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Air Products announces technology cooperation agreement with C.D. Wälzholz and SMS Demag

3 April 2006 — Air Products, C.D. Wälzholz and SMS Demag have recently signed a joint cooperation agreement. This agreement enables the three companies to share and develop their combined experience of rolling gap technology using a combination of lubricants and Air Products cool rolling technology.

Due to be exhibited at Steel Rolling 2006 (Paris), Air Products cool rolling technology replaces conventional water-based cooling fluids used in wet rolling. The technology is proved to increase productivity in dry rolling, eliminate the need for a strip cleaning process and minimise product losses caused by post-rolling corrosion. The technique was developed and patented together with C.D. Wälzholz. It has been used successfully for over two years at C.D. Wälzholz, achieving an end reduction of up to 3% on their cold rolling reversing stand without the aid of oil or emulsion lubricants.

Air Products cool rolling technology can be retrofitted or used in conjunction with SMS Demag’s recently developed (and patented) Least Quantity Lubrication system. The method of combining both technologies enables users to roll harder materials as well as to produce a higher end-reduction, whilst also substantially cutting lubricant quantities.

Guido Plicht, European metals processing segment lead at Air Products, comments:

Notes to editors:

About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in technology, energy, healthcare 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.  Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives.  The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment and is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good Indices.  The company has annual revenues of $8.1 billion, operations in over 30 countries, and over 20,000 employees around the globe.  For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

About SMS Demag AG
SMS Demag AG forms part of the Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill
Technology Business Area of the SMS group

SMS GmbH is the holding for a group of companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering relating to the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics. The group is divided into the Business Areas of Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology, Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology and Plastics Technology. In the year 2004 some 9,500 employees worldwide generated a turnover of about EUR 2.20 bn.

About C.D. Wälzholz-Brockhaus GmbH
C. D. Wälzholz, established 1829, have substantial manufacturing facilities in Germany, as well as subsidiaries in Brazil and Austria. They are producers of cold rolled steel strip including electro-plated and profile. 

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