Praxair Surface Technologies and FMC Technologies Sign Agreement for Thermal Spray Coatings Service

– Praxair Surface Technologies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX), has reached agreement with FMC Technologies to supply thermal spray coatings for gate valve components used in oil and natural gas production. The new agreement includes plans for Praxair Surface Technologies to establish a facility at Coimbatore in southern India that is expected to be in full production by mid-2008.

The facility will include a manufacturing plant for coating oilfield gate valve components manufactured in India. Praxair Surface Technologies’ thermal spray coating provides wear and corrosion protection for gate valves in critical service applications.

“We’re very pleased to be expanding our long-standing relationship with FMC by establishing a production capability in India,” said Mark Gruninger, president, Praxair Surface Technologies. “This state-of-the-art facility will strengthen our ability to provide highly reliable service to FMC Technologies in a key geographic region.”

Praxair Surface Technologies also provides FMC Technologies with thermal spray coating from its operations in Houston, Texas, and St. Etienne, France.

“Praxair Surface Technologies understands the difficult operating conditions wellhead gate valves are subjected to in the oilfield service industry,” said Robert Potter, senior vice president for Energy Processing and Global Surface Wellhead, FMC Technologies. “We’re confident that our expanded relationship with Praxair Surface Technologies will continue to bring value to FMC.”

“This is Praxair Surface Technologies’ first coatings facility in India and we are confident this will lead to other significant opportunities in this fast-growing market,” Gruninger added.