In early October, Airgas, Inc. named Robert McLaughlin senior vice president and chief financial officer.

McLaughlin succeeds Roger Millay, who resigned in September.McLaughlin had been named interim CFO to replace Millay. He joined Airgas in 2001 as vice president and controller.

“In the past few years, we have put in place many important financial and operational disciplines that have helped our people succeed and our shareholders prosper,” said McLaughlin. “I look forward to meeting the challenges and opportunities ahead as we continue to move this organization forward.”

Before joining Airgas, McLaughlin served as vice president-finance for Asbury Automotive Group, an automotive retailer.

“Bob has continuously demonstrated his strong financial leadership in many aspects of our business, including major initiatives, such as our Sarbanes Oxley compliance work and the development of [our] Central Accounting Group,” said Airgas chairman and CEO Peter McCausland.

At the same time, Airgas announced that John van Roden, Jr., executive vice president of P.H. Glatfelter Co., joined its board of directors. Glatfelter is a global specialty paper producer headquartered in York, Pa.

Van Roden will complete the term of director Robert Yohe, who retired from the board.

“John's experience as a chief financial officer will blend well with the expertise of our other board members,” McCausland said, adding that van Roden would serve initially on the Audit Committee.

October also saw Airgas announce plans to build an air separation unit in Carrollton, Ky., on the grounds of Airgas customer Dow Corning Corp.

The unit will help Dow Corning meet its increasing demand for bulk and packaged gases. The facility is expected to be completed in 2008.

The plant will have the capacity to liquefy at least 350 tons per day of nitrogen, oxygen and argon. Its expandable design will support additional pipeline customers and liquid production.

“We look forward to serving Dow Corning's needs with this new state-of-the-art production facility,” said Mike Molinini, Airgas' executive vice president and COO. “We will operate the new plant within our Gas Operations Division, which has the necessary expertise to run the production plant.”

Airgas' Gas Operations Division operates air separation plants, carbon dioxide production plants, and nitrous oxide production facilities nationwide.

Airgas, which ranked sixth in Industrial Distribution's Big 50 distributors this year, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical, specialty gases, welding equipment and supplies.