Maxima Air Separation Center Ltd.

Maxima Air Separation Center Ltd. is one of Israel’s leading producers of industrial gases, applications, systems and services. The company manufactures, markets and supplies a wide range of industrial and medical gases including oxygen, nitrogen, argon, acetylene, helium, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and other special gases. These gases are used in the food, chemical, metal, electronics and pharmaceutical industries as well as in healthcare. Maxima also provides equipment and services for the defense, the health services, the food, agriculture and fisheries sectors.Maxima has extensive experience in gas applications and provides customers with advice on professional matters and safety. Maxima Medical, a subsidiary company, markets medical gases and medical devices (such as respiratory medical devices, devices for diagnosing and treating sleep disorders). Services for home care treatment are also provided.Maxima was founded in 1974 by two private businessmen – Maxi Librati and Maurice Kahan. In the following year the company’s Air Separation Plant in Mitzpeh Ramon was inaugurated, and in 1997, Maxima’s production capability was increased with the establishment of an additional plant in Ramat Hovav which supplies piped gas to customers like Teva, Makhteshim-Agan and Israel Chemicals, as well as compressed gas and bulk gas in liquid form. The company has been trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange since 1984.From 1996 to 2008, the company was controlled by Praxair, one of the world’s largest industrial gas manufacturers with global annual sales of $10 billion. In April 2008, Discount Investments (DIC, which had previously owned 24% of the company) acquired Praxair's shares and increased its holding to 75.5% of the company. As part of this change of ownership, Maxima has been designated as a “Praxair Technology Associate” getting access to Praxair’s safety, operation and technology databases.