ARG

Airgas Inc

A major U.S. supplier of industrial, medical, and specialty gases — oxygen, nitrogen, argon, helium, and more — along with welding equipment and safety gear used by factories, hospitals, and welders nationwide. The company began in 1982 when Peter McCausland and Thomas Mason bought a small Connecticut gas distributor, then grew into one of the largest packaged-gas networks in the country through hundreds of acquisitions. Its simple name is a blend of "air" and "gas" — and its early years famously included fending off a hostile takeover from a bigger rival before being acquired by France's Air Liquide in 2016.