Gases & Welding Distributor articles from September 2003

Gases & Welding Distributor archives from September 2003

The unanswered question.(future of the gases and welding distribution industry)
September 1, 2003... Every year at this time, as the GAWDA Annual Meeting approaches, I find myself in wonder at how quickly the past year flew by. It seems only yesterday that we were all getting ready to head down to Orlando for last year's meeting. As...

Reflections on a rewarding year: thanks for the memories.(farewell address from Gas and Welding Distributors Association president)
September 1, 2003... Thank you very much. I have really appreciated you letting me serve as your president this last year. I enjoyed the power and prestige of the office so much I asked to stay on for another year. However, the association's answer was "no,"...

Web wise.
September 1, 2003... Proton Energy Systems, Wallinford, CT, launched its Hogen Hydrogen Generator Online Store at www.protonenery.com/catalog/. Companies now have a place to order maintenance parts, ancillary equipment, product manuals, and safety information...

Matheson forms equipment team.(Industry News; Matheson Tri-Gas Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., Parsippany, NJ, announced the formation of a Electronic & Specialty Gas (ESG) Equipment Team. Formed to address the varied and specialized needs of customers requiring high-purity gas delivery systems in the...

Airgas, goodrich sign agreement.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Airgas, Inc., Radnor, PA, signed an agreement with Goodrich Corporation, Charlotte, NC, to be Goodrich's preferred supplier of industrial gases, welding supplies, and safety products. Strategic Account Managers and teams within Airgas' 12...

Companies announce partnership.(Industry News)(MicroAnalytics, Next Generation Logistics)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... MicroAnalytics, Inc., Arlington, VA, and Next Generation Logistics, Inc. announce a partnership to create a solution in managing freight. MicroAnalytics' TruckStops Routing and Scheduling Software produces cost-efficient vehicle routes while...

BOC launches delivery service.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... BOC, Reading, PA, enhanced its capabilities and instituted new ordering and fulfillment procedures at a Pennsylvania distribution center. The center serves welding equipment customers and company-owned retail outlets within a 75-mile radius of...

Don Bradley and his company, Coating Solutions and Polymet, Cincinnati, OH, have joined forces to promote products in the thermal spray market.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Don Bradley and his company, Coating Solutions and Polymet, Cincinnati, OH, have joined forces to promote products in the thermal spray market. Bradley will concentrate his efforts on the West Coast and will work closely with Polymet's...

Wall Colmonoy Corp.(wins preferred supplier award)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Wall Colmonoy Corp., Madison Heights, MI, has been selected for the Preferred Supplier Award from Modine Manufacturing Company, Racine, WI. Five companies out of 1,100 suppliers qualified for the award. Dr. S. Rangaswamy, director of technical...

Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc.(wins award)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., Parsippany, NJ, was selected as one of this year's award winners for the 2002 "World Class Supplier Achievement Award" by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Austin, TX. AMD hosted the awards ceremony in Austin. Alex Brown,...

Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, TN, honored Airgas, Radnor, PA, with its 2003 Supplier Excellence Award.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, TN, honored Airgas, Radnor, PA, with its 2003 Supplier Excellence Award. Accepting the award were Glenn Fischer, president and COO, and Bob Hilliard, president of Airgas Mid America.

Wheelabrator.(wins award for workplace safety)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Georgia Department of Labor recently awarded Wheelabrator, LaGrange, GA, the Award of Excellence for workplace safety. This award recognizes companies that surpass a minimum of 250 workdays with no lost-time injuries, illnesses, or...

ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc., Cambridge, ON, announced it sold the intellectual property and key operating assets of its Eco-Snow System Inc. division to the BOC Group, Reading, PA, for $6.4 million as part of a new strategic alliance between the two companies.(Snapshot)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc., Cambridge, ON, announced it sold the intellectual property and key operating assets of its Eco-Snow System Inc. division to the BOC Group, Reading, PA, for $6.4 million as part of a new strategic alliance...

Fluke Corp.(wins award)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Fluke Corp., Everett, WA, announced the Fluke SureGrip accessory line won a silver award in the annual ISDA/Business Week magazine industrial design competition. The line has eight items ergonomically-designed test lead clips, hooks, and...

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.(Snapshot)
September 1, 2003... The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, Washington, D.C., congratulates the House of Representatives for passing the Death Tax Repeal Permanency. The legislation was passed by a 264 to 163 vote with 41 Democrats joining 223...

F&M Mafco.(plans to construct cylinder fill plant)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... F&M Mafco. Cincinnati, OH, announced plans to construct a cylinder fill plant expanding the existing Harrison Operation. The family-owned firm will strengthen its emphasis on welding equipment and supplies, and compressed gas sales in the...

Arconix Group Oxnard, CA, entered into and exclusive wholesale-distribution agreement with SPS Technologies Inc.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Arconix group Oxnard, Ca, entered into and exclusive wholesale-distribution agreement with SPC Technologies Inc. The agreement designates Arconix/Mexico as the exclusive authorized fulfillment and distribution source of supply throughout Mexico...

VSM Abrasives Corporation.(new grain processing facility completed)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... VSM Abrasives Corporation, Hannover, Germany, completed construction of its new grain processing facility. The 30,000 [ft.sup.2] building consolidates all grain treatments into one allowing for better quality control. The facility is adjacent...

GAWDA calendar.(Gases and Welding Distributors Association)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
September 1, 2003... 2004 Spring Management Conference April 4-6 Hilton Chicago & Towers Chicago Chicago, IL The 2004 Annual GAWDA Convention October 3-6, 2003 Caesar's Palate Las Vegas, NV Non-members are invited to register one individual for the GAWDA...

Obituary.(Estelle Matasovic co-founder of Universal Welding Supply and OXO Welding Equipment Company dies)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
September 1, 2003... Estelle Matasovic died June 16, 2003 at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago at age 86. She and her late husband, John, co-founded Universal Welding Supply, distributor of welding supplies, and OXO Welding Equipment Company,...

Harson Gas & Fuild Control Group.(Russell C. Snyder appointed)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Harson Gas & Fluid Control Group, Camp Hill, PA -- Russell C. Snyder, representing the company's specialty and electronic grade cylinder valve product lines.

Swagelok.(Arthur F. Anton elected president )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Swagelok, Solon, OH -- Arthur F. Anton, elected to president and chief executive officer effective Jan. 1 2004.

La-Co Industries, Inc./Markal Company.(Tracy Tryboski appointed product marketing specialist)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... La-Co Industries, Inc./Markal Company, Elk Grove, IL -- Tracy Tryboski, product marketing specialist for the industrial business unit.

Interstate Welding Sales Corp.(Pamela Swanson appointed)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Interstate Welding Sales Corp., Marinette, WI -- Pamela Swanson, vice president and chief operating officer.

Cavagna North America, Inc.(Km S. O'Hagan appointed sales/marketing coordinator)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Cavagna North America, Inc., Branchburg, NJ -- Kim S. O'Hagan, sales/marketing coordinator for the firm's LPG and High-Pressure Gas Valve businesses.

Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc.(John Smickenbecker appointed)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., Parsippany, NJ -- John Smickenbecker, director of electronic and specialty gas group equipment sales.

Airgas, Inc.(William O. Albertini elected to Board of Directors)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Airgas, Inc., Radnor, PA -- William O. Albertini, elected to a two-year term on the Board of Directors.

Knovel.(Kevin Batt appointed)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Knovel, Norwich, NY -- Kevin Batt, senior account manager for academic sales for the Atlantic Region.

Meeting the challenge of a changing economy: northwest passage: Facing consolidation in the timber industry and swing cycles in a profitable yet volatile electronics segment, Industrial Source, Eugene, Oregon, focuses on diversification in its core competencies and cultivating a passion for service.(Distributor Profile)(Company Profile)
September 1, 2003... Times are tough up in the Northwest. Yet, despite a soft national economy, massive consolidation in the timber industry, and extreme volatility in the local electronic industry, Industrial Source, Eugene, OR, has managed an annual growth rate...

Application details improve results: how to select a robotic welding cell: with details such as desired cycle times, quality levels, consumable costs, and preferences for welding process or power sources in hand, robotic application engineers can configure workcells and forecast a return on investment.(Robotics)
September 1, 2003... Welding managers increasingly find prepackaged robotic solutions cost effective as manufacturers and customers look for productivity and cost-savings from robotics and small fabrication companies. David Erbe, manager, applications...

Selecting the right engine-drive welder for the job.(Engine-Driven Welders; )
September 1, 2003... Where electricity is not available or plug-ins are not convenient, engine-driven welders are particularly useful to get a job done But, there are four other considerations to keep in mind when choosing this type of welder including application,...

Convention 2003: GAWDA treks to Vancouver: the 2003 Gases and Welding Distributors Association's 59th Annual Convention takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia Oct. 4-8.(Gases and Welding Distributor's Association)
September 1, 2003... Vancouver plays host to the Gases and Welding Distributor's Association 59th Annual (GAWDA) Convention, Oct. 4 - 8. This year's theme, "Outperforming the Economy," tackles the issue of the stagnant economy often cited as the biggest challenge...

The Gases and Welding Distributors Association's 59th Annual Convention Contact Booth Program.(GAWDA Show Exhibitors)(Illustration)
September 1, 2003... Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003--8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Center, Vancouver, British Columbia. COMPANY BOOTH Air Liquide America 400 Air Products and Chemicals ...

Communicating through computers.(E-commerce)
September 1, 2003... Providing various ways to communicate including emailing and instant messaging, the Internet is a time and cost efficient tool for all companies The following guide can help with selection of connections and Internet services right for your...

Keeping up with changing cylinder markets.
September 1, 2003... A shaky economy isn't the only bump in the road for the cylinders market. Restructuring, consolidations, and legacy costs are challenging the industry, too. But, through a market analysis, five strategies to help companies pull through these...

Cylinder filling made quick.
September 1, 2003... Hooking up cylinders is now easier than twisting on and off thread-style couplers. A new coupling connector, the quick-connect, grips and seals with one motion, making an operator's job easier, safer, and more efficient. In the gas filling...

FDA puts changes in motion: for the medical gas industry: an updated version of the medical gas guidelines has been released by the FDA. Including a modified tone, new provisions, fresh topics, and suggestive advice, the document represents the agency's thoughts on compliance with the regulations of [section] 21 CFR Parts 210 & 211.(Medical Gas Industry; Food and Drug Administration)
September 1, 2003... After almost 3 years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a draft of the new medical gas guidelines for comment. The document, Current Good Manufacturing Practice for Medical Gases, contains 45 pages of the agency's latest...

Equitable rewards: designing a salary and compensation package: although distributors make major investments in hard assets such as cylinders and trucks, people remain their most valuable asset. A common sense, equitable incentive system can work wonders when it comes to maintaining a happy, satisfied staff.(Marketing/Sales)
September 1, 2003... People, it's often said, are a distributor's most important asset. A workable incentive system helps mightily to maintain a happy and satisfied sales and management staff. Yet in many cases employees believe the incentive system in place at...

Ed Craig's Q&A.(Questions & Answers about welding)
September 1, 2003... Question: I custom-build drive shafts for garbage trucks. The shafts are highly stressed from all the starts and stops, I weld a tube to a yoke with a 60 [degree] bevel included angle. I leave at least 0.090 in. gap between bevels. The yokes...

Nitrogen asphyxiation hazards underscore need for safe practices.(CGA Commentary)
September 1, 2003... The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) held a public meeting on June 25, 2003, in Washington, D.C. On the agenda was a safety bulletin soon to be published about the dangers of nitrogen asphyxiation. Subsequent to...

Screwdrivers.(Products)
September 1, 2003... The new line of screwdrivers features square handles and square shanks to prevent rollaways and deliver more twist. The tools are ideal for heavy-duty work involving tough-to-budge slotted screws and holes. The square shank provides a perfect...

Integrated operations, communications, and sales management.(Products)
September 1, 2003... A brochure is available describing how comprehensive control over the entire marketing and sales process can benefit industrial manufacturers and distributors. Web-based solutions help product management, marketing, and sales team share...

Regulator System.(Products)
September 1, 2003... The Model 8404 Automatic Changeover Regulator System eliminates costly downtime by providing constant uninterrupted flow of specialty gases. The system reduces operating costs by permitting scheduled cylinder change-outs, and prevents outages...

Liquid Gas Changeover Manifold.(Product)
September 1, 2003... The S7000L Automatic Liquid Gas Changeover Manifold eliminates system downtime by ensuring uninterrupted gas flow from two banks of cryogenic liquid cylinders. Because the S7000L, is priced lower than competitive manifolds on the market, users...