Air Products Shows Support of Gases and Welding Industry at GAWDA 2016 Annual Convention

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Air Products' (NYSE:APD) long-time membership of the Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA), the company showed its ongoing support of the organization, as well as the gases and welding industry, through contributions recognized today at the GAWDA 2016 Annual Convention in Maui, Hawaii.

Air Products was among several companies acknowledged for its efforts in promoting awareness and opportunities for women in the gases and welding industry through scholarship programs. In 2012, Air Products and the American Welding Society jointly established the "Air Products Women of Gases & Welding Scholarship." Inspired by GAWDA's Women of Gases & Welding committee, the $50,000 scholarship program is aimed at helping women develop the skills required to pursue technical careers.

The recipient of this year's $2,500 Air Products Women of Gases & Welding Scholarship was Katya Pechaceka, who is currently attending Pennsylvania College of Technology. Pechaceka hopes to one day use her welding engineering degree in a nuclear power plant and is interested in starting a program that teaches young students or adults how to weld.

Air Products also joined the 2016 GAWDA Gives Back initiative as a Diamond level corporate donor. The company's $10,000 contribution will be split between Neighborhood Place, a family strengthening program in Maui that offers drop-in support service to local families, and the Boys and Girls Club of Maui, which provides safe, positive neighborhood youth centers with afterschool and summer programs for children ages 9-17.  

In addition, Air Products Chairman, President and CEO Seifi Ghasemi delivered a keynote speech about the valuable lessons he has learned from observing independent distributors, commending them for the entrepreneurial and effective way they run their businesses and create value for their stakeholders.

"Building that kind of entrepreneurial culture is an important part of what we are doing at Air Products, where employees come to work thinking and acting like they are the CEO of the company," said Ghasemi. "Engaging employees in a way that promotes this kind of motivation and commitment is key to any company's continued growth and success."

About Air Products 
Air Products (NYSE:APD) is a world-leading Industrial Gases company celebrating 75 years of operation. The company's core Industrial Gases business provides atmospheric and process gases and related equipment to manufacturing markets, including refining and petrochemical, metals, electronics, and food and beverage. Air Products is also the world's leading supplier of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment. The company's Materials Technologies business serves the semiconductor, polyurethanes, cleaning and coatings, and adhesives industries.

The company had fiscal 2015 sales of $9.9 billion and has a current market capitalization of
more than $30 billion. Approximately 19,000 employees in 50 countries strive to make Air Products the world's safest and best performing Industrial Gases company, providing sustainable offerings and excellent service to all customers. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

SOURCE Air Products

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