LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa.,
Oct. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In his
24 year chemical engineering career at Air Products (NYSE: APD),
Rakesh Agrawal was awarded the most
technology patents in the company's 71-year history and received
the Chairman's Award for Excellence -- the company's most
prestigious award. Today he added another award to his
collection when he was presented the United States Government's
highest honor for technology -- the National Medal of Technology
and Innovation. President Barack Obama presented the award to
Agrawal and four other inventors at a White House ceremony
today.
"We are certainly proud of Rakesh and congratulate him for this
prestigious national honor and award. It recognizes him for
his outstanding work at Air Products for nearly a quarter century.
Rakesh's innovative work is in place and has had a profound
impact on the success of our industrial operations every day around
the world," said John McGlade,
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Air
Products.
"It was an honor to receive the medal today and to have it
presented by the President is truly exciting. The award recognizes
technology and innovation, and I was very fortunate in my career to
work for Air Products, where technology is a core company strength
and innovation is encouraged. The personal recognition I
received today was wonderful, but it would not have happened
without the many fine people I worked with over the years and the
opportunities I was provided," said Agrawal. "I believe the folks
in my team were some the brightest and the most competent engineers
you could find anywhere."
Agrawal received the award in recognition of his extraordinary
record of innovations improving energy efficiency and reducing the
cost of gas liquefaction and separation. Overall, he holds 116 U.S.
and nearly 500 foreign patents. More than 100 Air Products'
industrial plants with a total capital investment of many billions
of dollars incorporate Agrawal's inventions. In 1992, he received
Air Products' Chairman's Award for Excellence for his work.
In an earlier new release issued by the White House announcing
the medal winners, President Obama said each of the winners "is
guided by a passion for innovation, fearlessness even as they
explore the very frontiers of human knowledge, and a desire to make
the world a better place. Their ingenuity inspires us all to reach
higher and try harder, no matter how difficult the challenges we
face."
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation was created by
statute in 1980 and is administered for the White House by the U.S.
Department of Commerce's Patent and Trademark Office. The award
recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America's
competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the
nation's technological workforce.
After Air Products, Agrawal joined Purdue
University (West Lafayette, Indiana), where he is the
Winthrop E. Stone Distinguished Professor of Chemical
Engineering.
About Air Products
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 2011, Air Products had revenues of
$10.1 billion, operations in over 40
countries, and 18,900 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