(Archived) Amko Receives High Pressure Cylinder Retesting Exemption

DANBURY, Conn., March 4, 2003 — AMKO Service Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Praxair, Inc., (NYSE:PX) announced today that it has recently been reissued a high-pressure cylinder retesting exemption (DOT E 11099) for their Gnadenhutten, Ohio and Adelanto, California facilities.

The exemption allows AMKO to retest 9-5/8" OD (outside diameter) high-pressure cylinders using acoustic emissions in lieu of hydrostatic testing. The modified exemption helps prevent unnecessary, costly repairs such as new manifold, bulkhead, and cabinet assembly replacements and/or possible chassis modifications.

AMKO's five U.S. full-service locations are located in Dover and Gnadenhutten, Ohio, Stockertown, Pennsylvania, Hope, Arkansas and Adelanto, California. In addition to acoustic emission retesting, services include: cryogenic tank and trailer vacuum investigations; specialized tank, pump and trailer repairs and painting; and custom equipment fabrication.  More information is available by visiting www.amkoservice.com and www.praxair.com/amko or by calling 1-877-USE-AMKO.

Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2002 sales of $5.1 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, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.