For Amarillo-based Tex-Air Gas, the time has come for change in the helium space. That at least was the message from Joe Prowell, President of the third-generation family firm, when he sat down with gasworld to discuss how to build a more innovative and efficient supply chain model as demand for helium continues to skyrocket in the US and across the globe.
“We’re getting calls, as I expect as are all distributors at this point, from every imaginable business sector trying to minimize their own operational disruptions,” Prowell explained. “We’d help everyone who calls if we could, but as things stand, we do the best we can to help as many groups as we can with the product we currently have available. We’re working aggressively, and I’ll say making good progress on increasing our available supply in the near future.”
And when Prowell says every imaginable sector, he really means it. Tex-Air Gas supplies helium to welding supplies distributors across the US and has fueled projects like launching a box of Kentucky Fried Chicken into space and illusionist David Blaine’s ascent above the Arizona desert with the help of around 50 helium balloons in 2020.
