Air Liquide Expands Regional Dry Ice Production Capacity in Eastern U.S.

HOUSTON -- Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP announces investment in additional dry ice production capacity for the eastern region of the U.S. including expansions at its Gibbstown, New Jersey plant and the recently commissioned new dry ice plant in Delaware City, Delaware. The combined expansions will nearly double Air Liquide's dry ice production capacity in the region.

Said Etienne Lepoutre, president of Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP, "Air Liquide is committed to pursuing the dry ice business throughout the U.S. and to serving our customers by bringing additional supply and reliability to this regional market."

In response to growing demands from a broad range of new applications in the industrial marketplace, these additions complement recent investments by Air Liquide throughout the industrial merchant market in the U.S. and are an integral component of Air Liquide's strategic growth plan.

Dry ice, actually frozen carbon dioxide which can be captured and purified from various industrial sources, acts as an effective refrigerant due to its extremely cold temperature. Its chilling and freezing capabilities make dry ice beneficial to many applications including those in the food processing, food distribution, medical, research, pharmaceutical and commercial shipping industries.

Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP is the subsidiary of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. responsible for providing bulk gases and related services to industrial customers in the U.S. It provides bulk gases and related services to a diverse base of customers in the U.S. including those in the chemical, food, pharmaceutical, metals and automotive industries. American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. is the subsidiary of Air Liquide Group responsible for its North American operations.

With nearly 37,000 employees in 72 countries, Air Liquide is a world leader in industrial and medical gases and related services. The Group offers innovative solutions based on constantly enhanced technologies and produces air gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, rare gases...) and many other gases including hydrogen. The Group contributes to the manufacturing of many everyday products: bubbles in sparkling beverages, protective atmosphere for packed foods, oxygen for hospitals and homecare patients, ultra-pure gases for the semiconductor industry, hydrogen to desulfurize fuels...

Air Liquide is committed to sustainable development and helps to protect life. Founded in 1902, Air Liquide has successfully developed a long-term relationship with its shareholders built on trust and transparency and guided by the principles of corporate governance. Since the publication of its first consolidated financial statements in 1971, Air Liquide has posted strong and steady earnings growth. Sales in 2006 totaled 10,949 million euros, with sales outside France accounting for almost 80%. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris stock exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices (ISIN code FR 0000120073).