"Chain Cutting" Ceremonies Mark Grand Openings of UIG-Supplied
Air Separation / Bulk Liquid Products Plants in Kentucky and Indiana

(June 17, 2009) -- On June 15 and 16, Airgas held grand opening celebrations at its new air separation plant locations in Carrollton KY and New Carlisle IN.  Universal Industrial Gases, Inc. was the air separation plant designer and equipment supplier for both plants. To symbolize the official openings of the liquid products plants, Airgas employees used oxy-acetylene torches to cut ceremonial chains at both sites. The UIG scope of work included process engineering; civil, mechanical, structural, electrical and instrumentation design; supply of the air separation plant and liquefier cold boxes and other plant equipment; and site support services during cold box erection, equipment installation, checkout and startup of the two plants.     Airgas was responsible for the civil work and installation work at each location, and procurement of the site-fabricated bulk liquid storage tanks. The New Carlisle Indiana plant began operation in December 2008.  The Carrollton air separation plant was placed into service in May of 2009.

The Carrollton and New Carlisle air separation / bulk liquid production plants are very similar. Each can produce more than 350 tons per day of liquid products (liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen and liquid argon); and both plants supply nitrogen by pipeline to on-site gas customers (to I/N Tek and I/N Kote at New Carlisle; Dow Corning at Carrollton). 

Mike Patterson, Universal Industrial Gases Director of Engineering, who managed and directed UIG engineering design, procurement and field support activities; and provided overall coordination between the UIG project team and the Airgas project management, field construction, and operations groups; was impressed by the high quality of the plant installation work which was evident throughout both plant sites.     

Peter McCausland, chairman and chief executive officer of Airgas, commenting at the ceremonies, said: "This is a state-of-the-art facility and, we’re an industry leader and this is conformation of it.  So, we are all really proud today because we all worked very hard to get here.”

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