MAJOR EXPANSION AT CYLINDER PLANT

4 October 2004

4 October 2004
Luxfer Gas Cylinders has announced plans to expand the manufacture of high-pressure composite cylinders in Europe with the addition of a wide range of products currently manufactured in the United States.

New composite winding equipment will be installed at Luxfer’s plant in Gerzat, France, which currently produces Kevlar and carbon composite hoop-wrap cylinders used primarily for medical oxygen and self-contained breathing apparatus for the fire and rescue market. The investment will significantly enhance Luxfer’s commitment to optimum service levels, particularly in response to European market demand for full-wrap medical oxygen cylinders and life-support breathing systems.

 Luxfer Europe’s Managing Director David Rix anticipates that production will commence mid-2005. He adds: “In response to growing medical and life-support markets, we plan to increase manufacturing capacity in the future, as well as expanding Luxfer’s range into other European sectors. Not only will the new Gerzat manufacturing facility further strengthen Luxfer’s position at the forefront of pioneering developments in advanced cylinder technology, it will also provide the European marketplace with a fully integrated product line.”

Luxfer Gas Cylinders, a member of the Luxfer Group of high-technology companies, is the world’s largest manufacturer of composite and aluminium cylinders. Luxfer offers a wide range of composite cylinders made at its facility in Riverside, California. The company recently announced plans to open a new composite cylinder plant in Shanghai, China, early in 2005. Luxfer also operates aluminium cylinder plants in Nottingham, United Kingdom; Gerzat, France; Riverside, California; and Graham, North Carolina.

For more information about Luxfer Gas Cylinders, visit the company website at www.luxfercylinders.com, as well as the Luxfer Group website at www.luxfer.com.