Exhibit 99.2

News Release Airgas, Inc.
259 N. Radnor-Chester Road
Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087-5283
www.airgas.com

Investor Contact:	Media Contact:
Jay Worley (610) 902-6206	James Ely (610) 902-6010
jay.worley@airgas.com	jim.ely@airgas.com

For release:            Immediately

Airgas Reports Continued Momentum and Record First Quarter EPS of $0.48

RADNOR, PA – July 26, 2006 — Airgas, Inc., (NYSE: ARG), the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases, welding, safety, and related products, today reported strong growth in sales and earnings for its first quarter ended June 30, 2006.

Quarterly net earnings grew 30% to $39 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, compared to $30 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, in the same period a year ago. First quarter sales grew to $773 million, up 14% over the prior year. Total same-store sales were up 9%, with hardgoods up 10% and gas and rent up 9%. Industrial production, energy, and non-residential construction continued to exhibit strong demand.

“Our solid same-store sales results show the sustained momentum we are generating through our core business and strategic product initiatives,” said Airgas Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter McCausland. “Acquisitions contributed nicely to our sales growth this quarter, and we expect to complete some significant acquisitions in the near future as well.”

McCausland continued, “We improved operating margins by 90 basis points year over year to 10.2%. Our results reflect not only sales growth, but also improvements in operational efficiency. We are executing well with expense and price discipline to stay ahead of the cost curve and to deliver the products and services our customers need.” He noted that the pricing actions in the first quarter took effect on June 26 in the final days of the quarter.

“Given the continued momentum in sales and earnings growth, we expect to earn $0.45 to $0.47 per diluted share in the second quarter, and we are increasing our full-year EPS guidance to $1.85 to $1.92. Our associates continue to create value in many different ways, and we are optimistic about the future.”

The current quarter marks the Company’s prospective adoption of SFAS 123R, Share-Based Payment. The accounting change increased expense by $0.02 per share in the first quarter. Also included in the first quarter is a one-time $0.02 per share benefit related to a recent change in state tax law.

The Company will conduct an earnings teleconference at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 27. The teleconference will be available by calling (877) 704-5385. The presentation materials (this press release, slides to be presented during the Company’s teleconference, and information about how to access a live and on-demand webcast of the teleconference) are available in the “Investor Information” section under the “Company Information” heading on the Company’s Internet site at www.airgas.com. A webcast of the teleconference will be available live and on demand through August 25 at http://www.shareholder.com/arg/medialist.cfm. A replay of the teleconference will be available through August 4. To listen, call (888) 203-1112 and enter passcode 4789001.

About Airgas, Inc.

Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), through its subsidiaries, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, and hardgoods, such as welding equipment and supplies. Airgas is also the third-largest U.S. distributor of safety products, the largest U.S. producer of nitrous oxide and dry ice, the largest liquid carbon dioxide producer in the Southeast, and a leading distributor of process chemicals, refrigerants and ammonia products. Its 10,000 employees work in about 900 locations including branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution centers. Airgas also distributes its products and services through eBusiness, catalog and telesales channels. Its national scale and strong local presence offer a competitive edge to its diversified customer base. For more information, please visit www.airgas.com.

# # #

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements that are forward looking, as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: expectations for completing significant acquisitions in the near future; our expense and price discipline to

stay ahead of the cost curve and to deliver the products and services that customers need; our continued momentum in sales and earnings growth; our expectation of earnings per diluted share of $1.85 to $1.92 in fiscal 2007 and $0.45 to $0.47 in the second quarter; and our optimism about the future. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations regarding important risk factors and should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the results expressed therein will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement include: our ability to successfully consummate and integrate the significant pending acquisitions; a disruption to our business from integration problems associated with acquisitions; customer acceptance of the implemented and future price increases; supply cost pressures; increased industry competition; an economic downturn; adverse changes in customer buying patterns; significant fluctuations in interest rates; the impact of unexpected stock-based compensation expense; increases in energy costs and other operating expenses; the inability to obtain alternative supply sources to adequately meet customer demand; our ability to refinance certain of our debt obligations as they mature; the effect of hurricanes and other catastrophic events; political and economic uncertainties associated with current world events; and other factors described in the Company’s reports, including Form 10-K dated March 31, 2006, filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Consolidated statements of earnings, consolidated condensed balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows follow.

AIRGAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	June 30,
	2006			2005
Net sales	$	773,036		$	678,125
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold (excl. deprec.)		383,219			334,863
Selling, distribution and administrative expenses		275,977			249,849
Depreciation		33,162			29,110
Amortization		1,772			1,299
Total costs and expenses		694,130			615,121
Operating income		78,906			63,004
Interest expense, net		(13,676	)		(13,944	)
Discount on securitization of trade receivables		(3,336	)		(1,848	)
Other income, net		213			912
Earnings before income tax expense and minority interest		62,107			48,124
Income tax expense		(22,744	)		(18,135	)
Minority interest in earnings of consolidated affiliate		(711	)		(522	)
Income from continuing operations		38,652			29,467
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		—			180
Net earnings	$	38,652		$	29,647
NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
BASIC
Earnings from continuing operations	$	0.50		$	0.39
Earnings from discontinued operations		—			—
Net earnings per share	$	0.50		$	0.39
DILUTED
Earnings from continuing operations	$	0.48		$	0.38
Earnings from discontinued operations		—			—
Net earnings per share	$	0.48		$	0.38
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		77,557			76,252
Diluted		82,436			77,951

See attached notes.

AIRGAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands)

	(Unaudited)
	June 30,		March 31,
	2006		2006
ASSETS
Cash	$	33,118	$	34,985
Trade accounts receivable, net		159,696		132,245
Inventories, net		234,603		229,523
Deferred income tax asset, net		24,411		30,141
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		29,125		31,622
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS		480,953		458,516
Plant and equipment, net		1,428,337		1,398,757
Goodwill		570,625		566,074
Other intangible assets, net		27,721		26,248
Other non-current assets		24,404		24,817
TOTAL ASSETS	$	2,532,040	$	2,474,412
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable, trade		128,669		143,752
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		198,484		200,001
Current portion of long-term debt		106,010		131,901
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES		433,163		475,654
Long-term debt		675,825		635,726
Deferred income tax liability, net		338,150		327,818
Other non-current liabilities		35,394		30,864
Minority interest in affiliate		57,191		57,191
Stockholders’ equity		992,317		947,159
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	2,532,040	$	2,474,412

See attached notes.

AIRGAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended			Three Months Ended
	June 30, 2006			June 30, 2005
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net earnings	$	38,652		$	29,647
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		33,162			29,110
Amortization		1,772			1,299
Deferred income taxes		14,574			11,082
Loss on sales of plant and equipment		128			122
Minority interest in earnings		711			522
Stock-based compensation expense		2,752			—
Stock issued for employee stock purchase plan		2,822			2,514
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding effects of business acquisitions and divestitures:
Securitization of trade receivables		(9,700	)		24,700
Trade receivables, net		(16,222	)		(12,938	)
Inventories, net		(3,529	)		(3,555	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,174			8,954
Accounts payable, trade		(12,444	)		(13,883	)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(14,177	)		(3,944	)
Other long-term assets		(1,314	)		3,141
Other long-term liabilities		3,643			(272	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		43,004			76,499
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures		(62,704	)		(47,265	)
Proceeds from sales of plant and equipment		1,263			735
Business acquisitions and holdback settlements		(3,814	)		(72,850	)
Other, net		492			398
Net cash used in investing activities		(64,763	)		(118,982	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from borrowings		166,219			187,008
Repayment of debt		(152,010	)		(176,525	)
Minority interest in earnings		(711	)		(522	)
Exercise of stock options		4,799			5,387
Minority stockholder note prepayment		—			21,000
Dividends paid to stockholders		(5,433	)		(4,631	)
Cash overdraft		7,028			13,425
Net cash provided by financing activities		19,892			45,142
Change in cash	$	(1,867	)	$	2,659
Cash – Beginning of period		34,985			32,640
Cash – End of period	$	33,118		$	35,299

See attached notes.

Notes:

(a)	The Company divested its subsidiary, Rutland Tool & Supply Co. (“Rutland Tool”), in December 2005. The results of Rutland Tool for the three months ended June 30, 2005 have been reclassified in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings as “discontinued operations.” The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows were not reclassified to reflect discontinued operations because the cash flows of Rutland Tool were not significant.
(b)	Effective April 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, Share-Based Payment, (“SFAS 123R”) using the modified prospective method. The new standard requires the Company to estimate the value of stock options, including options to purchase shares under its Employee Stock Purchase Plan, issued to employees and recognize the estimated cost in earnings over the period in which the options vest. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R, the Company used the intrinsic value method outlined in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 to account for stock-based compensation. For the three months ended June 30, 2006, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $2.7 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. Since the Company adopted SFAS 123R prospectively, no stock-based compensation expense was reflected in earnings prior to April 1, 2006.
(c)	The Company participates in a securitization agreement with two commercial banks to sell up to $250 million of qualified trade receivables. Net proceeds from the securitization were used to reduce borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facilities. The amount of outstanding receivables sold under the agreement was $234.5 million and $244.2 million at June 30, 2006 and March 31, 2006, respectively.
(d)	The tables below present the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

	Three Months Ended
	June 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2006		2005
Basic Earnings per Share Computation
Numerator
Income from continuing operations	$	38,652	$	29,467
Income from discontinued operations		—		180
Net earnings	$	38,652	$	29,647
Denominator
Basic shares outstanding		77,557		76,252
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations	$	0.50	$	0.39
Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations		—		—
Basic net earnings per share	$	0.50	$	0.39

	Three Months Ended
	June 30,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2006		2005
Diluted Earnings per Share Computation
Numerator
Income from continuing operations	$	38,652	$	29,467
Plus: Preferred stock dividends (1)(2)		711		—
Plus: Income taxes on earnings of National Welders (3)		214		—
Income from continuing operations assuming the preferred stock conversion		39,577		29,467
Income from discontinued operations		—		180
Net earnings assuming preferred stock conversion	$	39,577	$	29,647
Denominator
Basic shares outstanding		77,557		76,252
Incremental shares from assumed conversions:
Stock options and Employee Stock Purchase Plan		2,552		1,699
Preferred stock of National Welders (1)		2,327		—
Diluted shares outstanding		82,436		77,951
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations	$	0.48	$	0.38
Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations		—		—
Diluted net earnings per share	$	0.48	$	0.38

(1)	Pursuant to a joint venture agreement between the Company and the holders of the preferred stock of National Welders, until June 2009, the preferred shareholders have the option to exchange their 3.2 million preferred shares of National Welders either for cash at a price of $17.78 per share or to tender them to the joint venture in exchange for approximately 2.3 million shares of Airgas common stock. If Airgas common stock has a market value of $24.45 per share, the stock and cash redemption options are equivalent. Since the average market price of Airgas common stock for the three months ended June 30, 2006 was in excess of $24.45 per share, conversion of the preferred stock was assumed. The conversion of the preferred stock was not assumed in the three months ended June 30, 2005 because the average market price of Airgas common stock was less than $24.45 per share.
(2)	If the preferred stockholders of National Welders convert their preferred stock to Airgas common stock, the 5% preferred stock dividend, recognized as “Minority interest in earnings of consolidated affiliate,” would no longer be paid to the preferred stockholders, resulting in additional net earnings for Airgas.
(3)	The earnings of National Welders for tax purposes are treated as a deemed dividend to Airgas, net of an 80% dividend exclusion. Upon the assumed conversion of National Welders preferred stock to Airgas common stock, National Welders would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Airgas. As a wholly owned subsidiary, the net earnings of National Welders would not be subject to additional tax at the Airgas level.

(e) Business segment information for the Company’s Distribution and All Other Operations segments is shown below:

	(Unaudited)									(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended									Three Months Ended
	June 30, 2006									June 30, 2005
			All									All
			Other									Other
(In thousands)	Dist.		Ops.		Elim			Combined		Dist.		Ops.		Elim			Combined
Gas and rent	$	332,004	$	117,183	$	(14,486	)	$	434,701	$	299,857	$	92,680	$	(13,617	)	$	378,920
Hardgoods		317,249		22,602		(1,516	)		338,335		281,661		18,811		(1,267	)		299,205
Total net sales		649,253		139,785		(16,002	)		773,036		581,518		111,491		(14,884	)		678,125
Cost of products sold, excluding deprec. expense		331,595		67,626		(16,002	)		383,219		296,958		52,789		(14,884	)		334,863
Selling, distribution and administrative expenses		229,883		46,094		—			275,977		212,084		37,765		—			249,849
Depreciation expense		25,825		7,337		—			33,162		22,813		6,297		—			29,110
Amortization expense		1,309		463		—			1,772		1,161		138		—			1,299
Operating income		60,641		18,265		—			78,906		48,502		14,502		—			63,004