Praxair Inc. (Praxair) is an industrial gas supplier in North and South America. Praxair’s primary products for its industrial gases business are atmospheric gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, rare gases) and process gases (carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen, electronic gases, specialty gases, acetylene). The Company also designs, engineers, and builds equipment that produces industrial gases for internal use and external sale. The Company’s surface technologies segment, operated through Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc., supplies wear-resistant and high-temperature corrosion-resistant metallic and ceramic coatings and powders. The Company serves approximately 25 industries, such as healthcare and petroleum refining; computer-chip manufacturing and beverage carbonation; fiber-optics and steel making, and aerospace, chemicals and water treatment. During the year ended December 31, 2009, 94% of sales were generated in four geographic segments (North America, Europe, South America and Asia).