Air Products Signs New Contract to Supply Industrial Gases to Solar Atmospheres

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Feb 16, 2011, 03:02 ET

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Feb. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) has been selected by Solar Atmospheres, Inc., the largest commercial vacuum heat treating company in North America, to provide industrial gases for its newest plant in Fontana, Calif. Air Products will supply Solar Atmospheres with nitrogen, argon and helium for use in the vacuum processing of metals. With this latest contract, Air Products continues to supply all of Solar Atmosphere's nitrogen, argon and helium needs at each of the company's five plants, including four locations in Pennsylvania. Solar Atmospheres has more than 200 employees and projected heat treating and brazing sales of $30 million in 2011.

"Air Products has been supplying industrial gases to Solar Atmospheres for more than two decades," said John Giordano, account executive, North American Merchant Gases at Air Products. "This relationship has been built on more than a dependable gas supply. Air Products has sustained this relationship by understanding what Solar Atmospheres wants and needs to be successful and then providing the necessary technical support and know-how to help them accomplish their goals."

"Air Products is more than a reliable gas supplier and has worked closely with Solar Atmospheres to understand our business," said William R. Jones, CEO of Solar Atmospheres. "Through our collaboration with Air Products over the years, Solar Atmospheres has found ways to reduce our quench cycle times and save on gas-related costs."

Air Products continues to provide technical support to Solar Atmospheres, looking for ways to help the company keep its business operating at optimum efficiency. For more information about Solar Atmospheres, visit www.solaratm.com.

For over 50 years, metals processors around the world have come to rely on Air Products' industrial gases, gas atmospheres and technical support to help improve product quality, reduce operating costs and increase production. The company offers high-purity gases, gas handling equipment and technology, global supply capability and—most importantly—unmatched industry experience and technical know-how to help its customers succeed. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com/Metals.

Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. In fiscal 2010, Air Products had revenues of $9 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 18,300 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release regarding important risk factors. Actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors not anticipated by management, including risk factors described in the Company's Form 10K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2010.

SOURCE Air Products