(Archived) Praxair Opens New R&D Lab

DANBURY, Conn., January 16, 2003 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE:PX) today announced the opening of its new metal fabrication laboratory in Tonawanda, New York. The facility provides a full range of research and development (R&D) capabilities including manual, automated and robotic welding systems; new technology power supplies; shielding gas development; and laser application technology. Praxair's welding and cutting technology specialists also work with metal fabricators to analyze and evaluate solutions for specific requirements.

"Our development work, product evaluations, and training help our customers better understand their welding costs and determine the optimum shielding gas, wire and process combinations for improved productivity, better quality welds, and lower costs," said Kevin Lyttle, Praxair's manager of the metal fabrication lab. "We also do comparative work using new and existing welding processes and process variations to evaluate potential new consumables."

"Praxair's team integrates research, development and testing with marketing and sales, for a single focus — the customer," noted Janet Coffman, Praxair Distribution's vice president of marketing. "That approach is a clear advantage when you consider some of the excellent results in areas such as robotics (Praxair's RoboStar® gases and ProStar® twist-free robotic wire), lasers (Praxair's LaserStar™ resonator and assist gases), and welding of stainless and coated steels, and aluminum."

Global expertise

Praxair's metal fabrication R&D activities in Tonawanda are complemented by its sister facility, Praxair's Rio Technology Center (Centro de Tecnologia Rio) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"A metal fabrication team from North and South America, Asia and Europe reviews current programs and identifies new ones for both labs," Lyttle explained. "This approach ensures that the labs complement each other. It's a well-coordinated, global effort that adapts to local and regional needs. In this way, all Praxair metal fabrication customers can benefit from the latest and best welding and cutting technology and solutions."

Praxair Distribution, Inc. and its subsidiaries and distributors deliver a large array of industrial and specialty gases, equipment and supplies, technical expertise, and services to thousands of customers in the United States and Canada. With hundreds of locations throughout North America, Praxair provides differentiated product and service offerings that help customers achieve their objectives faster, better and at lower total cost. For more information on Praxair's offerings to the metal fabrication industry, visit www.praxair.com/metalfab.

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.