Linde AG was considering entering discussions with trade unions to negotiate an increase in its workers' hours to 40 per week, a company spokesman said.
The move has been prompted by the economic recovery, which has raised the issue of increased working hours in factories throughout Germany.
Last month, Siemens AG reached an agreement with the IG Metal union, under which the company's workers at two plants agreed to longer weekly hours, without extra pay, in return for job security, an AFX International Focus report said.
A Linde spokesman told the news service the company was investigating its options.
Linde's forklift division workers are represented by the metal industry union, which enforces a 35-hour week. The company's gas employees work a 37.5-hour week under their chemicals industry union agreement.
As Linde prepares to release its second quarter results on August 12, Dow Jones reports Linde's Still division has scheduled more shifts at its Aschaffenburg plant, and is planning to hire 80 temporary staff in response to a rise in orders.