PRESS RELEASE

Radnor, PA June 18, 2025
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Airgas to Sponsor 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference

For the third consecutive year, Airgas, an Air Liquide company, will sponsor and supply all industrial gases used at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta from June 24–27. Airgas will provide an array of industrial gases, including ready-to-weld ARCAL™ shielding gases, featuring a safer and more user-friendly experience with SMARTOP™ or EXELTOP™ cylinder valve technology. These gases from Airgas will support various competitions, including Collision Repair Technology, Diesel Equipment Technology, Welding, and Welding Fabrication.

SkillsUSA is a national student organization committed to building the future skilled workforce our nation depends on. Airgas supports SkillsUSA’s mission to empower students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. SkillsUSA serves nearly 440,000 career and technical education students and teachers in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary programs nationwide. Students also gain opportunities to hone their skills in career competitions on the local, state and national levels.

Bill Pharmer, Senior Director of Airgas Advanced Fabrication Technologies, commented, “We are excited to support the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference once again this year, and supply the industrial gases needed for the competitions. Witnessing the enthusiasm and talent of the participants last year was inspiring. Airgas is committed to supporting these students' journeys as they explore careers in welding, engineering and other technical careers.”

Airgas, Inc.

Airgas®, an Air Liquide company, is a leading U.S. supplier of industrial, medical and specialty gases, as well as hardgoods and related products; one of the largest U.S. suppliers of safety products; and a leading U.S. supplier of ammonia products and process chemicals.

Airgas helps its more than 1 million customers advance their business performance and reach their full potential with reliable products, services and expertise used to create, build, care, serve and sustain. With nearly 18,000 associates, over 1,400 locations, a robust eBusiness platform, and Airgas Total Access® telesales channel, Airgas is ready to help customers fill their potential, every day.

As an Air Liquide company, a world leader in gases, technology and services for Industry and Health, Airgas offers customers an unrivaled global footprint and industry-leading technology and innovations.

For more information, please visit www.airgas.com.

SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is America’s proud champion of the skilled trades. It’s a student-led partnership of education and industry that’s building the skilled workforce our nation depends on with graduates who are career ready, day one. Representing nearly 440,000 career and technical education students and teachers, SkillsUSA chapters thrive in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. SkillsUSA’s mission empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. That mission is accomplished through the SkillsUSA Framework of Personal Skills, Workplace Skills and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics, which is integrated into the classroom curriculum. Through Framework instruction, students develop the character-shaping leadership skills — teamwork, communication, professionalism and more — that successful careers and lives demand. At the same time, students hone their high-level technical skills against current industry standards in more than 130 skilled trade areas, from 3-D Animation to Welding. The result? Focused, confident and highly skilled graduates who are ready to work, ready to lead and ready to make a difference in our schools, workplaces and communities. A vital solution to the skills gap, where more in-demand skilled trades positions are available than qualified professionals to fill them, SkillsUSA has served over 14 million difference-making members since 1965. To learn more, visit www.skillsusa.org.

CONTACTS

Airgas Communications
Marysa Mazanek
610-230-3213
mediasupport@airgas.com



Air Liquide is a world leader in gases, technologies and services for industry and healthcare. Present in 60 countries with approximately 66,500 employees, the Group serves more than 4 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide’s scientific territory and have been at the core of the Group’s activities since its creation in 1902.

Taking action today while preparing the future is at the heart of Air Liquide’s strategy. With ADVANCE, its strategic plan, Air Liquide is targeting a global performance, combining financial and extra-financial dimensions. Positioned on new markets, the Group benefits from major assets such as its business model combining resilience and strength, its ability to innovate and its technological expertise. The Group develops solutions contributing to climate and the energy transition — particularly with hydrogen — and takes action to progress in areas of healthcare, electronics and high technologies.

Air Liquide’s revenue amounted to more than 27 billion euros in 2024. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG, EURO STOXX 50, FTSE4Good and DJSI Europe indexes.