Year: 2019

Terran E. Bergdale, Ph.D., Quality Control Manager at A-OX Welding Supply Co. helped the company achieve validation on its manufacturing process of medical Carbon Dioxide. She said, “Over the last several years A-OX has been striving to increase our production capabilities while enhancing quality.  This year we validated our manufacturing process for production of medical Carbon Dioxide (CO2).  The process allows us to produce medical grade as well as Laser and Research Grade 99.999+% CO2.  We requested certification of USP Carbon Dioxide as a designated medical gas and received approval from the FDA to market the product for human and…

James Patrick Hoffmann, 68, Ponte Vedra, Florida passed away on August 18 2019. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on March 20, 1951, to Kathern Curry Tabler Hoffmann and Norman David Hoffmann, both deceased. Jim leaves behind his loving wife of 45 years, Sherrell, brother Michael (Sharon) Hoffmann (Atlantic Beach) , step father in law, Lee Overstreet (Jacksonville), Aunt Pat Tabler (Garner, North Carolina), Aunt Elisabeth Bridgers (Wernersville, Pennsylvania), prayer warrior friend, Joyce Westfall, Houston, Texas, and many cousins, nephews and nieces. After graduating from Fletcher In Neptune Beach, in 1969, and following a three year stint in the U.S. Army, he…

James L. Veite passed away on August 12, 2019, after battling a lengthy illness. James was born in Youngstown, Ohio in 1941, where he attended South High School. He moved to North Ridgeville in 1975 and had been a resident of Avon since 1995. James was founder of Veite Cryogenic Equipment and Service. He was instrumental in the development and implementation of cryogenic pump equipment and services throughout the world. James was a longtime member of the North Ridgeville VFW. In his free time, James was a car enthusiast who enjoyed restoring historical vehicles, a private pilot, and a lover…

Sherman Poppen, former owner of Lake Welding Supply in Muskegon, Michigan, and inventor of the Snurfer, a product that would later become the snowboard, died on July 31, in Griffin, Georida. He was 89 years old. To read his full obituary, including a detailed account of how Poppen became the “father of modern snowboarding” click here. View other September 1 News Items: In Memoriam: James Veite In Memoriam: Sherman Poppen In Memoriam: Jim Hoffmann A-OX Receives Validation on Manufacturing Process for Production of Medical CO2 IWDC Hires Erica Janas ALM Positioners Welcomes Davenport West Senior as Welding Apprentice Keen Compressed…

DOT Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s new requirements for a Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse go into effect on January 6, 2020.  On and after that date, all companies that use drivers who have a Commercial Driver’s License or a Commercial Learner’s Permit must do three things: Register with the FMCSA to use the Clearinghouse. Registration will be available on the FMCSA website beginning in Fall 2019. Upload information to the Clearinghouse on any drug or alcohol violations by any CDL driver that your company uses. Query the Clearinghouse for drug or alcohol violations by any…

We at the Compressed Gas Association are excited to announce the availability of new eLearning modules, which participating GAWDA members can access for free. These modules provide a modern training method for introducing basic safety information to new industry employees across a range of topics, including the safe handling of compressed gases, acetylene cylinders and cryogenic liquids in portable containers. First launched in 2011, the partnership between GAWDA and the Compressed Gas Association provides participating GAWDA distributor members with complimentary access to CGA’s electronic safety publication library (enabling one employee per company location to gain free access to CGA’s library…

Truck procurement has been a key challenge for private fleets, for-hire carriers and establishments that rely on trucking across many industries, including welding, manufacturing, construction and retail. This challenge has been accentuated by the backlog of orders for Class-8 heavy-duty trucks, mainly stemming from an American economy that has been wholesome and resilient ever since the Great Recession ended in 2010, and a dilapidated industry attitude toward truck procurement that is finally changing. Class-8 truck orders and sales continued at a healthy stride through much of 2018, as many companies saw the necessity to upgrade to newer equipment or add…

No, we’re not talking about the Dave Matthews song, but that’s a nice lead in to a discussion of the volume range for CO2 between beverage and bulk. CO2 is a critical supply component in the beverage industry for fountains, taps, etc. First came cylinders, then a supply mode change to “bulk” filled onsite, which offered the advantages of eliminating product swap and supply interruptions. This led to an expansion of the microbulk model to the atmospheric gases. Both modes are long past new, but both are constantly looking for the next big move, and equipment suppliers are doing a…

Let’s say you’ve spent money and time building your website and creating a social media identity on Facebook and Twitter. You have a dedicated marketing resource working on email campaigns and a team on the phones for both inside and outside sales. But your revenues have been unexpectedly low for the last month, or maybe your inventory is too high for a certain item, or Tuesday mornings are notoriously slow. You need to generate immediate sales. Do you have the right marketing tools to sell something right now? Do you have the right tools to sell a specific product immediately?…

Rooted in the magnificent Pacific Northwest, OXARC is a leading U.S. industrial gas distributorship with over 360 staff members and 22 locations serving the tri-state area of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Founded by Jerry Walmsley, the company began with his purchase of Northwest Oxygen Company in Spokane, Washington, in 1968. From that first shop with 15 employees, Jerry and his team developed one of the largest industrial gas distributorships in the nation. Jerry remains active in the business as chairman of the board, and his daughter, Jana Nelson, who has been with the company since 1975, serves as OXARC’s president.…

In 2005, engineer Robert Niven attended a United Nations summit on climate change, where he witnessed a global demand for solutions to reduce carbon emissions. Inspired by the summit, Niven considered the applications of waste emissions in the construction industry and founded CarbonCure, a CO2 utilization company with a mission to reduce the carbon footprint of the concrete industry. His solution? To turn waste carbon dioxide into a valuable commodity — concrete. How Does it Work? The CarbonCure Technology injects a precise dose of liquid carbon dioxide into ready-mix concrete and concrete masonry products, chemically converting the CO2 into a…

The proliferation of products containing cannabidiol (CBD) oil has further muddied the issues of testing and restrictions on drivers with a Commercial Driver’s License. CBD oil is a type of cannabinoid, one of several naturally occurring chemicals that can be found exclusively in cannabis plants. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), however, CBD does not produce a “high” or psychotropic experience. Using marijuana for recreational reasons is legal in 10 states and the District of Columbia, and using medical marijuana is legal in 33 states and D.C. Possession or use of marijuana remains illegal under federal law, however; it is listed in Schedule…

It has been a few years since I last published this article, but it is an extremely important topic. I conduct high-pressure cylinder/liquid container/carbon dioxide cylinder filling classes for GAWDA members all across the country. There are four items that I stress during my training classes that, if done, really reduce the chances of fatality or serious injury to our employees and customers. 1. Hammer test (dead ring) all steel cylinders. The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires all steel cylinders approved to go 10 years between requalification to pass a hammer test prior to each fill. Hammer testing is a…

The FDA and state regulations recognize the traditional distribution of typical prescription drugs: This distribution model works well for traditional drugs. The FDA, state Boards of Pharmacy and regulations are well structured to efficiently manage traditional pharmaceuticals. These structures are not necessarily perfectly formed for medical gas distribution. From the drug manufacturer to the wholesale drug  distributor to the pharmacy to the patient. Typical pharmaceuticals are: Relatively dangerous Expensive Have a container that is inexpensive and disposable Subject to counterfeiting for economic advantage Subject to diversion from established distribution channels to internet and unlicensed sales Manufactured by relatively few, large…

Promoting the safe operation and economic vitality of distributors of industrial gases and related welding equipment and supplies is GAWDA’s mission. Providing educational and training opportunities within that industry tops the organization’s list of ways to accomplish this. One of the current challenges our nation faces is a shortage of skilled workers — in particular, welders and fabricators. With welding an integral part of so many manufacturing processes, from building tunnels to launching spacecraft, trained and certified welders are critical to our economy. GAWDA is well aware of the talent shortage, and a unique training facility in California called Workshops…

The use of liquid nitrogen (LIN) in the food and beverage industry and for personal cryotherapy applications has increased significantly over the past several years.  This “near consumer use” of LIN presents particular issues of safety and liability exposure for gas distributors. Many of the major gas suppliers have stopped selling to cryotherapy facilities, citing too much risk.  Other companies see this growing industry as a significant opportunity to grow their business.  GAWDA members who sell to this market should be aware of the risks presented by this product, especially as customers and consumers handling LIN might lack experience and…

Thank you to Jay Kapur, Aimtek, Inc., Frank Vargas, Uniweld Products, Rafael Arvelo, Equigas, Inc., and Cassandra Barry, Ray Murray, Inc. for providing these pictures of the 2019 GAWDA Northeast Regional Meeting

Canadian clean technology innovator CarbonCure Technologies and Linde, the world’s largest industrial gas supplier, have partnered to introduce the award-winning CarbonCure Technology to Europe, Southeast Asia and Oceania. The alliance will allow CarbonCure to accelerate international adoption of CarbonCure’s turnkey carbon solution for the concrete industry. The CarbonCure Technology enhances the competitiveness of the concrete industry through improved production efficiency and sustainability. The technology injects a precise dosage of captured waste carbon dioxide (CO2) into concrete during production. Once introduced, the CO2 chemically converts to a nano-mineral, creating manufacturing efficiencies while reducing the concrete’s carbon footprint. This enables private and…

Air Products announced it has completed the acquisition of General Electric Company’s (“GE”) gasification business from GE Power. Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed. “The successful acquisition of the GE gasification technology further supports our long-term, strategic focus on gasification. This acquisition, combined with our other capabilities, gives us the ability to provide a complete solution to our customers, including financing, technology, engineering, construction, and operation of large syngas projects. We welcome the experienced and talented GE gasification team and look forward to supporting them to further grow the business,” said Seifi Ghasemi, chairman, president and chief…

With effect from 1 August 2019, Messer Industries has divested itself of Messer Danmark A/S, based in Kolding. The buyer is the Danish competitor Christian Nielsen Strandmøllen A/S. View other August 15 news items • The Harris Products Group Expands Specialty Gas Solutions • Rodney Huber Announced as President of Huber Supply Company • Anova Welcomes William Kroll as its First Advisor • ABICOR BINZEL Adds new District Sales Manager • Messer Sells Business in Denmark • Air Products Completes Acquisition of GE’s Gasification Business and Technology • Linde Enters Strategic Alliance with CarbonCure