air using gas separation technologies. The purity level and flow rate must be selected according to the customer’s application.
Continuous production and modular architecture
The Gasos Felmar system is designed to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the equipment’s intended operating conditions. In-house production provides an additional resource for organising bottling and customer supply.
The project features a modular architecture that allows for expansion if commercial demand grows. For a distributor, this is important because it makes it easier to assess future growth phases without fixing a set capacity for every scenario from the outset.
Remote monitoring and traceability
The GN94 offers remote connection and data logging features. Monitoring operating parameters makes it possible to check performance and support control of nitrogen production.
These tools also make technical follow-up, fault identification and maintenance planning easier, and provide full, remotely monitored control of gas quality.
Benefits: operational independence and greater responsiveness
The main contribution of the project is that Gasos Felmar can produce nitrogen at its own plant and reduce gas purchases to cover that production. This gives greater control over supply and its associated costs.
Producing its own nitrogen instead of buying it from third parties allows Gasos Felmar to increase its commercial margin and reduce logistics costs.
The installation also makes it easier to plan service around changes in demand, relying on a solution ready to expand capacity. Thanks to this increased capacity, the company can meet demand peaks without the risk of shortages.
From an environmental perspective, on-site production also reduces the CO₂ emissions associated with transporting the gas.
On-site generation as a strategic tool for distributors
The Gasos Felmar case shows that on-site nitrogen generation is not only useful for factories that consume gas. It can also suit companies that sell it, looking to gain control over availability and adapt production capacity to the market.
Before implementing it, it is advisable to analyse average and peak demand, purity, electricity costs, infrastructure and expansion options. The GasN2 article on sizing nitrogen generation systems explores these variables.
Find out more in the Gasos Felmar success story. To study the feasibility of producing nitrogen at your facilities, contact the GasN2 technical team.
