DANBURY, CT – Praxair, Inc. and Praxair Canada have signed a strategic alliance with Powertech Labs, Inc. to jointly market and sell Praxair’s hydrogen and Powertech’s hydrogen fueling equipment to materials handling customers, specifically to distribution centers for hydrogen fuel-cell powered forklifts.

The alliance between Praxair and Powertech combines North America’s largest liquid hydrogen producer with a leader in innovative hydrogen fueling systems to provide reliable, cost-effective hydrogen fueling to fill a growing need. In 2002, Powertech designed and built the world’s first 700-bar fast-fill hydrogen fueling station, and has since designed, built and installed a host of increasingly innovative and technically advanced mobile and permanent high-pressure vehicle fueling systems.

“Praxair and Powertech bring many years of combined experience and expertise in both hydrogen supply and fueling equipment to successfully meet the growing needs of these leading-edge customers,” said Scott Sanderude, vice president, Marketing & Business Development, for Praxair’s North American Industrial Gases business unit.

“Powertech is a leader in providing clean energy consulting, testing and systems solutions,” said Eamonn Percy, PowerTech president. “Distribution centers with large materials handling fleets are realizing the benefits of hydrogen fuel-cell powered forklifts. This alliance will help increase their productivity while potentially decreasing costs associated with operating traditional battery-powered forklifts.”