(Archived) Praxair Signs Contract Extension with ESP

DANBURY, Conn., March 22, 2005 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) today announced the signing of a contract extension with Environmental Systems Products (ESP) for the supply of precisely mixed, automotive inspection and maintenance calibration gases through 2006. ESP uses Praxair’s gas mixtures to calibrate its analyzers that measure vehicle tailpipe emissions. More than 12,000 ESP emissions analyzers in 12 U.S. states and one Canadian province are supported by Praxair’s specialty gases.

Praxair mixes carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, propane and nitric oxide with nitrogen in non-refillable cylinders. Every 72 hours, ESP’s computer-controlled analyzer requires calibration with gases certified by the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR). Equipment calibration ensures the accuracy of each and every vehicle inspection, and the integrity of the vehicle-inspection program.

“We’ve been manufacturing precision calibration gases for 30 years, and during this time the analyzers have become more sophisticated and the requirements for the gases more accurate and complex,” said Praxair’s environmental marketing manager, John Ottosen. “As emissions testing increases and industries need more help to meet ever-stricter environmental regulations, we’re working with customers like ESP to develop better ways for them to measure emissions more accurately.”

“Praxair met all the critical areas – quality, delivery and service – that we look for in supplier excellence,” said ESP purchasing manager, Vicki Hackbarth. “Praxair also provided competitive pricing and on-line purchasing capability through their Praxair ExpressSM on-line ordering system which we have begun to integrate into our purchasing system.”

ESP, headquartered in East Granby, Connecticut, is a full service provider of vehicle emissions testing solutions to domestic and international markets. ESP provides the most comprehensive emissions testing products and services in the industry. The company currently operates in 12 states and one Canadian province. ESP provides or has provided equipment, technology and services to Australia, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Taiwan. ESP also licenses or holds close to 100 patents related to emissions testing technology in the U.S. and abroad. More information is available at www.esp-global.com.

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. More information is available at www.praxair.com.