Airgas to Intro New Products

Airgas, Inc. ( ARG - Snapshot Report ) will unveil three new products, Airgas Gas Flow Calculator, Airgas SmartTag and Airgas Ultra High Purity Regulator at the Pittsburgh Conference in Philadelphia. The conference, which starts on Mar 18, is related to Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy and will continue for four days. Airgas Gas Flow Calculator and Airgas SmartTag have recently won the Golden Gas Award.

Airgas will unveil these products, designed with new system components and software, which will boost efficiency and purity in gas chromatography. It will help customers to streamline their gas usage and support laboratory gas users to get the most out of gas purchases.

These products have unique features pertaining to an excellent choice for high-tolerance gas mixtures and use in high purity applications.

Airgas Gas Flow Calculator can be used to determine amounts of waste from gas leaks or gas being used for non-analytical applications. This will help laboratories to evaluate total gas usage for chromatography applications and achieve gas reduction goals.

Airgas SmartTag, the first visual alert system to monitor gas expiration and on-site verification of gas contents, provides a range of solutions. The customers will render a series of data through the unique microprocessor collar which makes it a unique alert system in the industry.

Ultra High Purity Stainless Steel Regulator is the latest specialty gas regulator of Airgas. Its sole purpose is to reduce the gas path significantly and prevent contaminants from entering the gas stream. It produces better sensitivity and responsiveness with the help of a diaphragm valve.

Pa.-based Airgas, one of the largest U.S. suppliers of specialty gases and equipment, reported third-quarter fiscal 2013 (ended Dec 31, 2012) adjusted earnings of $1.01 a share compared with 97 cents per share earned in the year-ago quarter.

Revenues in the reported quarter rose 5% year over year to $1,207.7 million, driven by the acquisition of 15 businesses with aggregate annual revenues of more than $94 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2013.

Airgas expects that adjusted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 will increase 6% to 12% to a range of $1.18 to $1.24. For fiscal 2013, the Airgas expects adjusted earnings per share to increase 7% to 9% to a range of $4.40 to $4.46 from $4.11 a year ago.

Airgas is focusing on implementing SAP across its distribution channel. Currently, about 70% of the businesses are running on SAP. Airgas remains confident that SAP implementation will enable it to realize its full economic benefits and help it serve its customers better. The company expects to achieve its projected $75 million to $125 million in income benefits by the end of 2013.

Airgas currently retains a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Air Products & Chemicals Inc. ( APD - Analyst Report ) , Axiall Corporation ( AXLL - Snapshot Report ) and LyondellBasell Industries ( LYB - Snapshot Report ) also belong to the diversified chemical industry. Each of them holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).