Airgas Receives 2010 Premier Supplier Performance Award
Recognized for outstanding management of Premier agreements for cylinder gases, bulk products, and added-value services
RADNOR, PA - June 29, 2010 - Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), has received the 2010 Premier Supplier Award presented by the Premier health alliance. Based in Charlotte, NC, Premier is a healthcare performance improvement alliance that operates a leading healthcare purchasing network and serves more than 2,300 U.S. hospitals and 66,000 other healthcare sites.
Premier contracts with more than 800 suppliers and Airgas is one of 65 contracted suppliers that received the Performance Award. Award recipients are recognized for outstanding management of Premier agreements and working with Premier to provide clinical and financial value to the not-for-profit hospital members of the Premier alliance.
"We are very honored to be recognized by Premier for this prestigious award," said Airgas Senior Vice President Kelly Justice. "We accept this on behalf of all Airgas associates who every day deliver on our promise to provide Premier members with bulk and cylinder gases, help streamline their supply chain, and improve cost efficiencies."
Airgas accepted the Performance Award during the 2010 Premier Annual Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition held in Washington, D.C.
Airgas serves Premier members through the Airgas market-focused Strategic Accounts program, which was established to provide sole-source supply and supply chain management services for customers with multiple locations nationwide. Airgas account managers and teams within 12 Airgas regional organizations and more than 850 branch locations nationwide provide Premier members with the right solutions.
About Premier Inc., 2006 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient
The Premier healthcare alliance is more than 2,300 U.S. hospitals and 66,000 other healthcare sites working together to improve healthcare quality and affordability. Owned by not-for-profit hospitals, Premier maintains the nation's most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable improvements in care, Premier works with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier also has offices in San Diego, Philadelphia and Washington. Follow Premier on Twitter.
About Airgas, Inc.
Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), through its subsidiaries, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases, and hardgoods, such as welding equipment and supplies. Airgas is also one of the largest U.S. distributors of safety products, the largest U.S. producer of nitrous oxide and dry ice, the largest liquid carbon dioxide producer in the Southeast, and a leading distributor of process chemicals, refrigerants, and ammonia products. More than 14,000 employees work in approximately 1,100 locations, including branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution centers. Airgas also distributes its products and services through eBusiness, catalog and telesales channels. Its national scale and strong local presence offer a competitive edge to its diversified customer base. For more information, please visit www.airgas.com.
