Airgas Acquires Vancouver Welding Supply in Washington State and Cumberland Welding in Maryland.

RADNOR, Pa. -- Airgas, Inc. (NYSE:ARG) today announced that it has completed acquiring the assets and operations of Vancouver Welding Supply, Inc. (VWS), based in Vancouver, WA, and Cumberland Welding & Supply Co., Inc., in Cumberland, MD. The transactions closed April 30, 2005. In all, the two businesses had more than $9 million in sales in 2004.

Airgas Nor Pac, also based in Vancouver, WA, has taken over the industrial gas and welding supply business at three stores located in Vancouver, WA, Longview, WA and The Dalles, OR, which were doing business as Vancouver Welding Supply, Bi-State Welding Supply and Mid-Columbia Welders Supply.

Not included in the transaction is the Carbonic Systems, Inc. division of VWS, which will remain under the management of the sellers, Lyle and Greg Evanson. Airgas will move the Vancouver Welding cylinder filling operations to nearby Airgas fill plants and the Vancouver retail store will remain open and operate as an Airgas store. The Dalles and Longview stores also will operate as Airgas.

"We are very excited about this transaction and the opportunities that it brings Airgas," said Mark Clemens, president of Airgas Nor Pac, which operates in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Northern Idaho and western Canada. "We are especially pleased that these new locations will strengthen our service to our core industrial markets. These locations, plus others we recently acquired in Tigard, Salem and Longview will improve the service we provide to our core customers."

In the second transaction, the one location of Cumberland Welding has become part of Airgas Mid America, which also operates in West Virginia, western Virginia, and locations in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. Lenny Twigg, grandson of Cumberland Welding's founder, will join Airgas Mid America as branch manager in Cumberland, MD.

"Extending into this area of western Maryland with this acquired branch gives us an additional location to serve our core customers," said Bob Hilliard, president of Airgas Mid America, which is headquartered in Bowling Green, KY. "We also look forward to providing Cumberland's customers with the full range of our welding and safety products."

About Airgas, Inc.

Airgas, Inc. (NYSE:ARG) is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases, welding, safety and related products. Its integrated network of about 900 locations includes branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution centers. Airgas also distributes its products and services through eBusiness, catalog and telesales channels. Its national scale and strong local presence offer a competitive edge to its diversified customer base. For more information, please visit www.airgas.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements that are forward looking, as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: moving the Vancouver cylinder filling operations to nearby Airgas fill plants; opportunities the Vancouver transaction will bring Airgas; new locations strengthening the Company's service to its core industrial markets and core customers; and providing Cumberland's customers with the full range of our welding and safety products. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations regarding important risk factors and should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the results expressed therein will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement include: customer acceptance of the transaction; the Company's ability to successfully integrate the acquired operations and to retain personnel of Vancouver Welding Supply and Cumberland Welding; an economic downturn; increased industry competition; political and economic uncertainties associated with current world events; and other factors described in the Company's reports, including Form 10-K dated March 31, 2004, and Forms 10-Q dated June 30, 2004, September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2004 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.