Air Liquide to Showcase New Wave of Technology at APEX

HOUSTON--Feb. 7, 2006--The printed circuit board and electronics manufacturing industries demand purity of product and the best in technology. Whether it's specialty gases or atmosphere systems, soldering equipment or manufacturing accessories, companies require the most efficient and reliable products and services.

Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP, the subsidiary of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. responsible for providing gases and related equipment and services to industrial customers in the U.S., will be exhibiting its capabilities at the APEX show in Anaheim, Calif. on February 8-10. The company's exhibit will be located in booth #359.

At the show, the world leader in industrial gases and related services will present its array of industrial and specialty gas offerings, equipment, services and technical expertise to the electronics manufacturing industry. This includes the IN2ERTWAVE retrofit system, bulk nitrogen supply and their APSA on-site, high purity, nitrogen generator for applications such as inert atmosphere soldering, dry storage, ESS/AST testing and plasma cleaning. The exhibit will also showcase its SMD-Dry system, the alternative to baking moisture sensitive devices or MSDs.

Featured this year at the show's Innovative Technology Showcase will be Air Liquide's ALIX IN2ERTWAVE technology. This patented nitrogen atmosphere technology is a major enhancement to the wave solder process, reducing dross by as much as 80 percent and improving solder joint quality for both no-lead and lead solder applications. It is part of the Air Liquide ALIX technology offer which includes solder paste screening and evaluation services, dry box technologies and atmosphere control and optimization in both SMT and through-hole processes.

The IN2ERTWAVE system can adapt to almost all new or used single or dual wave solder machines. It combines Air Liquide's gas flow modeling expertise with its atmosphere control knowledge to allow for more efficient use of high purity nitrogen required to achieve the parts per million oxygen levels necessary for low dross levels and high joint quality. And due to its special design, it does not interfere with operation or cleaning of the machinery.

Said Etienne Lepoutre, president of Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP, of Air Liquide's technologies and services on display at the show, "It has always been our commitment to offer products and services to customers that will improve their productivity and competitiveness in their marketplaces. The solutions we offer deliver on this commitment by meeting the ongoing and emerging needs of customers and helping them to create greater value."

Experts from Air Liquide will be available throughout the APEX show and by calling 800-820-2522.

Present in more than 70 countries, Air Liquide is the world leader in industrial and medical gases and related services. The Group offers innovative solutions based on constantly enhanced technologies. These solutions, which are in line with Air Liquide's commitment to sustainable development, help to protect life and enable our customers to manufacture many indispensable everyday products. Founded in 1902, Air Liquide has nearly 36,000 employees. The Group has successfully developed a long-term relationship with its shareholders built on confidence and transparency and guided by the principles of corporate governance. Since the publication of its first consolidated financial statements in 1971, Air Liquide has posted strong and steady earnings growth. Sales in 2004 totaled 9,376 million euros, of which sales outside France accounted almost 80%. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and EuroStoxx 50 indices (ISIN code FR 0000120073).