Leadership Change in Air Products' Global Electronics Business

Leadership Change in Air Products' Global Electronics Business

September 12, 2006

New Vice President and General Manager to be Based in Asia

    LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Sept. 12 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Air
Products' (NYSE: APD) Electronics business has recently
announced a number of leadership changes, as well as a
strategic decision to locate its global leadership in Asia,
the fastest growing region for the electronics industry.  

    Corning F. Painter, has been appointed vice president
and general manager, Global Electronics Division, effective
October 1.  He will replace Gerald G. Ermentrout who is
retiring after 31 years with Air Products.  Painter,
currently regional vice president, Asia Electronics, will
remain in Taiwan and head the division from Taipei.  

    With this appointment, Air Products' global leaders of
Electronic Specialty Materials, Fab Business Development,
and the Division as a whole will all be based in Asia. 
"It is important to be close to our customers, who
should see an increase in the speed of our decision making
as a result," said Painter. 

    As part of its commitment to Asia markets, Air Products
continues to expand its production facilities in Asia and is
also boosting its research and development presence in the
region with expanded R&D centers in Taiwan and Korea. 

    "Asia is our largest and fastest growing region
for electronics and it makes sense for the business leader
to be situated there," said Michael F. Hilton, who was
recently appointed vice president and general manager,
Electronics and Performance Materials for Air Products. 
"This move is consistent with Air Products' pledge to
be more focused on higher growth and represents our
commitment to Asia."  Hilton, currently vice
president, Electronics, will lead the combined
Electronics/Performance Materials organization from the
company's Allentown headquarters.

    Ermentrout, who will retire in January, spent the last
15 years in Electronics contributing to the business'
development into an important growth platform for Air
Products.  Ermentrout was named general manager,
Electronics in 1992 and elevated to vice president and
general manager in 1996. 

    Biographies and downloadable photos are available at
http://www.airproducts.com/pressroom/biographies/executivebiographies.htm


    About Air Products

    Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in
technology, energy, healthcare and industrial markets
worldwide with a unique portfolio of products, services and
solutions, providing atmospheric gases, process and
specialty gases, performance materials and chemical
intermediates.  Founded in 1940, Air Products has built
leading positions in key growth markets such as
semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare
services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings
and adhesives.  The company is recognized for its
innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment
to safety and the environment and is listed in the Dow
Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good Indices.  The company
has annual revenues of $8.1 billion, operations in over 30
countries, and over 20,000 employees around the globe.  For
more information, visit http://www.airproducts.com . 

    ***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking
statements.  Actual 
             results could vary materially, due to changes
in current 
             expectations. 

    For more information, please contact:
     
    (Asia)
    Jessica Cheng
    Tel:   [phone]
    Email: [e-mail]

    (US)
    Robert Brown
    Tel:   [phone]
    Email: [e-mail]

    Investor Inquiries:

    Phil Sproger
    Tel:   [phone]
    Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.