Airco Distributor Association: We're Here to Stay.

MURRAY HILL, N.J. -- Some 80 distributors -- a record turnout -- attended the Airco Distributor Association (ADA) Annual meeting held last month in Orlando, Fla.

The meeting was sponsored by ADA preferred vendors Chart Industries, Direct Wire and Cable, Filler Metals, Inc., Harris Calorific, JW Harris, Harsco Gas and Fluid Control Group, Hypertherm, Metabo, Norton Abrasives, ORS Nasco, Smith Equipment Company, Thermal Dynamics, John Tillman Company, Tweco, Weldcraft/WNI and Worthington Industries.

For about a dozen people of the group, it was the first time they attended the annual meeting. Craig Loos, executive vice president, ORS Nasco, said he was grateful for the opportunity to "have a high quality dialogue with 80 ADA distributors over the two day period. What we were able to accomplish at this venue would have cost several thousand dollars in travel expenses and would have taken several months to accomplish in one-on-one meetings with each distributor."

Throughout the three-day event, 17 vendors participated in breakout sessions to discuss product lines, promote rebate programs and introduce special sales available only at the meeting. More than $500,000 in new sales were generated at the conference.

Craig Wood, executive vice president, welding division, O. E. Meyer Company, Sandusky, Ohio, and co-chairman of the ADA, welcomed attendees by speaking about membership responsibilities and commitment to preferred vendors.

"The overwhelming success of this meeting is certainly a tribute to the ongoing commitment our members, vendors and BOC have made to our organization," Wood said.

Kevin Baudhuin, president, Industrial & Special Products North America spoke to the group about BOC's business. He also commented on the continued personnel, financial and partnership support BOC gives the ADA. The ADA's resale/asset, marketing and services committees all reported on their annual plans and future opportunities.

Norton Company, a division of Saint-Gobain, Worcester, Mass., was chosen as the ADA's vendor of the year.

"On behalf of Norton Abrasives/Carborundum Abrasives and Merit Abrasives, I thank the ADA members for the vendor of the year award. We really appreciate the efforts by the members to work with your Norton and Carbo reps to drive compliance for the group," said Jim O'Connor, North American manager of distribution.

Terry Hall, vice president of BOC's independent distributor business and ADA co-chairman, closed the meeting by reminding the members to get involved in the association by supporting vendors' programs and generating new ideas.

The ADA was formed in 1993 to combine the purchasing power of BOC gases retail stores and its independent distributors. Today the 100+ members represent approximately $1 billion in annual purchases and have earned about $20 million in rebates since inception achieved through compliance with their vendors. Its executive board, as well as its services, marketing and resale committees are all staffed by representatives from both BOC and the distributor members.

The BOC Group (NYSE:BOX), the worldwide industrial gases, vacuum technologies and distribution services company, serves two million customers in more than 50 countries. It employs 44,500 people and had annual sales of over $7 billion in 2003. Further information about The BOC Group may be obtained on the Internet at http://www.boc.com.