Praxair Inc. announced it has signed a long-term contract to provide nitrogen to Toray Carbon Fibers America Inc. Praxair will build, own and operate an air separation plant that will supply Toray with nitrogen for use in manufacturing carbon fiber at its new Spartanburg County, South Carolina facility. The carbon fiber will be used by aerospace, automotive, sporting goods and other manufacturing customers regionally and internationally. Praxair's plant is expected to start up in 2017.