Gas Supply Agreement

Hardide PLC 26 October 2007 Press Release 26 October 2007 Hardide plc ('Hardide' or 'the Company' or 'the Group') Hardide secures global gas supply agreement with BOC Hardide plc (AIM:HDD), the provider of unique surface engineering technology, is pleased to announce that it has negotiated a global supply agreement with leading gases company BOC. The agreement will ensure the security and quality of supply of tungsten hexafluoride, the Group's most expensive and prolifically used raw material, at a significantly reduced price. The global supply agreement will last from 1 December 2007 to 1 December 2010, with the Company possessing an option to extend the agreement by a further two years to 1 December 2012. The Hardide plc Board estimates the contract will save the Group a minimum of £600,000 over the first three years. The deal, which is the result of eighteen months of negotiation and testing of supply, will also significantly reduce the Group's working capital requirement while securing continuity of supply of the exact purity of gas required at the Group's manufacturing plants in both the UK and US. The deal also includes all future Hardide production facilities. BOC, a member of The Linde Group, will hold strategic stocks of tungsten hexafluoride on a five day lead time and will also supply Hardide with other speciality gases used in the manufacturing process at significantly reduced rates. Tungsten hexafluoride is one of the key gases used in the chemical vapour deposition (CVD) process that produces the unique tungsten carbide-based component coating which Hardide has developed for use in high wear industries such as oil and gas, and aerospace. Peter Davenport, Financial Director of Hardide plc, said: 'This is an excellent deal for the Group as this contract gives us security and continuity of supply of such a strategically critical raw material. BOC listened carefully to our requirements and worked hard to develop a favourable solution.' Martin Teller, Sales and Marketing Manager for BOC commented: 'We are delighted at working with such an innovative company as Hardide, and we look forward to serving their growing requirement for this important raw material.' Ends For further information: Hardide plc Jim Murray Smith, Chief Executive / Tel: +44 (0) 1869 353 830 Jackie Robinson, Head of Communications jmurray-smith@hardide.com www.hardide.com Seymour Pierce Nicola Marrin Tel: +44 (0) 20 7107 8000 Media enquiries: Abchurch Chris Lane / George Parker Tel: +44 (0) 20 7398 7700 chris.lane@abchurch-group.com www.abchurch-group.com Notes to editors: Hardide Coatings Hardide provides and applies tungsten carbide-based coatings to a wide range of engineering components. The Company's patented technology is unique in that it combines both abrasion and corrosion resistant properties in one coating. When applied to components, the technology is proven to offer dramatic cost savings through reduced downtime and extended component life. Customers include leading companies operating in oil and gas exploration and production, valve and pumps manufacturing, general engineering and aerospace. BOC BOC is a member of The Linde Group. An industrial and speciality gases provider, the company supplies compressed and bulk gases, chemicals and equipment. In fiscal year 2005, BOC achieved sales of approximately €5 billion. For more than a century the company's gases and expertise have contributed to advances in many industries and aspects of everyday life, including steelmaking, refining, chemical processing, environmental protection, wastewater treatment, welding and cutting, food processing and distribution, glass production, electronics and health care. For more information, visit BOC www.boc-gases.com. The Linde Group The Linde Group is a world leading industrial gases and engineering company with 49,000 employees working in around 70 countries worldwide. Following the acquisition of The BOC Group the company has gases and engineering sales of approximately €12 billion. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. For more information, visit www.Linde.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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Hardide (HDD)
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