Type: Public
On the web: http://www.praxair.com
Employees: 26,261
Employee growth: 0.4%

At Praxair, doing business is always a gas. The company produces and sells atmospheric gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and others), as well as process and specialty gases (CO2, helium, and hydrogen) for the chemicals, food and beverage, semiconductor, and health care industries worldwide. Depending on a client company's gas needs, Praxair can build an on-site gas plant or provide gases by the cylinder. The company's Praxair Surface Technologies subsidiary supplies high-temperature and corrosion-resistant metallic, ceramic, and powder coatings mainly to the aircraft, plastics, and primary metals industries. Praxair's Healthcare Services unit supplies hospitals and the medical industry.

Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2010:
Sales: $10,116.0M
One year growth: 13.0%
Net income: $1,195.0M
Income growth: (4.7%)

Officers:
Chairman, President, and CEO: Stephen F. (Steve) Angel
EVP and CFO: James S. (Jim) Sawyer
SVP and CTO: Raymond P. (Ray) Roberge

Competitors:
Air Products
L'Air Liquide
The Linde Group

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