TW Cylinders LLC, a division of Taylor-Wharton International LLC (www.TaylorWharton.com) announced in early August that it reinstated surcharges on all invoices covering acetylene and high pressure cylinder shipments.

The company said the basis for the adjustments are the direct pass-through of fuel surcharges currently charged by the freight carriers and other suppliers serving Taylor-Wharton's factories and its customers.

The company said its customers signed acknowledgement documents to confirm their obligation to pay surcharges related to raw materials, energy, fuel and other cost components that are assessed by the company's suppliers.

The company's surcharge acknowledgement said that it is making efforts to stabilize costs, but that for the foreseeable future surcharges and increases from its suppliers would continue to be assessed and adjusted.

“Taylor-Wharton cannot absorb these extraordinary cost escalations. Our suppliers do not expect stabilization of prices and surcharges related to raw materials, energy, fuel, component parts and other products and services necessary to operate our factories. Taylor-Wharton must pass on these costs to our customers until prices and surcharges from our vendors stabilize,” the company's statement said.

In addition, the company said it may assess surcharges beginning with orders received on or after October 7, 2005, for products manufactured at its Theodore, Ala.; Huntsville, Ala.; and, Harrisburg, Pa., facilities “as dictated by price increases and surcharges assessed by our suppliers.”

The complete text of the Taylor-Wharton's “Surcharge Acknowledgement” is available at the company's Internet site.

Taylor-Wharton International LLC operates 20 manufacturing, sales, warehouse and service facilities in 6 countries on 4 continents, and markets its products in more than 80 countries worldwide.