Praxair Surface Technologies to Expand Global Capacity for Industrial Gas Turbine Coatings

Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX), will complete a multi-million dollar investment to add capacity for advanced coatings in early 2008. In response to strong global demand from industrial gas turbine original equipment manufacturers, state-of-the art coatings technology is being added to the company’s facilities in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Schluechtern, Germany.

“This capacity increase is driven by strong demand for industrial gas turbine engines in the power generation sector as well as the increased use of advanced coatings,” said David Brackins, vice president of business development.

Industrial gas turbine manufacturers continue to produce engines with increased efficiency, higher reliability, and reduced environmental emissions. Thermal spray coatings, such as those produced by Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc., are applied through plasma coating processes and significantly enhance the ability of key components to operate within the severe conditions of the engine.

Lloyd Tirey, vice president of operational excellence, added, “Using the principles of Lean, Six Sigma, and other manufacturing process improvement techniques, we are continually improving the quality of our products as well as rate of flow of our operations both on and off the factory floor.”

About Praxair Surface Technologies
Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc. produces and markets high-performance coatings that reduce the harmful effects of abrasion, oxidation, corrosion, erosion, wear and extreme temperatures on metal parts for the aviation, oilfield, power generation and printing industries. Praxair, Inc., parent company of Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc. is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2006 sales of $8.3 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric and process 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, metal, and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com or www.praxairsurfacetechnologies.com.