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Mark Gruninger was named president of Praxair Surface Technologies, a global supplier of high-performance surface coatings, in 2006. Gruninger joined Praxair Surface Technologies in 1987 as a senior project engineer and led engineering and technology programs in advanced materials. He subsequently held positions as associate technology director, business manager for polishing products and vice president, Specialty Products. In 2002, he was appointed vice president of Praxair Electronics, with global responsibility for products and services supplied to the semiconductor industry. He became vice president, South Region, for the North American Industrial Gases business unit in 2005, responsible for Praxair’s business in a seven-state region which includes the company’s largest pipeline complex, along the Texas Gulf Coast A native of Martinsville, New Jersey, Gruninger earned bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in ceramic engineering from Rutgers University. He also holds a master's of science degree in management from Purdue University. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2006 sales of $8.3 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com. | 