Praxair Expands German Capacity to Meet Growing Demand

DUSSELDORF, Germany, – Praxair, Inc.’s German subsidiary has started up a new air separation unit at its complex in Hurth, Germany. With a capacity of 1,800 tons per day, the new facility more than doubles Praxair Deutschland’s total capacity at the site.

“The new energy-efficient, state-of-the-art plant provides significant cost savings for current operations and positions Praxair to grow as demand increases from customers along our Rhineland enclave,” said Frank Wegmann, general manager of Praxair Deutschland. Hurth is located in Germany’s largest chemical production area in the vicinity of Cologne, home of more than 150 chemical companies and a major pipeline complex.

About Praxair Deutschland
Praxair Deutschland operates two pipeline complexes and bulk distribution and packaged gas businesses in Germany. It serves large global companies in the refining, chemical and steel industries along the pipeline systems, plus about 40,000 smaller customers with bulk, medical, specialty and packaged gases.

About Praxair, Inc.
Praxair, Inc. (NYSE:PX) is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2010 sales of $10 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.