(Archived) Praxair Announces Startup of Nitric Oxide Plant in Pennsylvania

DANBURY, Conn., November 1, 2005 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) today announced the startup of a nitric oxide (NO) plant in Bethlehem, Penn. This plant produces 99.5% pure nitric oxide and will be able to satisfy most of the anticipated demand for the non-FDA-regulated (Food and Drug Administration) applications of this product in North America. Nitric oxide is a component of calibration standards used in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-mandated emissions testing. It is also used as an inhibiting agent for certain process reactions in the chemical industry.

Prior to this plant start-up, Praxair purchased nitric oxide from overseas sources. With this facility in operation, Praxair will now be able to provide product to the industrial gases market in North America and worldwide.

"This new plant gives us the capability to offer quality nitric oxide and nitric oxide mixtures with significantly improved lead times to better serve our customers," said Paul Kibbe, Praxair’s director of Specialty Gas Marketing.

Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2004 sales of $6.6 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric and process gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technology bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, food and beverage, healthcare, semiconductor materials, steel, chemicals and refining, metal fabrication, water treatment, glass and others. For more information, visit Praxair on the Internet at www.praxair.com.