Charter International plc owns two international engineering businesses, one focused on welding, cutting and automation (ESAB), and the other on air and gas handling (Howden). ESAB is a manufacturer and supplier of welding consumables and equipment, and cutting and automation solutions. ESAB’s range of welding consumables includes electrodes, cored and solid wires, and fluxes. ESAB’s welding equipment ranges from small retail applications and users to large plant in the energy and shipbuilding sectors. Howden is an international applications engineer. It designs, manufactures, installs and services air and gas handling equipment for use in the power, oil and gas, petrochemical and other industries. Howden’s core products include centrifugal and axial fans, air and gas rotary preheaters and compressors. On August 22, 2008, Howden acquired Aeolus Industria e Comercio Ltda (Aeolus).