Linde North America Receives Prestigious Safety Award Tenth Time Cited by Norfolk Southern


Murray Hill and New Providence, N.J., U.S., September 28, 2011 - Linde North America, through one of its U.S. affiliates, was awarded Norfolk Southern Corporation's Thoroughbred Chemical Safety Award for 2010. This is the fourth year in a row and the tenth time that Linde in North America has been recognized by Norfolk Southern since the award was instituted 15 years ago.

Linde North America is a member of The Linde Group, a world leading gases and engineering company. Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies.

Wick Moorman, chief executive officer, Norfolk Southern, said, "We congratulate Linde for its outstanding industry leadership in chemical safety. With its absolute focus on best safety practices, Linde demonstrates the value of freight rail as the one of the safest, reliable, and environmentally friendly way to move chemical products."

Fred Kinkin, head of supply for Linde North America, said, "Linde is very proud to receive this award from Norfolk Southern. This award acknowledges our focus on railcar safety at our plants and depots and the hard work and dedication of our employees. It also recognizes Linde's continued commitment to safety which is one of this company's most important core values."

Linde in North America ships a significant portion of its carbon dioxide (CO2) rail fleet with Norfolk Southern, which is the carrier for Linde plants and depots in Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, Ohio, and West Virginia. Linde shipped over 2000 railcars in 2010, without incident, to earn the award.

Norfolk Southern's Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides superior connections to western rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East.

The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 49,100 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2010 financial year, it achieved sales of EUR 12.9 billion (USD 17.9 billion). The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services.

Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment - in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

For more information, visit Linde North America online at www.lindeus.com

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