Month: February 2020

Despite calls for a slow first half of the year, GAWDA distributors look ahead to 2020 with confidence. Each year in the 1st Quarter Issue of Welding & Gases Today, we survey the industry to try to determine what can be expected from the economy in the coming year. To do this, we have solicited not only distributor and supplier member expectations, but also spoke with the Chief GAWDA Economists at ITR Economics to hear their perspective (page  68.) These three perspectives, combined with the in-depth ITR Quarterly Report (page 72-83), all help paint a picture of what the economy…

A roundtable discussion with GAWDA Members who find value in the ITR Report By Steve Guglielmo, Mark Raimy, Bob Ewing, Bill Visintainer, Brad Armstrong and Pete Anderson Each issue of Welding & Gases Today contains the ITR Quarterly Report. This issue’s report can be found on page 72. GAWDA members who attend the Annual Convention are very familiar with Brian and Alan Beaulieu, ITR’s CEO and President respectively, who give a presentation each year discussing the economic trends and what GAWDA members can expect going forward. So how should GAWDA members be using the information that the Beaulieus present and…

2020 is a milestone year for GAWDA. It is the year we celebrate our 75th Anniversary. The association has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception in 1945. And while we celebrate our storied history, GAWDA continues to look forward to ensure that the next 75 years are as successful and prosperous as the first. Much of that success begins with the GAWDA Board of Directors. These association leaders are on the front lines of the industry and are able to take the issues facing our industry and help to craft an effective strategy for the association. Members of…

Consistent with what the GAWDA distributors projected, GAWDA suppliers are also predicting modest growth in store for 2020. While the disparity of answers varied a little bit more widely among the suppliers, the consensus was for continued, albeit slowing growth in store for 2020. Also consistent with the distributors projections was a fear of election year softness and the continued impact of trade barriers and tariffs. However, even with those fears looming over 2020, most suppliers still projected growth ahead. The following are responses from GAWDA suppliers across North America about what they expect to see in 2020. Thank you…

One of GAWDA’s charter members, Purity Cylinder Gases, has built its business on five core values. The evolution and growth of Purity Cylinder Gases (Grand Rapids, MI) is closely aligned with the evolution of GAWDA. Purity was a charter member of the association, attending the first ever National Welding Supply Association (NWSA) meeting at the Hotel Van Cleve on November 13, 1945. However, the genesis of Purity goes back even further than that, when founders Edward Butterfield, Glenn G. Garman and Howard Sweet organized the company in 1938. Purity was incorporated into the state of Michigan in October of that…

The following is from the GAWDA December 2019 Monthly Safety Organizer. Frequently Asked Questions – Electronic Tracking of Lot Numbers Q – I input the medical and food gas lot numbers into my accounting software. Do I also need to have a paper record of the lot number distribution? A – Not necessarily. If you intend to use your accounting/cylinder tracking software to manage your medical/food gas lot number distribution, you need to validate that software. If your software vendor does not have a validation package, contact [email protected]. We have sample procedures that may be able to help. Frequently Asked…

A moderated discussion between Tom Badstubner and Michael Dodd By Tom Badstubner, Michael Dodd and Steve Guglielmo As members close the book on 2019 and look forward to continued success in 2020, GAWDA Consultants Tom Badstubner and Michael Dodd have some advice on annual compliance measures that should be taken during the strategic planning process. GAWDA membership includes access to these consultants at no additional expense. Members should make sure that they’re taking full advantage of that! These consultants are ready and willing to help members be proactive in ensuring they are in compliance so that when federal auditors come…

Signal Hill based Encore Welding Supply has kicked off 2020 with a new name and a newly articulated mission for the future. The company – now called Encore Gas & Supply – has undergone significant growth over the past five years, and the new name is a reflection of Encore’s evolution during that period and the growing number of diverse industries it serves. “When we started this business in 2014, we catered almost exclusively to welding and construction, particularly to those companies serving infrastructure and energy,” said Encore’s co-founder and president, Ben Anderson. “Since then, while our commitment to and…

WestAir Gases & Equipment provides industrial and specialty gases and welding supplies to a wide variety of businesses throughout the southwest and beyond. It has a deep background of combining high quality gases with unmatched customer service since its founding in 1970. The acquisition of Desert Fountain’s assets will further strengthen the company’s capacity to serve customers, new and old, throughout the region. “We’re thrilled about our recent acquisition of Desert Fountain.” said WestAir General Manager, Andy Castiglione. “This new location will not only empower us to provide more and better services to our customers in the Coachella Valley, but…

Holston Gases, Inc. announced that it has opened new distribution facilities in Huntsville, AL and Owensboro, KY. Holston Gases president Robert Anders said, “We are very excited about expanding further into Alabama and Kentucky. Our new store located at 1104 Putman Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35816 will allow us to better serve the rapidly expanding North Alabama economy. The new Owensboro, KY store located at 7549 Iceland Rd, Maceo, KY 42355 now allows us to distribute product throughout the entire state of KY and southern Indiana. We look forward to being a part of Owensboro’s expanding business community.” Holston Gases…