(Archived) Praxair Opens New Helium Distribution Center in Waxahachie, Texas

DANBURY, Conn., March 31, 2006 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) announced the opening of a new helium distribution center in Waxahachie, Texas, 20 miles south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The five-acre, state-of-the-art facility will serve both gas and liquid helium customers on a local as well as regional basis.

"We continue to invest in our global helium business, and this new facility will enable us to serve our customers more efficiently due to its central location, modern equipment and streamlined production processes," said Jane Hoffman, global business director for Praxair's Helium business.

"Our customers will benefit from the fact that our team is on-site at this new facility to fulfill their helium transfill and magnet service requirements in a timely manner," according to Marybeth Marx, general manager of Praxair's Cryomag Services business which supplies helium, transfill and magnet services to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) industries.

In addition to the Waxahachie facility, Praxair operates a network of helium distribution and service centers throughout the U.S. and Canada, including nine ISO 9001:2000 certified facilities. The company's global network of helium distribution centers and service capabilities extends throughout South America, Europe and Asia.

Praxair is one of the leading producers of helium worldwide serving a wide range of markets including aerospace, aerostat/balloons, diving, electronics, fiber optics, metals, MRI/NMR and welding.

Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2005 sales of $7.7 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric and process gases, and high-performance surface coatings. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.