Air Liquide America Specialty Gases LLC, Houston, TX, announced it will raise prices on gases, equipment and services beginning Sept. 1, 2008, or as allowed by customer contracts. Prices will increase between 5% and 20% for cylinder oxygen, acetylene, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and other gas products. Prices for helium will be increased between 20% and 25%. In addition, cylinder rental fees will be increased by 10% while delivery charges will be increased by 25%.
Rising raw material costs along with growing energy and world commodity costs are driving this inflation. This is further compounded by rising labor and insurance costs and the escalating cost of distribution associated with sourcing and delivery,” said Guy Rowland, president.
Air Liquide America …
Latest In Gases & Welding Equipment
Gardner Denver, Inc. has acquired Best Aire, Inc., a distributor of compressed air and gas products serving the Ohio market through its headquarters in Millbury, OH. It has additional distribution operations in Kalamazoo, MI, and Indianapolis, IN.
Gardner Denver intends to increase its focus on aftermarket sales and service, including adding distribution channels, if necessary, to enhance our ability to better serve our end users worldwide,” said Barry L. Pennypacker, president and CEO of Gardner Denver. “I am very pleased to add Best Aire to Gardner Denver’s compressor operations in North America. This business provides a good base business in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan that will allow for expansion of product lines and aftermarket parts and service to a critical …
Linde Canada, Mississauga, Ontario, a member of The Linde Group, has acquired P&B Industrial Sales Inc., a Sudbury, Ontario-based distributor of welding gases and equipment.
P&B was a privately owned company that has been in business since 1992, serving customers ranging from small to mid-sized manufacturers and fabrication shops in Sudbury and the surrounding areas.
P&B’s employees, some of whom have over 30 years of experience with welding gases and equipment, bring expertise coupled with strong customer relationships in the Sudbury area. They will make an excellent addition to our already strong team in that region,”said Chris Ebeling, vice president and general manager, Linde Canada.
Linde Canada is a supplier of gases, welding equipment and safety …
Praxair Inc., Danbury, CT, reported second quarter sales of $2.88 billion, up 23% from the second quarter of 2007. Profits were up 20% over the prior-year period to $349 million.
Sales for the first six months ended June 30, 2008, were $5.54 billion, an increase of 23% over the first six months of 2007. Profits were $665 million, up 18%.
The company saw strong sales growth in every geographic region, led by South America and Asia.
In North America, second-quarter sales reached $1.57 billion, 22% above the prior year. Excluding the effect of higher natural gas prices passed through to customers in hydrogen prices, sales growth was 18%, led by higher sales to energy and general manufacturing markets.
In Europe, sales in the second quarter …
Cleveland, OH-based Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., a welding products manufacturer, reported sales for the second quarter 2008 increased 19.3% to $699.8 million over the same period 2007. Profits were $70.1 million, an increase of 26.9%.
For the first six months ended June 30, 2008, sales improved 16.2% to $1.32 billion over the first six months of 2007. Lincoln reported profits for the period of $123.6 million, up 19.7%.
U.S. export sales in the quarter increased 28.6% to $64.5 million from $50.1 million in 2007.
Sales at Lincoln subsidiaries outside North America increased to $299.1 million in the second quarter, compared with $222.8 million in the year ago quarter, an increase of 34.2%. Excluding acquisitions and the effect of changes in foreign …
Airgas, Inc., Radnor, PA, reported sales of $1.1 billion for the first quarter ended June 30, 2008, an increase of 22% over the prior-year quarter. Profits grew 33% to $68.9 million.
Acquisitions contributed 15% to the increase, and total same-store sales grew 7% in the quarter, with hardgoods up 6% and gas and rent up 7%. Strategic product categories, focused on healthcare, life sciences, research, environmental, and food and beverage markets, posted 10% organic growth in the quarter.
Airgas, Inc. is a U.S. distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, and hardgoods, such as welding equipment and supplies. …
Gardner Denver, Inc. , Quincy, IL, has agreed to buy CompAir Holdings Ltd., a global manufacturer of compressed air and gas solutions. The acquisition values the business at about US$395 million.
CompAir, Redditch, U.K., operates through three business divisions: Industrial, Hydrovane, and Reavell. The Industrial division manufactures oil-injected and oil-free rotary screw compressors, piston compressors, and portable rotary screw compressors. These products are used in oil and gas exploration, mining and construction, power plants, and general industrial applications.
The Hydrovane division is a manufacturer of rotary vane compressors used in OEM applications such as snow-making and mass transit, and general industrial applications. The third division, Reavell, …
Paris-based Air Liquide has acquired Pure Helium, a supplier of liquid and gaseous helium, helium-based mixtures and argon, based in India.
Air Liquide Senior Executive Vice President Pierre Dufour says the move strengthens the company’s position in the Middle East and opens other opportunities for expansion in the region.
Air Liquide, an international supplier of industrial and medical gases and medical services, plans to invest US$1 billion in the Persian Gulf region over the next five …
Valley National Gases, LLC, Independence, OH, has acquired Beaver Valley Welding Supply, Inc., Aliquippa, PA. The acquired business sells industrial, medical, and specialty gases, and welding equipment and supplies. Jeff Lyden, former owner, will remain with the business.
The acquisition will enhance Valley National Gases’ reach in the Western Pennsylvania Region.
The purchase is Valley National’s sixth acquisition since being acquired by CI Capital Partners in February 2007. The acquisitions have expanded the distributor’s territory to include Indiana, Maine and New Hampshire, and have strengthened existing operations in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Valley National Gases packages and distributes industrial, medical and specialty gases, welding equipment …
Radnor, PA-based gases distributor and supplier Airgas, Inc. announced that beginning Aug. 1, 2008, or as contracts permit, it will raise prices on gases and equipment. Prices will increase, on average, 20% for bulk and cylinder acetylene, argon, and hydrogen; 15% for bulk and cylinder oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, helium, and specialty gases; and 15% for cylinder and bulk equipment rental fees.
Prices will also increase for hardgoods and safety supplies, and delivery and other service charges.
Airgas attributed the increases to jumps in product costs from suppliers and rising operating costs at plants and distribution facilities, driven by raw material, energy, electricity and labor costs. Rising metal prices are also driving up costs for cylinders, …
Gases distributor Airgas, Inc., Radnor, PA, has agreed to buy Refron Inc., a reseller and distributor of refrigerants that also provides technical services and refrigerant reclamation services. Refron had $93 million in revenues in 2007.
Refron, Long Island City, NY, will continue to go to market as Refron, and will be integrated with Airgas’ existing refrigerant and reclamation business into a new company, Airgas Refrigerants, Inc.
Chuck Broadus, president of Airgas Specialty Products, has been named president of Airgas Refrigerants.
Refron has more than 70 stocking locations in the …
Airgas, Inc. Radnor, PA, has agreed to buy Energy Safety Services Inc., doing business as Oilind Safety. The provider of rental safety equipment and safety services had $21 million in sales in 2007.
Oilind Safety, which is based in Phoenix, AZ, will operate as a stand-alone company within a new Airgas organization that includes construction and rental businesses.
Oilind Safety has 16 locations, mostly in the Western U.S.
Oilind Safety provides rental safety equipment, such as fall protection, breathing air and gas monitoring systems, and safety management services for audits, training and emergency response planning.
Airgas, Inc. is a U.S. distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, and hardgoods, as well as safety products, …
Airgas, Inc., distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, welding, safety, and related products, reported sales in its fiscal 2008 were up 25% to $4 billion, with same-store sales growth of 7%.
Airgas made 18 acquisitions in fiscal 2008, adding more than $500 million in annualized revenue, including Linde’s U.S. packaged gas business, which added $346 million.
These transactions helped us enhance our core business and extend our product lines, with acquisitions in packaged gases and welding products, safety products, ammonia, and refrigerants,”said CEO Peter McCausland.
Fourth quarter sales grew 27% from the prior year to $1.1 billion, with acquisitions contributing 17% of the growth. Total same-store sales increased 8% in the quarter, …
Valley National Gases, LLC, Independence, OH, has acquired the gas and welding business of N. H. Bragg &Sons. The acquired business sells industrial, medical, and specialty gases, and welding equipment and supplies from its Bangor, ME, location as well as through a network of branches throughout the state.
The acquisition complements Valley’s recent acquisition of Advantage Gases &Tools (Portland Welding Supply).
The purchase is Valley’s fifth acquisition since being acquired by CI Capital Partners in February 2007. The acquisitions have expanded the distributor’s territory to include Indiana, Maine and New Hampshire and have strengthened operations in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Valley National Gases operates 92 locations in 18 states, with 10 …
Praxair, Inc., Danbury, CT, reported first quarter sales of $2.6 billion, up 22% from the first quarter 2007. Profit was $307 million.
Growth came primarily from new business, plant start-ups, and strong pricing trends.
In North America, first-quarter sales reached $1.4 billion, 21% above the prior year. Sales grew in all major end markets, led by energy and general manufacturing.
In Europe, sales in the first quarter of $390 million grew 18%. Currency effects contributed 13% to sales growth. Underlying sales growth came primarily from growth in merchant and packaged gases volumes in Spain, Italy, and Germany.
In South America, first-quarter sales of $466 million grew 34% versus the prior-year quarter due to higher prices and volumes, …
Praxair Distribution, Inc.,, Danbury, CT, a subsidiary of Praxair, Inc., announced discount reductions and price increases for its industrial, medical and specialty gas cylinder customers in the U.S. and Canada.
Increases will be up to 30% for helium, fuel gases and rare gases; 15% for argon, hydrogen and carbon dioxide/dry ice; 10% for oxygen, USP oxygen, nitrogen and nitrous oxide; and 15% for cylinder rental and facility fees.
Praxair said the price increases were due in part to escalating labor, energy and fuel costs and reflect the limited global availability of raw materials for certain products, particularly helium.
Praxair, Inc. is an industrial gases company with 2007 sales of $9.4 …
Airgas, Inc., Radnor, PA, has acquired A&N Plant, a European-based supplier of new and reconditioned rotating, positioning, and welding equipment for sale and rent. The business had sales of $20 million for the year ended June 30, 2007.
The acquisition creates a new business unit of Red-D-Arc Limited, an Airgas company, a provider of welding, positioning, and related rental products and services in North America.
A&N Plant has an office in Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire, and facilities in St. Helens, Merseyside, England, and in Stellendam, The Netherlands. It operates in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, serving a diverse customer base in offshore and onshore oil and gas, petrochemical, power generation, environmental, industrial plant, and steel fabrication …
Atlanta, GA-based LifeGas, a company of The Linde Group, has acquired Sky Oxygen Inc.’s medical business.
Sky Oxygen, Carnegie, PA, is a third-generation independent gas and welding supply distributor, serving the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
LifeGas acquires two of Sky Oxygen’s locations in Akron, OH, and Erie, PA. LifeGas is also operating from Sky Oxygen’s Carnegie location to service the greater Pittsburgh area. Seventeen Sky Oxygen sales and operations associates will be joining LifeGas.
Mike Walsh, president of LifeGas, said: The addition of Sky Oxygen’s medical gas business significantly strengthens our supply chain in the eastern U.S. … Our expanding product and service lines are being well received by …
Airgas, Inc., Radnor, PA, has acquired Northeast Gas Technologies Ltd., Albany, NY-based distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases and related supplies. The business, with five locations in upstate New York and Vermont, generated $10 million in revenues in 2007.
The acquired operations have been integrated into Airgas East, one of the regional companies within Airgas. The operations include a headquarters and industrial fill plant in Albany, NY, with branches in Vestal, Ithaca, and Hyde Park, NY, as well as Rutland, VT.
Airgas East, Salem, NH, includes more than 100 retail branches, 40 cylinder fill plants, and 11 ISO 9000 series certified specialty gas laboratories. Airgas East serves New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, …
Paris-based Air Liquide reported sales growth of 7.8% in 2007 to €11.8 billion, and profit up 12.1%. Growth was reported as particularly strong” in the fourth quarter 2007, with a 15.4% increase year on year.
This growth results from a combination of strong demand for hydrogen, new start-ups in Large Industries in the second half of the year, record sales in Electronics, continued growth in liquid volumes for our industrial customers, and sustained development in Healthcare.
More details here. …
