GCE Group (Gas Control Equipment)

About GCE

The GCE Group is a manufacturer of gas control equipment headquartered in Steinhausen in the canton of Zug, Switzerland. The company offers central gas supply systems for medical gases such as oxygen and nitrous oxide for hospitals, emergency services and homecare providers, specialty gas equipment for the pharmaceutical, laboratory, semiconductor and food industries, as well as products for oxy-fuel welding and cutting, arc welding, gas cylinder valves and gas supply systems. The business is organized into the divisions GCE Medical, GCE Speciality and GCE Industrial. Since 2018, GCE has been part of ESAB Corporation, which has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2022. The company was formed in 1987 through the founding of the GCE Group and a series of acquisitions of long-established brands such as Rhona, Druva and Kayser; the roots of gas control technology reach back to the year 1900. In addition to its global headquarters in Steinhausen, GCE maintains regional locations in Europe, including Fulda (Germany), and further representations worldwide.

Site

Steinhausen, Zug

Processes

Central gas supply systems for medical gases, Specialty gas equipment, Welding and cutting equipment, Gas cylinder valves, Brewery control technology, Gas supply systems

Certificates

MDR (Medical Device Regulation)

Founded

1987

Industries

Medical technology/Healthcare, Specialty gases/Analytics, Welding and cutting, Pharmaceuticals and laboratories, Semiconductors, Food processing

1. 01

   Engineering and product development

2. 02

   Manufacturing and assembly

3. 03

   Quality assurance and MDR conformity

4. 04

   Sales via regional locations

Locations

Quality

Products of the GCE Healthcare division are subject to the Medical Device Regulation (MDR); certification according to MDR has been confirmed for Medical VIPR products. Quality assurance is carried out according to the ESAB Business Excellence management system.

History

1. 1900

   Origin of gas control technology (gas cutting and welding)

2. 1987

   Founding of the GCE Group; acquisition of Rhona (founded 1912, Germany)

3. 1990

   Acquisition of Charledave (founded 1906, France)

4. 1991

   Acquisition of Mujelli (founded 1946, Italy)

5. 1993

   Acquisition of Autogen (founded 1936, Czech Republic)

6. 1997

   Acquisition of Druva (founded 1967, Germany)

7. 1999

   Launch of the Mediline brand; registration of the GCE Group brand

8. 2004

   Acquisition of Butbro (founded 1947) and Sabre Medical (founded 1968), both UK

9. 2007

   Acquisition of Kayser (founded 1929, Germany)

10. 2011

    Acquisition of Krass (founded 1994, Russia); global branding

11. 2018

    Global rebrand to GCE Healthcare, GCE druva and GCE; acquisition by ESAB/Colfax Corporation

12. 2022

    ESAB separates from Colfax and lists on the NYSE; acquisition of Ohio Medical (founded 1910, USA)

13. 2023

    Acquisition of Therapy Equipment (founded 1983, UK); split into Gas Control and Fabrication Technology

14. 2024

    New corporate and division branding

15. 2025

    Acquisition of DeltaP (founded 1987, Italy) and Aktiv Technologies (founded 1994, India)