Significant Milestone Reflects Company's History of Investment/Strong Sourcing Capability

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) recently began serving its 3,000th U.S. site under its °KeepCOLD^® Cryogenic Fill Services Program, marking a significant milestone in the company's 13-year history of reliably supplying helium, other cryogenic gases and services to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) customers.

"In late 1998, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the °KeepCOLD Program and our supply to 2,000 sites throughout the U.S.," noted Robert A. Hoffman, worldwide helium MRI manager. "It is extremely gratifying to know that less than three years later, we have increased the number of sites we serve by 50 percent while continuing to build strong relationships with key OEM customers, providing the gases and on-site expertise that are essential to an efficient and cost-effective MRI operation."

MRI—a way of generating sectional images of the skeleton and inner organs—is a technique that uses magnetic field and radio waves instead of x-rays or ultrasonic waves. To be able to create a powerful enough magnetic field, the magnet must be cooled to superconductivity levels using liquid helium, which maintains a temperature of –452°F.

Air Products utilizes the industry's most extensive network of helium production facilities to supply product for its °KeepCOLD services, including the world's largest helium liquefier located in Liberal, Kan. The Liberal facility, owned and operated by Air Products, was expanded in 2000 and is capable of processing over one billion standard cubic feet per year (scfy) of capacity. The Liberal plant supplements an additional one billion scfy of capacity which the company sources from other helium production facilities in the Texas Panhandle; Keyes, Okla.; La Barge, Wyo.; and Arzew, Algeria via a Helios joint venture with Sonatrach, the Algerian state owned oil and gas company. In addition, Air Products has 38 helium transfill facilities globally, all supporting the company's position as the world's leading supplier of helium.

"Our global product sourcing is a critical component of our strategy to serve customers' needs," stated Ronald E. Sheppard, worldwide general manager of Air Products' helium business. "Currently, it is expected that worldwide helium demand will exceed supply by late 2002. During the resulting tight supply period, we remain committed to meeting the helium needs of our customers, particularly in the MRI area—the largest end-market for helium—as well as the semiconductor and fiber optic industry areas."

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (www.airproducts.com) is the world's only combined gases and chemicals company. Founded more than 60 years ago, the business has annual revenues of $5.5 billion and operations in 30 countries. Air Products is a market leader in the global electronics and chemical processing industries, and a longstanding innovator in many industrial markets, including coatings, adhesives and polyurethanes. The company distinguishes itself through its 17,500 employees around the world, who build lasting relationships with their customers and communities based on understanding, integrity and passion.

EDITOR'S NOTES: In addition to the more than 40,000 fills performed annually by Air Products' more than 100 highly-trained °KeepCOLD technicians, the company also provides a °KeepCOLD® Cryo-Shielding Maintenance Service which involves change-out and/or repair of the cold head, compressor, oil adsorber and other components, offering original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers a hassle-free option for repetitive servicing of their mechanical refrigeration technology. Approximately 90 percent of the world's nearly 8,000 MRI magnets require some degree of cryo-shielding maintenance. Photos of MRI magnet fills are available at the company's Press Room: www.airproducts.com/pressroom. From the Press Room home page, click on "Multimedia Galley," "Photo Library" and then select "Medical/MRI." A photo of Air Products' Liberal, Kan. helium facility is also available at www.airproducts.com/pressroom. From the Press Room home page, click on "Multimedia Gallery," "Photo Library" and then select "Plant" by subject.