A unit of Danbury industrial-gas maker Praxair Inc. bought one of its long-time customers, Texas Welders Supply Co. in Houston — its second buyout of a Houston welding-gas supplier in as many months.
No price tag was revealed for Praxair Distribution Inc.’s purchase due to close New Year’s Eve.
Texas Welders, formed in 1983 and controlled by the Chenoweth family, is the Houston area’s largest independent gas and welding products distributor, with projected 2011 sales of $56 million and 130 employees.
It has four locations, including a state-of-the-art cylinder filling plant and specialty gas laboratory located in north Houston.
Houston is one of America’s top five welding markets, due to the presence of so many on- and offshore-drilling rig manufacturers and servicing companies. Welders rely heavily on oxygen, nitrogen and other gases Praxair produces.
In October, Praxair paid an undisclosed sum for Houston independent welding gas supplier National Alloy and Equipment Inc.
