DANBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) has started up a new air separation plant in the free trade zone of Gran Sabana, 50 km from Bogota, Colombia. The plant has the capacity to produce 200 tons of oxygen, nitrogen and argon per day and will be part of Praxair's new industrial complex, which will now serve as the company's new Colombia headquarters. This industrial complex also includes a modern cylinder filling station, a specialty gases production facility and a shared service center.

“This project reaffirms our commitment to the economic development and the reliability of our services throughout the region”

The new complex will supply Gerdau's Colombia plant. Gerdau is a leading producer of long steel in the Americas and one of the largest suppliers of special steel in the world. Praxair's air separation unit will also produce liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon to the local market, in segments such as oil and gas, manufacturing, chemicals, food and beverage and medical.

"This project reaffirms our commitment to the economic development and the reliability of our services throughout the region,” said Domingos Bulus, president of Praxair in South America. “We will continue to focus on increasing the productivity of our clients through operational excellence. The new industrial complex will foster greater agility and efficiency in our operations.”

This is Praxair's third cryogenic air separation plant in Colombia. The company has production facilities located in all the regions of the country, which ensures supply reliability throughout Colombia.

Praxair, Inc. is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2011 sales of $11 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies are making our planet more productive by bringing efficiency and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair, Inc. is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.