DANBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--White Martins, the Brazil-based subsidiary of Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX), has signed an agreement with ArcelorMittal to supply oxygen to ArcelorMittal’s steel production facility located in João Monlevade, in southeast Brazil. White Martins will build a new air separation unit with a capacity of 780 tons per day and equipped with advanced process controls and energy-efficient process cycles. The plant is scheduled to start up in early 2013.
Steel producers use White Martin’s oxygen to improve furnace efficiency and environmental performance. White Martins has supplied ArcelorMittal at different locations in Brazil for 20 years. ArcelorMittal also applies Praxair’s slag splashing technology at two sites and a pulverized coal injection system developed by White Martins at another site. Both technologies increase productivity and reduce operating costs.
“We look forward to playing an important role in ArcelorMittal’s ongoing growth and contribution to Brazil’s economic progress,” said Domingos Bulus, president of White Martins.
About ArcelorMittal
ArcelorMittal is the world’s leading steel company with operations in more than 60 countries, advanced R&D and technology, sizeable captive supplies of raw materials and outstanding distribution networks. It supplies all major global steel markets, including the automotive, construction, household appliance and packaging industries. In 2009, Arcelor Mittal had revenues of $65.1 billion and crude steel production of 73.2 million tons, representing 8 percent of world steel output.
About White Martins Industriais Ltda.
White Martins has supplied a comprehensive range of industrial gases and technologies to customers in a wide variety of industries for almost 100 years. In addition to Brazil, it has operations in 8 other South American countries.
About Praxair, Inc.
Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2009 sales of $9 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a diverse group of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, electronics, energy, food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.