Airgas to Offer Three Free Technical Suites at the 2006 Pittsburgh Conference.

RADNOR, Pa. -- Airgas, Inc. (NYSE:ARG) announced plans to host three free Technical Suite Sessions in conjunction with this year's Pittsburgh Conference (PITTCON). These mini-seminars and discussions will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 13 and Tuesday, March 14 at the Rosen Centre Hotel, adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center.

Participants will learn insights on consistent performance in the analytical laboratory, through the following presentations:

Improving Analytical Performance with BIP(R) Technology Gases: John Bersch, director of quality, and Sherri Pertee, market development manager for specialty gases, will lead a discussion on BIP Technology, an Air Products innovation that uses a built-in purifier train in the cylinder to provide unprecedented levels of analytical performance. The session will include customer testimonials and a live demonstration.

Maintaining Gas Stream Purity in Analytical Processes: Frank Kandl, national technical manager of specialty gas equipment for Airgas, will highlight the factors that influence gas stream purity and provide tips on maintaining purity from container to instrument in order to achieve optimal results.

Improving Gas Calibration Standard Consistency with AcuGrav(TM) Automated Filling Technology: Rob Shock, inventor of AcuGrav and director of specialty gas automation at Airgas, and Edward Desplaines, software engineer, will provide a virtual demonstration of AcuGrav, which produces consistent high-tolerance specialty gas blends without the variability of the human element.

"We are pleased to host these sessions at PITTCON to give our customers and prospective customers the opportunity to meet some of the most capable and experienced people in the industry," said Tom Thoman, vice president - gases for Airgas, Inc. "As the leader in specialty gases, Airgas has specialists to help provide our customers with the gases and equipment that give them consistent performance in the analytical laboratory."

Additional information on the Technical Suite Sessions, as well as on Airgas specialty gas product, service and equipment offerings, will be available at Airgas booth #4659. Registered participants will be entered in drawings on Monday and Tuesday, with a grand prize of a Microsoft Xbox 360(TM) to the winner selected from all participants on both days.

About Airgas, Inc.

Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), through its subsidiaries, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases and related hardgoods, such as welding equipment and supplies. Airgas is also the third-largest U.S. distributor of safety products, the largest U.S. producer of nitrous oxide and dry ice, the largest liquid carbon dioxide producer in the Southeast, and a leading distributor of process chemicals, refrigerants and ammonia products. Its 10,000 employees work in about 900 locations including 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.