MG Industries Gas Technology & Services Group--GT&S-- Appoints New Vice President of Marketing...

MALVERN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 1999--

"With his background and extensive experience in our field," says

Michael Masha, GT&S General Manager, "it's a further commitment to

growing our business and increasing our profitability."

Richard Betzendahl will

Betzendahl brings over twenty years of highly successful leadership and experience in the industrial gas business, including general management of a $55 million retail gases and welding supply business and various sales management and staff marketing management roles where he was responsible for industrial, specialty and medical gases, as well as distributors.

In his new role, Betzendahl will be responsible for GT&S's marketing strategy and customer segmentation, product management, program development, field training and national accounts.

Reporting to Betzendahl will the areas of Specialty Gas Sales/Key Accounts, Welding Sales/Key Accounts, Distributor Cylinder Gases, Industrial Hard Goods, Specialty Hard Goods, Marketing & Merchandising, Export Sales and other support positions as this new dynamic team is built.

"With the background and the extensive experience Dick has in our field," Michael Masha, General Manager of GT&S, states, "he will be able to support me in reshaping GT&S for the new millenium. It's another example of the commitment we're making to growing our business, increasing our profitability, and bringing a higher level of value to our customers."

Betzendahl has his degree in Biology from Franklin Pierce College and is a member of the Cryogenic Society, AWS and NWSA. He lives in Kennett Square, PA with his wife, Coni and their two daughters, Lindsay and Ashley.

MG Industries, a leading industrial gas company operating in the United States and Canada, supplies industrial and process gases and the technology to use these gases effectively, serving customers through a network of strategically placed production and distribution sites.

In addition to selling specialty gases in cylinders and dewars and supplies, MG Industries sells bulk gas liquid gases and builds pipelines and on-site plants. With 1998 sales in excess of $360 million, MG Industries employs over 1,400 people in the United States and Canada and operates over 70 production plants and facilities.

MG Industries is a member of the Messer Group, one of the largest industrial gas companies worldwide, with more than $1.8 billion in sales. With over 200 companies and over 14,700 employees, the Messer Group operates in 60 countries.