APD Air Products and Chemicals Inc

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products (NYSE:APD) today announced plans to expand its industrial gas production facilities at both its Ashland, Ky. and Reidsville, N.C. facilities. The expansions are being undertaken to meet market demand from industrial gas customers in these key regions, particularly the oilfield services market and also electronics, metals manufacturing and heat treating, and food processing. This is consistent with the company's previously announced policy of selective investment in markets and regional geographies to support customer growth and changing product needs. The Reidsville facility, operating since 1967, will expand production capacity by nearly 400 tons per day (TPD) and will be onstream in the second quarter of 2008. The Ashland facility, in operation since 1963 and increased in capacity in 1990, will expand production by approximately 450 TPD and will be onstream during the third quarter of 2008. These facilities serve customers in markets across Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. "We realize the importance of reliable supply and will invest selectively to support our customers' growth. There is strong growth in both these areas, and these two production facilities are well-positioned to meet the demand in these key markets. Through these two expansions, we will continue to be the premier industrial gas supplier to this important regional customer base," said Mike McNallen, vice president and general manager, North America Gases for Air Products. In September 2006, Air Products announced the completion of an expansion in production capacity to 800 TPD at a similar facility in Pryor, Okla. Air Products' services and product offerings enable oilfield services customers to significantly increase production of natural gas for our nation. Air Products has been supplying nitrogen to the oil and gas industry since the early 1980s. Industrial gases are vital process feedstocks and safety materials for electronics semiconductor manufacture, the production of metal parts and components serving auto and aerospace, food processing and packaging industries, for construction materials such as glass and cement, metal fabrication and critical medical use. 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 and is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good Indices. The company has annual revenues of $9 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and over 20,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit http://www.airproducts.com/. ***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations. DATASOURCE: Air Products CONTACT: Media Inquiries: Art George, +1-610-481-1340, ; or Investor Inquiries: Nelson Squires, +1-610-481-7461, , both of Air Products Web site: http://www.airproducts.com/

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