Praxair Surface Technologies to Expand Global Capacity for Industrial Gas Turbine...

Praxair Surface Technologies to Expand Global Capacity for Industrial Gas Turbine Coatings

INDIANAPOLIS--(Business Wire)--Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX), will complete a multi-million dollar
investment to add capacity for advanced coatings in early 2008. In
response to strong global demand from industrial gas turbine original
equipment manufacturers, state-of-the art coatings technology is being
added to the company's facilities in Charlotte, North Carolina, and
Schluechtern, Germany.

"This capacity increase is driven by strong demand for industrial
gas turbine engines in the power generation sector as well as the
increased use of advanced coatings," said David Brackins, vice
president of business development.

Industrial gas turbine manufacturers continue to produce engines
with increased efficiency, higher reliability, and reduced
environmental emissions. Thermal spray coatings, such as those
produced by Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc., are applied through
plasma coating processes and significantly enhance the ability of key
components to operate within the severe conditions of the engine.

Lloyd Tirey, vice president of operational excellence, added,
"Using the principles of Lean, Six Sigma, and other manufacturing
process improvement techniques, we are continually improving the
quality of our products as well as rate of flow of our operations both
on and off the factory floor."

About Praxair Surface Technologies

Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc. produces and markets
high-performance coatings that reduce the harmful effects of abrasion,
oxidation, corrosion, erosion, wear and extreme temperatures on metal
parts for the aviation, oilfield, power generation and printing
industries. Praxair, Inc., parent company of Praxair Surface
Technologies, Inc. is the largest industrial gases company in North
and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2006 sales
of $8.3 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, metal, and others. More information on
Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com or
www.praxairsurfacetechnologies.com.

Media:
Praxair, Inc.
Wendy Chance, 317-240-2172
wendy_chance@praxair.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008