Airgas Acquires CFC Refimax In Atlanta
Refrigerant Business Added To Airgas Specialty Products
Radnor, PA - Airgas, Inc. announced the acquisition of CFC Refimax, LLC, a full-service refrigerant supplier and reclamation company based in Atlanta, GA. The business, which has about 50 employees, mostly based in Atlanta, generated about $21 million in annual sales in 2006.
Effective January 1, 2007, Refimax has been integrated into Airgas Specialty Products, a leading national distributor of ammonia products and services, various process chemicals, and refrigerants. Airgas Specialty Products is part of the Gas Operations Division, which also includes Airgas Carbonic and Dry Ice, and Airgas Nitrous Oxide.
"In recent years, Refimax has worked with Airgas regional companies to help develop and expand our refrigerant product and service offering to customers," said Chuck Broadus, president of Airgas Specialty Products, who noted that Airgas already had a national presence as a distributor of refrigerants. "This acquisition will advance our strategy to expand our refrigerants business and to broaden our product offerings and capabilities."
Refimax was established in 1992 to meet the growing need for innovative solutions for refrigerant distribution, recovery, and reclamation. It has operations in Atlanta and Houston, and five third-party distribution warehouse locations in York, PA; Reno, NV; Indianapolis, IN; New Orleans, LA; and Dallas, TX.
"We are very pleased to welcome Refimax associates to the Airgas team," said Broadus, who noted that Ken Beringer, Joe Mansfield, and Randy Perry, all currently senior managers with Refimax, will continue in their current roles and report directly to him. Doug Romine, the president and founder of Refimax, has joined Airgas as senior vice president of business development, reporting to Gas Operations Division President Ted Schulte.
"The Refimax team is excited about joining forces with Airgas, whose national presence and resources will ensure a promising future for our people and our customers," said Romine. "We are proud of our role as a full-service refrigerant supplier and reclamation company. Now, as a part of Airgas, we will have the ability to expand the range of products and services we can offer to our refrigerant customers."
Airgas Specialty Products traces its roots back more than a century as a supplier of industrial ammonia products primarily for refrigeration applications. Today, it is a leading supplier of ammonia products and services in the U.S. for nitrogen oxide abatement (DeNOx), metal finishing, water treatment, chemical processing, and refrigeration. Airgas acquired the ammonia business in 2005 from LaRoche Industries to form Airgas Specialty Products, which now includes process chemicals and other refrigerants.
SOURCE: Airgas, Inc.