TOKYO, Japan (July 19, 2006)—Luxfer Gas Cylinders, the world’s largest manufacturer of high-pressure aluminum and composite cylinders, announced today that SK Cylinder Corporation will become a distributor of Luxfer products in Japan.

Luxfer also announced that Luxfer Japan, its subsidiary company, will be closed.

“This new partnership with SK Cylinder offers Luxfer better opportunities for future growth in the Japanese market,” said John Rhodes, Luxfer Gas Cylinders president. “SK is a well established, successful business with both the infrastructure and sales organization to market Luxfer products to a wide range of new customers. We believe this decision greatly strengthens Luxfer’s prospects in Japan.”

Luxfer plans to begin transferring business to SK Cylinder as soon as possible.

An operating company of Kanto Koatsu-Yoki Manufacturing Company, Ltd., SK Cylinder Corporation is a major supplier of welded and seamless steel cylinders and aluminum cylinders for a variety of applications, including beverage, medical, fire extinguisher and industrial manufacturing. The company was founded in Tokyo in 1960.

Luxfer Gas Cylinders is an operating company of Luxfer Group, founded in England in 1898. With manufacturing facilities in England, France, the United States and China, Luxfer Gas Cylinders serves customers in global gas markets, including medical, life support, alternative fuel vehicles, fire extinguisher, beverage, scuba, paintball, automotive and industrial gases.