Airgas, Inc. (www.airgas.com) announced in early April it acquired Airtec, Inc. and Byrne Specialty Gases, Inc.

Airtec (www.airtecinc.net) is a an industrial gas and welding supply distributor with six locations in Wisconsin and one in Minneapolis.

Airtec is based in Altoona, Wis., and generated about $13 million in sales in 2005. It employs about 60 people, and will be integrated into Airgas North Central.

Byrne Specialty Gases (www.byrnegas.net) is a distributor of specialty gases and related equipment and cryogenic storage systems based in Seattle.

The acquisition included two facilities one in Seattle and on in Vancouver, Wash. that employ 45 associates. The operations generated more than $10 million in annual sales last year. Airgas said it will run the business as a dedicated unit within Airgas Nor Pac.

Airgas North Central and Airgas Nor Pac are among Airgas's 13 regional companies.