Airgas, Inc., Radnor, PA, will build an air separation unit in Carrollton, KY, to supply Dow Corning Corporation and meet increasing demand for bulk and packaged gases in the region.

Airgas will build the plant on Dow Corning’s property with engineering and equipment provided by Universal Industrial Gases, Inc. Airgas and Dow Corning signed a long-term agreement effective immediately for gaseous nitrogen, giving the project a key base-load pipeline customer. When completed in late 2008, the plant will have the capacity to liquefy at least 350 tons per day of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon.  Its expandable design will support additional pipeline customers and liquid production.

As a major distributor of industrial, specialty, and medical gases in the U.S., Airgas currently buys the majority of its atmospheric gas supply from multiple industrial gas producers. With its joint venture affiliate, National Welders Supply Company of Charlotte, NC, Airgas operates six ASUs, producing 1,800 tons per day, primarily in the eastern half of the U.S.

“We will operate the new plant within our Gas Operations Division, which has the necessary expertise to run the production plant,” said Molinini. The Gas Operations Division operates air separation plants, carbon dioxide production plants, nitrous oxide production plants, and dry ice production plants nationwide.

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