Gases and hardgoods distributor href=”http://www.airgas.com/” target=_blank>Airgas, Inc., w:st=”on”>Radnor, PA, has acquired
most of Dallas, TX-based Union Industrial Gas Group, including 14 branches in
Louisiana, New
Mexico and w:st=”on”>Texas. The operations that were acquired
effective November 1 had annual sales of $38 million.  

Airgas is
integrating most of the operations into two of its regional companies: Airgas
Southwest has assumed operations of four locations near w:st=”on”>Houston, San Antonio, and
El Paso, TX,
doing business as Gulf Oxygen, Union Industrial Gas, and Valley Gas; as well as
five locations in Albuquerque, w:st=”on”>Farmington, Las Cruces,
Alamogordo, and w:st=”on”>Santa Fe, NM,
doing business as Valley Gas. Airgas
Gulf States has assumed operation of
four locations in New Orleans, w:st=”on”>Baton Rouge, and w:st=”on”>Houma, LA,
doing business as Doussan.

Airgas also is integrating the high-purity
hydrocarbon gas business of Pearland, TX-based BTU Gases, LLC, into its national
Airgas Specialty Gas operations. The balance of BTU Gases’ business, which
wholesales propylene nationwide, will remain with UIG.

Airgas acquired
parts of UIG in Florida, w:st=”on”>Georgia, and w:st=”on”>California in 2003.

“This acquisition
is the fifth completed so far this fiscal year, including the previously
announced transactions with Airtec and Aeriform,” said Airgas Chairman and CEO
Peter McCausland. “Total acquired annual sales have now topped $100 million for
the year, as we continue to pursue core and related acquisitions that fit our
growth strategies.”

Airgas is also a distributor of safety products, a
producer of nitrous oxide and dry ice, a liquid carbon dioxide producer, and a
distributor of process chemicals, refrigerants and ammonia products. The company
has 900 locations including branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty
gas labs, production facilities, and distribution centers.


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