Year: 2020

All branches are open and have Saturday hours. Read the full update below or on the company’s website. All branch stores are open to walk-in customers. We ask all customers entering into our facility to wear a mask to enter and use proper social distancing protocols while inside. As of May 23, 2020, all branch stores will have Saturday business hours. If you are still uncomfortable you can place orders over the phone or via email and we can hand the products to you outside of the building through curbside service. Please let us know when you contact us.

Cee Kay has opened its Missouri locations. Read the full article below or on the company’s website. Effective Monday, May 18th, 2020 Retail operations in Missouri will be reopening with limited access to the front counters ONLY. Cee Kay will be following all required and recommended Missouri and city codes. You and your employees are welcome to enter any of our Missouri branch locations, if equipped with a face mask prior and during entry. If you do not have a face mask but would still like to enter, Cee Kay will provide a face mask to be worn, as available.…

F&M MAFCO is excited to announce an agreement with ENERPAC to be the Premier rental provider for MIRAGE in the United States.  Mirage is a leading, global manufacturer of standard and customized on-site machining solutions for a diverse set of applications with a focus on portability, performance and safety. “Our investment in the Mirage tooling product coupled with our strategic partnership with Enerpac is a pillar of our specialty rental growth objectives” Tim Fries Vice President Sales & Marketing Common markets for these solutions are: Oil and Gas Power Generation (renewable, fossil and nuclear) Mining Petrochemical Shipbuilding The MIRAGE product…

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Hanny Ruddy, who passed away on May 13. According to Ralph M. Cohan, VP Sales/Operations at General Welding Supply Corporation, “My business partner, J. Hanny (Honey) Ruddy passed away last evening, very suddenly. She will be missed by all, but especially by her son, Nick Lanzano and daughter Kristen Lanzano.” Hanny’s obituary can be read below: Hanny Ruddy, a lifelong Oakdale resident, passed away on May 13, 2020. “Hurricane Honey” or “Peter Pan” to those she knew, Hanny always said “she would never grow up.”  She enjoyed traveling to such places…

FMCSA Implements New Crash Preventability Determination Program.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced the start of the agency’s new Crash Preventability Determination Program.  85 Fed. Reg. 27017 (May 6, 2020).  Through this program, motor carriers and drivers may submit eligible crashes for preventability determinations through the FMCSA’s DataQs system. FMCSA will remove crashes that were not preventable by the motor carrier or driver from the Safety Measurement System (SMS) algorithm that prioritizes carriers and drivers for enforcement actions. FMCSA will also note the not preventable determinations in the driver’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) record and will note not…

Donna Conrad retired from Superior Products. To commemorate her retirement and celebrate her legacy, several people submitted comments about Donna to GAWDA Media. A sampling can be found below: “Donna Conrad’s retirement from the Packaged Gases industry leaves a great legacy.  She had no idea from early days promoting balloon inflators on the floor of a Florist & Party Supplies Trade Show that she would pioneer a path for ladies in an otherwise male dominated industry.  Her path, punctuated with genuine grace and friendship, set a very high bar – a challenge accepted by so many fine ladies who daily…

In the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Red Ball Oxygen took to Instagram to recognize its employees for all of the great work they’ve done. See the full post below. View this post on Instagram A simple thank you goes out to all of our employees in the midst of this pandemic! #rbofamily #redballoxygen #sanitize #safetyfirst #washyourhands A post shared by Red Ball Oxygen Co. (@redballoxygen) on May 29, 2020 at 6:39am PDT Read other June 1 Connection Items: In Memoriam: Hanny “Honey” Ruddy Donna Conrad Retires from Superior Products Red Ball Oxygen Thanks Employees in the Midst…

Lenette Egan has retired from McDantim. Her last day was April 3rd. She will stay on as a consultant for McDantim to oversee a smooth transition. She is also staying involved with IBEDA helping out with social media.   “We’re happy for Lenette and wish her the best in retirement,” said McDantim Marketing Coordinator Kayla Mann. “She has done so much for our company and our industry!” Read Other May 15 Connection News: CGA Recognizes Safety Award Winners at 2020 Annual Meeting Walter Surface Technologies Acquires ArcOne AWISCO Introduces Special Edition Subway-Themed Auto-Darkening Helmets Butler Gases Launches “The Life of a…

FMCSA to Distribute One Million Face Masks to Drivers.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is assisting in the distribution of one million protective masks to the nation’s commercial truck drivers. FMCSA has been working with states, industry stakeholders, and motor carriers to distribute one million protective face masks for truckers which were provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  The masks are being distributed in Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New York and Texas.  Exact locations and times for distribution are at the link.  Dates and times for the distribution of masks will be updated as they are…

Andy Cichocki Airgas, an Air Liquide company 2019 CGA Board Chair During the Annual Meeting of the Association, Andy Cichocki was presented with the CGA Chairman’s Award for his service as Chairman of the CGA Executive Committee and Board of Directors in 2019. Thank you for your service, Andy. For 2020, CGA welcomes John F. (Jack) Finn of FIBA Technologies to the role of CGA Chair, and Chris Ebeling of Messer North America to the role of CGA Vice Chair. Jack Finn FIBA Technologies 2020 CGA Board Chair Chris Ebeling Messer North America 2020 CGA Board Vice Chair CGA Also…

The Compressed Gas Association (CGA) announced the winners of its industry-leading safety awards during the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Association, held virtually on Tuesday, April 28, 2020. CGA is dedicated to the development and promotion of safety standards and safe practices in the industrial, medical, and food gases industry. We’re proud to recognize the dedication to safety exhibited by the companies and individuals honored this year. Environmental Awards The Environmental Awards are presented annually to deserving individuals, teams, or facilities that have conducted activities that meet defined criteria for environmental excellence. The following were recipients of the Environmental Awards:…

Butler Gas introduced a new video entitled Life of a Cylinder, shot by Butler Gas associates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Butler Gas is decontaminating cylinders and efficiently moving them through production to best serve its valued customers. Check out the video below!  Read Other May 15 Connection News: CGA Recognizes Safety Award Winners at 2020 Annual Meeting Walter Surface Technologies Acquires ArcOne AWISCO Introduces Special Edition Subway-Themed Auto-Darkening Helmets Butler Gases Launches “The Life of a Cylinder” Video CGA Board of Directors Ushers in New Leadership and Thanks Outgoing Committee Chairs Lenette Egan Retires from McDantim Ratermann Launches Comical ‘R’-Bar…

For the past 25 years, the month of May has been “Trade Show Month” for AWISCO. While AWISCO had to postpone the 2020 Trade Show to October, the company still wants to celebrate this momentous anniversary. Check out this special edition, subway-themed, Auto-Darkening AWISCO Helmet. Grab yours today at any AWISCO location for $99 or contact AWISCO for more information about how to order! Read Other May 15 Connection News: CGA Recognizes Safety Award Winners at 2020 Annual Meeting Walter Surface Technologies Acquires ArcOne AWISCO Introduces Special Edition Subway-Themed Auto-Darkening Helmets Butler Gases Launches “The Life of a Cylinder” Video…

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Carola Vogel, owner of Crown Alloys, who passed away after a battler with cancer. In August of 2019, Carola was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She underwent four and a half months of chemotherapy and in December of 2019 the cancer was in remission. Unfortunately, her three- month check-up in early March revealed that the lymphoma had returned in an aggressive form. The treatment options were rigorous and not hopeful. On March 27th, while hospitalized and with a clear mind, Carola made the decision to enter hospice care. On April 1st,…

By Jay Spielvogel, Venator Sales Group Do your sales reps ever tell you the following story? They meet with a mid-level plant, operations or production manager who is extremely interested in engaging your company to fix a cylinder usage issue or implement a new industrial welding application  This person willingly shares information regarding their perception of the challenges the company is facing with downtime, waste and safety, and how personally committed they are to implementing a solution.  The meeting ends with an agreement that your sales rep will send a proposal for the contact to run past their boss with an expectation that it…

VMG hired Dave Zellen as its Business Development Director. In this position, Zellen will be responsible for leading sales and marketing activities, including setting strategy, building the product offering, understanding the marketplace and generating revenue. He will also be responsible for providing financial insight, guidance, recommendations, revenue objectives, product supply demand forecasting, revenue analysis and reporting. Additionally, he will manage customer support and help to identify and improve company processes and systems, as well as work as part of the VMG team responsible for hardware and software innovation. Prior to joining VMG, Zellen worked in leadership positions at Procter &…

Weldcoa is happy to announce their first Gas Masters™ Special Edition Interview with Abydee Butler Moore. Abydee serves as the 2020 President of the Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA) and as a Director on the Board of the International Oxygen Manufacturers Association (IOMA). She is a co-founder of AESop Equipment Leasing, LLC. Abydee served as the networking coordinator for Young Professional Women in Energy (YPWE) in 2013, and is a Past President of the Greater McKees Rocks Area Rotary Club (2016-2018). Abydee is also the President and Chief Operating Officer of Butler Gas Products Co, Inc. Now in its…

Welding & Gases Today has begun work on its 3rd Quarter Issue. The 3rd Quarter Issue of the magazine is traditionally the “Anniversary Issue” where we celebrate GAWDA distributors and suppliers who are celebrating “milestone anniversaries.” For the purposes of the article, we define “milestone anniversaries” as anniversaries that are a multiple of 5. So if you are celebrating your 5th, 10th, 15th, etc. anniversary in 2020, we would love to interview you for the next issue of the magazine. Here are the anniversary articles from the 3Q 2019 issue for reference. If you are a GAWDA Supplier celebrating a…

Due to the developing situation of the coronavirus worldwide, the distribution company for gasworld has informed the publisher that it is now very difficult to send the gasworld US magazines and confirm they have reached the intended recipient. gasworld U.S. Editor Nick Parkinson outlined this issue in an email, stating: As a member of the industrial gases community I wanted to personally update you on what’s happening here at gasworld. Delivery disruption: Due to the developing situation of the coronavirus worldwide, our distribution company has informed us that it is now very difficult to send the gasworld US magazines and…

F&M MAFCO is excited to announce an agreement with ENERPAC to be the Premier rental provider for MIRAGE in the United States.  Mirage is a leading, global manufacturer of standard and customized on-site machining solutions for a diverse set of applications with a focus on portability, performance and safety. “Our investment in the Mirage tooling product coupled with our strategic partnership with Enerpac is a pillar of our specialty rental growth objectives,” says Tim Fries, Vice President Sales & Marketing Common markets for these solutions are: Oil and Gas Power Generation (renewable, fossil and nuclear) Mining Petrochemical Shipbuilding The MIRAGE…