Airgas, Inc. recently announced plans to build an air separation unit (ASU) in New Carlisle, Ind., to meet increasing demand for bulk and packaged gases in the Midwest, and to supply I/N Tek and I/N Kote, the major steel processing facilities owned by Mittal Steel USA and Nippon Steel.
Airgas will build the plant on property in New Carlisle, adjacent to I/N Tek and I/N Kote. Airgas, I/N Tek and I/N Kote have signed a long-term agreement for Airgas to supply nitrogen by pipeline, giving the project a key base-load customer. When completed in early 2009, the plant will have the capacity to liquefy at least 350 tons per day of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon.
“We are excited to announce this new facility, which will fit well with the plants operated by our new Airgas Merchant Gases business unit, which will operate this new plant,” said Mike Molinini, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Airgas. The new ASU will employ 15 to 20 employees in production and distribution.
“This agreement with Airgas will provide a long-term, economical source of nitrogen for our operations,” said Rick Campoli, controller of I/N Tek and I/N Kote. “We’re pleased that it’s moving forward.”
According to Steve Hora, New Carlisle Town Council president, the project promises benefits both in the short term and further down the road.
“It will benefit us in the future because of the tax revenues,” said Hora. “It will benefit us now because of the construction jobs that will be created. After construction, it will benefit us because we’re told there will be up to 20 permanent decent-paying jobs.”
Airgas, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, and related hardgoods, such as welding equipment and supplies. It 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.
More than 11,000 employees work in about 900 locations, including branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities, and distribution centers.
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