Airgas Acquires Welding Supply House, Inc.; Adds Lafayette, LA branch to Airgas Gulf States.

RADNOR, Pa. -- Airgas, Inc. (NYSE:ARG) today announced that it has acquired the assets and operations of Welding Supply House, Inc., including a branch, warehouse and fill plant located in Lafayette, LA.

The assets acquired, which generated nearly $3 million in annual sales in 2003, have been integrated into Airgas Gulf States, one of 13 regional companies that make up Airgas.

Airgas Gulf States has offered employment to Welding Supply House's employees, including Bill Delcambre, the second-generation owner of Welding Supply House, who has been appointed area sales manager for Lafayette and New Iberia.

Airgas Gulf States has branches in New Iberia and Jennings, which are among nearly 30 branches in its region, spanning the Florida panhandle, south Alabama, south Mississippi, south Louisiana and southeast Texas along the Gulf Coast.

"We are delighted to welcome Bill and the Welding Supply House team to Airgas," said Rusty Coker, president of Airgas Gulf States, which is based in Theodore, AL. "Bill is well respected in his community and he and the other associates in Lafayette will be a great help in serving the needs of our customers in this area."

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 Statement 

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: the Company's plans to integrate the assets and operations of Welding Supply House, Inc. (WSH), the employment of Welding Supply House's former employees and that the expectation that the business will help serve the needs of Airgas' customers. Airgas 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 the inability to successfully integrate the Welding Supply House operations; the Company's inability to retain the former WSH employees; customer acceptance of the Company's products; and other factors described in the Company's reports, including Form 10-K dated March 31, 2004 and Form 10-Q dated June 30, 2004 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.