LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Feb 4, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) today announced that it has once again been honored by Siemens Medical Solutions for outstanding performance in supplying their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) units with liquid helium and nitrogen and for providing related onsite fill services. This is the third consecutive year that Air Products has been recognized by Siemens for product reliability and service excellence. In November 2000, Air Products won the first-ever Supplier of the Year Award handed out by Siemens.

Siemens ranks its suppliers using a comprehensive and cross-functional rating system across four areas: purchasing/marketing, quality, logistics and technology. Air Products was one of nine suppliers out of 5,000 to receive the Top+ Award.

"In a tight market with a helium shortage, it's more important than ever for us to work closely with our vendors and provide exceptional customer service. Air Products works closely with us to make that happen," said Gene Mikulewicz, Strategic Sourcing Manager, Siemens Medical Solutions. "We have precise demands and expect a lot from our vendors, and Air Products lives up to those expectations. For example, where a customer used to need five to seven fills a year, we have worked closely with Air Products to reduce that to three to five fills every year, which translates into cost savings and increased efficiency for the end MRI user," he said.

Over the past 14 years, Air Products and Siemens have built a strong relationship based on a mutual commitment to total quality and a goal of exceeding customers' expectations. Today, Air Products is the largest international supplier of helium with access to more production capacity than any other company worldwide. The company employs 100 highly trained, full- time technicians. These technicians perform 40,000 annual fills and maintain over 6,000 magnets with better than 99% uptime, the best in the industry.

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 degrees F.

Air Products serves customers in healthcare, technology, energy and industrial markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of products, services and solutions, providing atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials and chemical intermediates. The company is the largest global supplier of helium, electronic materials, hydrogen and select performance chemicals. Founded in 1940, Air Products is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. With annual revenues of $5.4 billion and operations in 30 countries, the company's 17,500 employees build lasting relationships with their customers and communities based on understanding, integrity and passion. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

*** NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations.

SOURCE Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

CONTACT:          Media Inquiries - Katherine Hilgert, +1-610-481-1188,
                  hilgerk@apci.com; or Investor Inquiries - Alexander W. Masetti,
                  +1-610-481-7461, masettaw@apci.com, both of Air Products and Chemicals

URL:              http://www.airproducts.com 
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