Year: 2018

Chemweld USA Announces New Vice President of Sales and Marketing Chemweld USA announces Richard W. Connelly as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Connelly will be responsible for the leadership of the Chemweld’s sales team as well as coordinating the efforts of their national network of manufacturer’s representatives. Connelly is a well-known figure in the gases and welding industry with over 40 years of experience. He has served in executive officer positions both domestic and internationally and is a lifetime member of AWS with published contributions for the advancement of welding and safety in the workplace. In addition, Connelly has…

CGA Announces New Certification Program for Gas Industry Personnel The Compressed Gas Association has formed a new entity, the CGA Certification Board LLC (CGACB), to offer personnel certification services for industrial and medical gases industry personnel. Initially, the CGACB will offer certification to CGA M-1, Standard for Medical Gas Supply Systems at Health Care Facilities (an American National Standard). “CGA is an ANSI-accredited standard development organization with more than 100 years of experience in setting the standard for industry safety” stated Rich Gottwald, CGA President and CEO. “We are excited to work with the CGACB to offer a certification program…

PHMSA Hazmat Incident Reporting Back Online HAZMATICS, the Hazardous Materials Incident Communication System of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), is now back online after a system outage. According to the agency, HAZMATICS is now available for electronic submission of the DOT 5800.1F incident report form. To access HAZMATICS through the PHMSA portal, click here. HAZMATICS Video Tutorials PHMSA has created HAZMATICS video tutorials to provide step-by-step instructions on using the HAZMATICS website. Click below to learn how to use the various features. HAZMATICS Features and Benefits – Click here for a general overview of HAZMATICS. Creating a…

Wise Telemetry Introduces Next Generation Telemetry System Wise Telemetry introduced the next generation of its end-to-end telemetry platform, the Elite Series. As part of the Elite Series, Wise Telemetry’s communication boxes now include an LCD display screen for easy device readings and 4-20mA compatibility for long-wire applications. In addition, the new communication boxes will have LTE-M connectivity, a new low-power, low-cost method of data communication that dramatically extends the communication box’s battery life. This will allow the communication boxes to transmit readings up to 24 times per day. Other products have been upgraded or added, including a +/-0.5% accurate differential…

ZWC Holdings, Inc. Joins the Ownership Group of Weldcote Metals, Inc. Weldcote Metals, Inc. announces the addition of ZWC Holdings, Inc., controlled by Zika Group Ltd., to its ownership group. Zika Group also announces the appointment of Joe O’Mera, former president of CGW, Camel Grinding Wheels, as CEO of Weldcote Metals and as part of the ownership group. O’Mera brings more than 25 years in the industrial welding tool marketplace to the position. Along with his exceptional capabilities and leadership, O’Mera has proven success in creating value for his customers and shareholders. Weldcote Metals was founded by Bill Roland, founding…

Distributor Members: Kalmerton Welding Supplies, LLC GA-GS-GT-RW 1014 South Main Street Oshkosh, WI 54902 920-231-8891 FAX 920-231-8893 www.akalmertonweldingsupplies.com Al Kalmerton, owner [email protected] Alana Backman, office manager [email protected] Kalmerton Welding Supplies is a local, family-owned and operated company that provides high-quality welding services for a variety of businesses such as manufacturing, industrial, fabrication and beverages. Benton’s Welding Supply 8163 Highway 278 NE Covington, GA 30014-1535 770-786-3424 www.bentonwelding.com Sidney Benton, owner [email protected] Benton’s Welding Supply offers industrial, medical and scientific gases, as well as hardgoods such as welding machines, filler material, gas apparatus and safety equipment. Supplier Members: Control…

California Proposition 65 Regulatory Change Bulletin The purpose of this article is alert GAWDA members to upcoming critical changes to California Proposition 65 regulations that may have an impact on your operations if you are: 1. Selling products directly to consumers in California, 2. Selling products to wholesalers or retailers in California, 3. Selling product to distributors outside of California, that may subsequently redistribute that product into California, or 4. Selling or distributing products made by another manufacturer that will subsequently be sold or distributed in California by your company (i.e., welding materials). The focus of the information in this…

RCI Texas-South Carolina Plant Relocation: A Success Under Tight Deadlines Efficiency is always the name of the game when you’re an air separation plant construction and relocation specialist, but some jobs require extra effort. That was the case earlier this year when Ranch Cryogenics, Inc. landed a contract to move an idle nitrogen generator from Texas to South Carolina. RCI, based in Dwight, IL outside of Chicago, signed contracts at the end of January and was tasked with having the plant moved and up and running in its new location by April 1. An RCI crew started with a kickoff meeting…

Seven Springs Regional Recap The GAWDA Regional Meeting at Seven Springs Mountain Resort June 18–20 was a great success. There were 232 attendees, according to Regional Chair Abydee Butler Moore of Butler Gas Products, with 71 distributors and 161 suppliers. Participants enjoyed three keynote speakers, as well as a sporting clay tournament, golf outing, mountaintop barbeque and a party at the Mountain Club hosted by the Rosenthal Family. In addition, the meeting offered a CGA Lunch-and-Learn with Mike Tiller and an EBITDA Workshop with Bob Hogan. SPEAKERS: Kelvin Dixon, VP of Risk Management, Matheson Safety – A Foundation for Business:…

Industrial Pro Announces Taipan Abrasives Grinder for Life Offer Industrial Pro announces the exclusive Grinder for Life offer from Taipan Abrasives, a manufacturer of industrial cutting, grinding and finishing abrasives. “Distributors ordering Taipan discs will automatically get a free industrial-grade grinder with every 250 discs purchased. You’ll never need to buy an angle grinder,” notes Ralph Beaumont, national sales director. Industrial Pro is a welding wholesaler of Taipan Abrasives products, including cutting, grinding and flap discs, annular cutters, saw wheels, flap wheels, carbide burrs, surface conditioning, deburring wheels, quick change discs, hand pads, and accessory products.

CPV Manufacturing Names Two to Sales, Engineering Positions CPV Manufacturing has named Jay H. Loomis as vice president of sales, with responsibility for the expansion and development of CPV’s sales team. “Jay’s customer-focused sales and account management style are a great fit for our leadership team,” remarked David London, CPV Manufacturing president. “His background will be significant in carrying us forward. We’re glad to have him on our team.” Prior to joining CPV, Loomis was a national account manager at Airgas USA, where, as a Single Point of Contact, he maintained and nurtured customer relationships on a national level. Loomis’ sales…

FMCSA Extends Medical Card Rule for Three Years The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an interim final rule that delays several provisions of the Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration final rule from June 22, 2018 date to June 22, 2021. The final rule will be published in the Federal Register in the next few days. GAWDA General Counsel Richard Schweitzer reports that the action was taken to provide FMCSA additional time to complete certain information technology system development tasks for its National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (National Registry) and provide the State Driver’s Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) sufficient…

voestalpine Böhler Welding Launches Protection Line Filler material specialist voestalpine Böhler Welding has launched its own line of personal protection equipment. The line includes the newest weldCare Guardian line of auto-darkening welding helmets and eyewear safety glasses. Using the latest developments in optics and ergonomics, they combine protection with wearing comfort and user-friendliness, the company says. The Guardian series of battery-powered, auto-darkening welding helmets consists of three types that all meet the safety and durability requirements of relevant CE and ANSI standards, and all feature high-impact nylon shells and comfortable headgear with longitudinal and angular adjustments. The helmets are available…

New Hires, Promotions, Announcements Weiler Abrasives Group Partners with Workshops for Warriors Weiler Abrasives Group, a leading provider of abrasives, power brushes and maintenance products for surface conditioning, has launched a national fundraising campaign, Leading a Warriors’ Charge, in partnership with Workshops for Warriors. Based in Cresco, Pa., the Weiler firm donated $25,000 to kick off a year-long campaign that supports machining and welding training programs at the Workshops for Warriors school that trains, certifies and helps place veterans, wounded warriors and transitioning service members into advanced manufacturing careers. “Weiler believes in the value of the Workshops for Warriors cause…

GAWDA’s quarterly membership magazine, Welding & Gases Today, has been recognized with a regional award for magazine redesign in the annual competition of the American Society of Business Publication Editors organization. W&GT earned a bronze “Azbee” award for excellence in the society’s Northeast-New England regional competition. The redesign of the magazine was developed by GAWDA Media’s Creative Director Robin (Turk) Barnes. She retooled the magazine’s overall graphic presentation with a new magazine logo, a new look for the cover, new cohesive interior page elements and colorations, and an overall presentation that modernized and solidified the GAWDA brand and image as…

Responsive Respiratory Expands Cylinder Cart Line Responsive Respiratory, of St. Louis, Mo., has added a D/E cylinder cart to its offerings. The new Patient Six-Cylinder D/E cart features a durable powder coat paint finish, six-inch wheels for maneuverability and an adjustable height handle for ease of use. The two‐piece design allows for compact shipment and storage, significantly reducing freight costs for providers, according to the company. “The six-cylinder D/E cart is a natural expansion of our patient and office transport offering,” notes Tom Bannon, Responsive Respiratory president. “While RRI offers a warehouse version of this cart, our customer feedback initiative…

Weiler Appoints New VP of Sales, U.S. and Canada Weiler Abrasives Group has promoted Jason Conner to the position of vice president of sales for the U.S. and Canada. Conner will now oversee all sales activities in the U.S. and Canada, including independent distribution, national accounts, field sales and manufacturers’ rep groups. He will also serve as a point of contact to strengthen relationships with Weiler’s end users, distribution partners and industry associations, the company says. Conner joined Weiler in 2012 as a national accounts manager and was promoted to director of national accounts in 2015. As director of national…

GAWDA members and guests meeting in Missouri for the Spring Management Conference experienced three days of great settings, super speakers and lots of St. Louis style. From the gorgeous, historic St. Louis Union Station hotel site, to a setting with a view near the Gateway Arch, to the fried ravioli, butter cake, custard and ribs on the menus, the SMC was “tastefully” done. It also provided many useful operational takeaways, by specific design. Scroll down for a photo recap of the main events and a “hat’s off” to a memorable SMC set in President Ned Lane’s company hometown. Ballpark Village…

For business owners with a succession gap or otherwise at a transitional crossroads, creating an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) structure is a business option with work-culture appeal and operating advantages. Restructuring as an ESOP can create a win-win-win solution for the company as well as its stockholders and employees, ESOP advocates say. Owners who aren’t turning the keys over to a next generation, or selling to an outside buyer, discover that ESOPs may let them “pay it forward.” The format can be the means to continue the company legacy, maintain its culture, secure the jobs of loyal employees and…

By Bruce Tulgan Employers in 2018 are scrambling to adjust to a new normal of change and uncertainty driven by an environment of regular, yet unpredictable and often wild, market fluctuations. Indeed, that scramble has been picking up steam every year since 1993, when we at RainmakerThinking began tracking the current generational shift. The changes we’ve been tracking are coming to fruition, maturing everywhere we look. The worldwide business environment of perpetually high risk, constrained resources and fierce competition puts constant pressure on employers to remain lean, flexible and high performing. Despite the pressures constraining employer resources, employers are struggling…