Praxair Breaks Ground On New Air Separation Plant

To support the current and projected industrial growth in the U.S. Southeast region, Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) broke ground on its new air separation unit in Memphis, Tennessee. With a capacity of 600 tons per day, the new plant is scheduled to start up in the second quarter 2013.

Praxair currently operates three air separation units in the Memphis area which supply a number of customers including Nucor Corporation, Valero Energy Corporation and a growing number of liquid-product customers. Praxair recently started up a plant and commissioned a pipeline capable of serving multiple customers in the Riverport area.

“Praxair’s new plant will further strengthen Praxair’s supply position in the greater Southeast region, allowing us to meet future demand from companies attracted to the area’s business-friendly environment,” said Kevin Foti, East Region vice president for Praxair’s U.S. industrial gases business. “As the only fully integrated gas supplier in the U.S., our ability to deliver everything from cylinder gases for welding or research to bulk and on-site gases for manufacturing is a plus for companies in the Southeast,” he added.

Praxair, Inc. is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2011 sales of $11 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies are making our planet more productive by bringing efficiency and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, electronics, energy, food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com

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