(Archived) Praxair Wins Place In John Deere Supplier Hall Of Fame

DANBURY, Conn., February 19, 2003 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE:PX) today announced that its subsidiary Praxair Distribution, Inc. has earned recognition as a Partner-level supplier for 2002 in the John Deere Achieving Excellence Program. The company was selected for the honor in recognition of its dedication to providing products and service of outstanding quality, as well as its commitment to continuous improvement. As the recipient of this award for five years in a row, Praxair also qualifies for induction into the John Deere Supplier Hall of Fame.

Praxair supplies bulk and cylinder gases, including argon, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, gas mixtures and specialty gases, related equipment, hard goods and technical support for a variety of welding and cutting applications in the production of John Deere's log skidders, end loaders, excavators and motor graders in Davenport, Iowa.

"This level of recognition is a rare honor," said Janet Coffman, Praxair Distribution's vice-president of marketing. "It reflects our team's continuous focus on excellence, and their unwavering commitment to quality, reliability and customer satisfaction."

Suppliers who participate in the Achieving Excellence program are evaluated annually in several key performance categories, including quality, cost management, delivery, technical support and wavelength, which is a measure of responsiveness. John Deere Supply Management created the program in 1991 to provide a supplier evaluation and feedback process that promotes continuous improvement.

As the world's leading producer of equipment for agriculture and forestry, Deere & Company (www.johndeere.com) creates smart and innovative solutions, in the form of advanced machines, services and concepts, for customers on farm sites, work sites and home sites worldwide.

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.