(Archived) Praxair Licenses CoJet® Gas Injection System To Bao Steel -- Marks First Application of Such Technology in China

DANBURY, Conn., September 15, 2003 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) announced today that it has signed a contract with Bao Steel to provide the CoJet® gas injection system to China's largest electric arc furnace (EAF), a 150 ton twin shell EAF. The first one of its kind in China, the award further demonstrates Praxair's worldwide leadership in coherent jet technology.

The project includes the supply of CoJet system injectors, valve racks, carbon injection system and advanced automation control for both shells of Bao Steel's DC electric arc furnace. The CoJet system will be operational in early 2004 and is expected to deliver significant improvements in productivity, yield, plant operation and environmental compliance.

Bao Steel, China's premier steel manufacturer, is the No. 3 steelmaker in the world. Mike Douglas, President of Praxair Asia and Jay Cheng, President of Praxair China, met with Bao Steel's senior management to acknowledge the award and discuss future opportunities for the application of CoJet technology in other EAF and basic oxygen furnace (BOF) converters. "We are proud and honored to work with Bao Steel, one of the industry leaders worldwide.  Our cooperation with Bao Steel goes back to 1992. We look forward to continuing a productive commercial relationship with Bao Steel, one where our value-added technologies can support their growth," said Douglas at the meeting.

Praxair Metals Technologies is the Praxair business unit responsible for the development, marketing and licensing of Praxair's technology for process control software and technical services in energy conservation, product quality and productivity in ferrous and non-ferrous metals customers around the world.  For more information, visit us on the Internet at www.praxair.com/metals.

Background Information

Praxair Metals Technologies

• A business unit of Praxair Inc. 
• Over 275 Praxair patents on technologies for steel makers
• Inventor of slag splashing and pulverized coal injection, a widely applied technology in China's steel companies 
• Inventor of argon oxygen decarburization (AOD), over 75% of the stainless steel produced worldwide uses Praxair's patented AOD™ technology.
• CoJet gas injection technology is licensed to over 70 EAFs worldwide and several BOF furnaces, in North and South America

Praxair (China) Investment Co., Ltd.
Praxair China, a subsidiary of Praxair, Inc., is the largest global industrial gases supplier in China, serving a diverse group of industries through the production, sale, distribution and value-added applications of industrial gases. Praxair has eight wholly owned companies and 10 joint ventures in China. In addition to its Shanghai headquarters, it has a representative office in Beijing.

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.