LifenGas pitches helium recovery systems for manufacturers facing supply risk

Shanghai LifenGas is highlighting helium recovery systems as a way for industrial users to reduce exposure to shortages and price swings. The company points to long-running installations in optical fiber plants as proof that closed-loop recovery can cut external helium demand and stabilize operations.

Why it matters: - Helium shortages and price volatility can disrupt high-tech manufacturing, especially optical fiber production that depends on high-purity gas. - On-site recovery systems can reduce reliance on external supply chains and turn helium use into a more predictable operating cost. - LifenGas is positioning closed-loop recovery as an alternative to the traditional use-and-vent model.

What happened: - Shanghai LifenGas Co., Ltd. said it has been developing rare gas purification systems since 2015. - The company is promoting its helium recovery system solutions for manufacturers dealing with supply continuity risk. - LifenGas said its global structure includes legal entities and support networks in China, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States. - The company says it uses an EPCO service model that covers engineering, procurement, construction and long-term operations. - The company’s official website and LinkedIn page were listed in the release.

The details: - Helium is described as a non-renewable resource with reserves concentrated in limited geographic regions. - The release says five-nine grade helium means purity of at least 99.999%. - Industrial exhaust from optical fiber lines contains air, moisture and particulates, so recovery systems need multiple purification stages. - LifenGas describes a process that uses automated induction blowers, filtration, desiccant beds, catalytic cleanup and cryogenic purification. - The system is designed to separate nitrogen, oxygen and moisture while keeping the process flow continuous. - LifenGas says purified gas can be returned to production tools without harming product yield. - A Tongding Interconnection installation has operated for five years and delivered a 40% recovery efficiency rate. - A FiberHome Yonex Fibers project has operated for four years and reached a 60% recovery efficiency rate. - The company says the projects show the equipment can run in large-scale industrial settings over long periods. - LifenGas says the systems include continuous monitoring and preventive maintenance.

Between the lines: - The release is aimed at industrial buyers who want to reduce exposure to merchant gas markets and make helium costs more predictable. - The long-running field examples are meant to support the argument that recovery systems can be commercially reliable, not just technically feasible. - The company is also linking gas recovery to environmental waste reduction, which may help with procurement decisions and compliance goals.

What's next: - LifenGas is likely to keep marketing customized recovery systems to optical fiber makers and other high-volume users. - The company’s pitch suggests future sales will hinge on site-specific engineering, uptime performance and payback periods. - Manufacturers evaluating the technology will likely focus on recovery rates, contamination control and service support before deploying systems at scale.