Airgas Celebrates Grand Opening of New Air Separation Unit in Calvert City, Kentucky

Airgas, an Air Liquide company and a leading U.S. supplier of industrial gases, welding technologies, and safety products, today celebrated the grand opening of its new air separation unit (ASU) and co-located hydrogen plant in Calvert City, Kentucky with a ribbon cutting ceremony and guided tours of the facility.

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Airgas ribbon-cutting event at the grand opening of its air separation unit in Calvert City, Kentucky. (Photo: Business Wire)

The new ASU produces liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon, and the liquid hydrogen plant produces liquid hydrogen for a wide range of customer applications. The ASU supplies tonnage oxygen and nitrogen via pipeline to Westlake Chemical at its Calvert City manufacturing plant, and also supports the region’s merchant bulk gas market. The new facility enhances the company’s gas supply chain, ensuring long-term reliability of supply for its merchant gas customers.

President and CEO of Westlake Chemical, Albert Chao, joined Airgas and Air Liquide associates, including Michael Graff, Chairman and CEO of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. and Chairman of Airgas; Pascal Vinet, CEO of Airgas; Tom Thoman, Senior Vice President of Merchant Gases; state and local dignitaries; and customers to celebrate the new facility.

Vinet commented: “Airgas is proud to partner with Westlake Chemical and join the Calvert City community with this new air separation unit and neighboring liquid hydrogen facility. With these additions, we have greater ability to increase our capacity, allowing us to better serve our customers throughout the region, while simultaneously investing in the local economy and long-term growth opportunities in Calvert City and the surrounding area. We look forward to establishing successful partnerships with the local residents, businesses and civic associations in the area for many years to come.”

The state-of-the-art ASU is managed by Airgas’ Merchant Gases division, which oversees Airgas’ network of ASUs, procurement and supplier relationships, and the logistics and distribution of bulk atmospheric and other gases. Following the acquisition of Airgas by Air Liquide in May 2016, Airgas is now the leading U.S. supplier of industrial, specialty, and medical gases and provides bulk gas supplies of oxygen, nitrogen and argon through its 29 air separation units nationwide.

Airgas, Inc.

Airgas, an Air Liquide company, is the leading U.S. supplier of industrial, medical and specialty gases, as well as hardgoods and related products; one of the largest U.S. suppliers of safety products; and a leading U.S. supplier of refrigerants, ammonia products, and process chemicals.

Dedicated to improving the performance of its more than 1 million customers, Airgas safely and reliably provides products, services and expertise through its more than 18,000 associates, over 1,100 locations, robust e-Business platform, and Airgas Total Access telesales channel.

As an Air Liquide company, the world leader in gases, technology and services for Industry and Health, Airgas offers customers an unrivaled global footprint and industry leading technology and innovations.

For more information, please visit www.airgas.com.

The world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with approximately 67,000 employees and serves more than 3 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide’s scientific territory and have been at the core of the company’s activities since its creation in 1902.

Air Liquide’s ambition is to lead its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability. The company’s customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.

Air Liquide’s revenue amounted to € 18.1 billion in 2016 and its solutions that protect life and the environment represented more than 40% of sales. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes.

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