(Archived) Praxair Technology to be Installed by Marcegaglia in China

Shanghai, China, January 24, 2010 — Under a 15-year agreement, Praxair China will build a nitrogen plant and integrate its patented direct-injection technology at Marcegalia’s new steel-tube mill in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. The mill will produce 350,000 tons per year of stainless, carbon precision and cold drawn steel tubes used in the construction, appliance, engineering-component and energy markets. Phase 1 of the project is scheduled to start up in June 2010 and Phase 2 in 2011.

Praxair’s plant will have a capacity of about 100 tons per day of nitrogen. Praxair’s direct-injection technology uses the nitrogen, together with fuel gas, to generate a precise atmosphere during the heat-treating phase of steel production, resulting in enhanced product quality. Currently, Praxair’s direct-injection technology is operating successfully at a Marcegaglia mill in Italy.

“This project demonstrates how Praxair is able to transfer world-class technology around the globe for the benefit of our customers,” said Joe Cappello, president of Praxair Asia.

Marcegaglia SpA, a privately held company based in Montova, Italy, is a leading global steel processor with an annual output of 5.3 million tons and sales of $6 billion.

About Praxair China
Praxair (China) Investment Co., Ltd is a leading industrial gas provider in China. It is headquartered in Shanghai, has 18 wholly owned companies, 10 joint ventures and over 1200 employees in the country. More information on Praxair China is available on the Internet at www.praxair.cn.

About Praxair
Praxair, Inc. is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty 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.