Many inventions for the automotive, aviation and metals industries were made at the site that Praxair Surface Technologies still operates as its headquarters—1500 Polco Street in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The site dates to 1912 when the Prest-O-Lite company established a factory to manufacture its acetylene cylinders as an indispensable accessory for American automobile headlights. In 1917 Prest-O-Lite joined with several other companies to form Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation. In 1947 the Prest-O-Lite division became part of the Union Carbide Linde Division. In the late 1940s, after World War II, the Linde Company conducted an investigation of acetylene detonation to discover safer methods for handling and shipping the gas. These studies revealed that the destructive force of these detonations could be turned into useful work.

Quick Links » Contact Sales » Customer Service » Plant Locations Related Topics » Careers » Executive Profiles » Locations » News & Events » Sustainability

The modern thermal spray industry is born
The research efforts were then redirected toward developing an improved process to deposit quality hard-surface coatings superior to the type already being applied by the oxyacetylene spray method used since the 1800s. This led to the invention of the detonation gun (or D-Gun) coating process for plating metal and ceramic coatings on metal components, patented in 1955. In 1992, we became Praxair Surface Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX). Many of the coating technologies that remain standards in the industry today were invented by Praxair Surface Technologies, including detonation gun, Super D-Gun™, plasma spray, and high-velocity oxy fuel coating processes. In 1998, ASM International (the Information Materials Society) recognized our Speedway Laboratories as a historical landmark. Innovation has continued over the years via invention or acquisition of new technologies.

Important dates in Praxair Surface Technologies history:

	1948		Detonation gun (D-Gun) coating concept originated; patented in 1955; continues to be the leading thermal spray process when extraordinary wear and mechanical properties are needed
	1951		First coating plant is established on Main Street in Speedway, Indiana (located within greater Indianapolis) to support the aviation industry and the new jet engine
	1958		Flame spray and high-velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) patents issued
	1962		Plasma spray process patent issued
	1976		A dedicated thermal spray powder manufacturing facility in Indianapolis is established, allowing Praxair Surface Technologies greater quality control over the coating process from the manufacture of gases, equipment, and now powders and other raw materials
	1978		Joint development venture for the printing market in England produced the first printing rolls utilizing a ceramic coating
	1982		Introduced our first laser-engraved anilox rolls to serve the flexographic printing market
	1990		Super D-Gun™ coatings are introduced, which prove to be even harder, stronger, and more wear-resistant in the most severe conditions when compared to traditional detonation gun coatings
	1995		The Tribomet™ electrodeposition process is introduced
	1996		Praxair adds the SG-100 plasma torch and alloy powder line to its holdings
	1999		Praxair acquires the TAFA equipment business and its JP-5000 HVOF device and powders
	2002		Platinum aluminide (Pt-Al) plating for thermal barrier coating bond coating is added to the company's product line via a licensing agreement
	2003		The Proline® series of laser-engraved printing rolls with its breakthrough open-cell technology is introduced with its trademark ART™ and TIF™ engravings
	2008		Nickel-boride electroless plating is acquired via a licensing agreement
	2009		Praxair acquires Sermatech International and its line of high-performance slurries for aviation, energy, and other industrial markets, including SermeTel®, SermaLube®, SermaLoy™, SermaGard®, SermaFlow®, SermAlcote™, ShorCoat®, SermaLon®, SermaLube®, SermaBond®, SermaSeal®, SermeTel® 5380D.P.®, Metbond®, and BlueArmor® coatings
	2010		Praxair introduces its revolutionary chrome-free slurry coatings for aviation applications