Information

Paris, April 11, 2005

Press release

Air Liquide supplies 6000 m3 of helium to the world's largest captive balloon, at Disneyland® Resort Paris


Air Liquide has been selected to supply the 6000 cubic meters of helium needed to inflate PanoraMagique, the world's largest captive balloon launched on April 9th at Disneyland® Resort Paris.

This balloon is filled with helium, a gas much lighter than air. This principle of physics will lift the balloon to an altitude of 100 meters in a few minutes and will offer Disneyland® Resort Paris visitors boarding the PanoraMagique a magnificent all-round 20-kilometer view.

Helium, a noble gas
Helium is a rare gas: extremely light, colorless, odorless, inert and non-toxic. Its many properties make it a sophisticated gas, used in the most highly advanced technologies. As it is non-flammable, children and adults will take to the air aboard PanoraMagique in total safety. Better still, helium is an ecological gas that does not affect the environment or the ozone layer.

While helium is abundant in the Sun's atmosphere (its name comes from the Greek "helios" - the Sun), only traces are found in the Earth's atmosphere. That is why it is known as a "rare gas." Present in fossil form in certain natural gas deposits, Air Liquide procures it from sources the world over: the United States, Algeria, Russia and Qatar. Air Liquide is the European leader in the helium market.

"Air Liquide is very pleased to offer its wide experience with this rare gas, which will contribute to providing new sensations for visitors to Disneyland® Resort Paris, and to making our activities better known to the general public. In addition to supplying 6000 cubic meters of gas to inflate this technologically advanced balloon, we will be working alongside Aérophile to apply our specific know-how and advisory assistance," says Didier Gaudoux, Managing Director of Gas and Services France.

Focus on helium
Owing to its manifold physical, chemical and biological properties, helium is used in many state-of-the-art applications: space, the aviation and automobile industries, research and telecommunications.so many sectors that are large consumers of helium. Because of its lightness, it inflates the balloons used to collect weather data. Mixed with oxygen, it is indispensable for professional deep-sea diving. In its liquid state, helium is the coldest of all fluids with a temperature of -268.9ºC, near absolute zero (-273.15ºC). This exceptional temperature is ideal for obtaining the superconductivity required to create a high-intensity magnetic field. This principle is therefore used for medical imaging and for the major basic research projects to which Air Liquide contributes, among them the CERN at Geneva.

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Present in 65 countries, Air Liquide is the qorld leader in industrial and medical gases and related services. The Group offers innovative solutions based on constantly enhanced technologies. These solutions, which are in line with Air Liquide's commitment to sustainable development, help to protect life and enable our customers to manufacture meny indispensable everyday products. Founded in 1902, Air Liquide has more than 31,900 employees. The Group has successfully developed a long-term relationship with its shareholders built on confidence and transparency and guided by the principles of corporate governance. Sales in 2003 totaled 8,394 million euros, of which sales outside France accounted almost 80%. Ait Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and EuroStoxx 50 indexes (ISIN code FR 0000120073).

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations Corporate Communication
Matthieu Baumgartner +33 (0)1 40 62 55 19 Dominique Maire +33(0)1 40 62 53 56
Caroline Morand +33(0)1 40 62 55 41 Joelle Ambon +33(0)1 40 62 51 31

www.airliquide.gr

 
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