Praxair and Sorg to Jointly Promote Glass-Melting Efficiency

Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) today announced that it has signed a joint marketing agreement with Nikolaus Sorg GmbH & Co. KG, a subsidiary of The Sorg Group of Lohr am Main, Germany.

Under the agreement, Praxair and Sorg will jointly promote high-efficiency oxy-fuel technology for glass melting in the United States and Canada. Their portfolio of offerings includes the Sorg Oxy LoNOx furnace design as well as Praxair’s advanced combustion systems, heat recovery applications such as cullet preheating, and world-class oxygen-delivery systems. As part of this alliance, Praxair and Sorg will utilize their combined technologies and services to deliver enhanced energy efficiency and lower emissions to the glass-melting industry.

"Sorg’s experience and reputation as a state-of-the-art leader in glass melting complement Praxair's technologies and on-site industrial gas supply capabilities in the North American glass industry,” said Scott Sanderude, vice president of Marketing and Business Development for Praxair’s North American Industrial Gases business unit.

"We are pleased to be associated with Praxair and believe this alliance will benefit both companies,” said Alexander Sorg, managing partner of the German company. "Our advanced melting technology combined with Praxair’s industrial gas experience and oxy-combustion expertise will help the glass industry to move ahead with the introduction of technologies that improve efficiencies and reduce environmental impact.”

Founded in 1872, Sorg is one of the world's leading independent specialists for glass melting and conditioning technology, with customers in more than 70 countries. Sorg provides design and engineering of all types of glass-melting furnaces, distributors and forehearths and supplies a wide range of specialized equipment for these parts of the glass manufacturing process. Installation, commissioning, training, maintenance, and repair services are also available for all Sorg installations. More information on Sorg is available on the Internet at www.sorg.de.

Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2008 sales of $10.8 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric and process gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair’s products, services and technology bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, electronics, energy, food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available at www.praxair.com.