Month: November 2021

AWISCO Maspeth is getting an upgrade! AWISCO has partnered with our friends at CryoVation, a leader in the field of industrial gas cylinder filling and distribution systems, to upgrade the gas fill plant in Maspeth. This enhancement will provide improved quality and will also streamline the fill process. It will also enable the filling process for all gases to be semiautomatic, thus making AWISCO employee’s jobs safer, easier, and allow multitasking while managing the fill process. All mixes will now be gravimetrically filled which provides a more consistent product. Our investment in this upgrade is important, as it allows us…

Over the past few years, the American Welding Society has been migrating its paper-based certification examinations to computer-based tests (CBT). The most recent certification exam to move to entirely computer-based testing is the Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng) exam. Those seeking to sit for the four-part CWEng exam may now do so at any Prometric exam center worldwide. AWS Certified Welding Engineers have demonstrated they are familiar with codes, specifications, standards and other aspects of fabrication and assembly for the production of welded joints. They prepare and produce reports, which accurately reflect professional judgment and work with management representatives, inspection personnel,…

Maine Oxy was named one of Maine’s Best Industrial Companies and Startups by beststartup.us. Read the full list by clicking here. According to the article: This article showcases our top picks for the best Maine based Industrial companies. These startups and companies are taking a variety of approaches to innovating the Industrial industry, but are all exceptional companies well worth a follow. We tried to pick companies across the size spectrum from cutting edge startups to established brands. We selected these startups and companies for exceptional performance in one of these categories: Innovation Innovative ideas Innovative route to market Innovative…

Meritus Gas Partners announced that it entered into a partnership with Tulsa Gas & Gear LLC, headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. TGG was founded in 2011 by Don Stobaugh, Lloyd Hyle, Johnny Stamps, Steve Stobaugh, John Scott, John Wallace, and Scott Row, a group of accomplished industrial gas industry entrepreneurs. Under their direction, TGG has grown to become a leading independent distributor of industrial and specialty gases, welding and safety supplies in Northeast Oklahoma, specializing in welding applications technology to the diversified equipment manufacturers based in the region. Upon transaction close, Don Stobaugh and Lloyd Hyle will retire, while Steve Stobaugh, Don’s son, will become the company’s…

Appeals Court Affirms Stay of OSHA COVID Vaccine/Test Mandate for Large Employers –  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has issued a decision affirming its earlier temporary stay of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Emergency Temporary Standard requiring large employers to ensure their employees are vaccinated against COVID or submit to weekly testing and masking in the workplace. The court held that OSHA’s ETS has exceeded the agency’s authority under the OSH Act because the ETS is not specifically related to the workplace but to public health, this ETS is much broader than any prior use of the…

AWISCO Hosted a Successful Vendor Days & Automation Expo at its Maspeth location. AWISCO thanks its vendors and customers for a great first automation expo day in Maspeth! AWISCO also congratulates the raffle winners from the Automation Expo Day! Stephen Reid  – TV Wesley Pereira – MK Morse Saw Steve Strainovic – Helmet Adam – Milwaukee Impact Gun

While the demand for skilled workers is rising every day, the jobs landscape is also getting increasingly competitive. Therefore, professionals may not know what to expect upon leaving school or changing careers. The Career Readiness online course is designed to introduce the basic steps inherent to the hiring process, specific to the welding industry. With the help of industry hiring managers, this self-paced online course is a powerful resource for anyone looking to begin their career in welding, reenter the workforce, or transition into a new role or field within the industry. “Employers are treating the hiring process as an…

The Children’s Literacy Center sent the following note to 2020-2021 GAWDA President Abydee Butler Moore expressing gratitude for the more than $126,000 and 1,412 books donated by GAWDA Members through the GAWDA Gives Back Program. Check out the November 15 episode of GAWDA TV to see an interview with the CLC about the donation.

EspriGas, a technology-driven industrial gas company, today announced four additions to its Board. The board will work closely with the EspriGas executive leadership team to develop strategy and position the organization for continued growth. The four new members of the board are Jim Balkcom, former Chief Executive Officer of Techsonic Industries; David Cortese, the current Chief Commercial Officer at Simbe Robotics Inc.; Henry “Hank” Flint, former President and Chief Operations Officer of Coca-Cola Consolidated; and Brian Hamel, the current Executive Vice President of Field Operations for Veritas Technologies. “We are thrilled to announce these newest members of the EspriGas Board.…

Meritus Gas Partners (“Meritus”) announced that it entered into a partnership with Volunteer Welding Supply, Inc. (“Volunteer”), headquartered in Nashville, TN.  Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Volunteer is a leading independent distributor of industrial and specialty gases, welding and safety supplies, with four locations in Tennessee (Nashville, Tullahoma, Baxter, and Knoxville, the latter under the brand of its affiliate, A-Welders Supply & Medical Gases).  Volunteer has been owned and operated by the McMurtry family since its inception. Co-owners and brothers, David and John Mark McMurtry, will continue to lead the business while maintaining significant equity ownership in Meritus. “Our parents, Harold and Evelyn McMurtry,…

ILMO Products Company is pleased to announce the acquisition of Gano Welding Supplies, Inc., effective November 1, 2021. Gano Welding Supplies is a family-owned and operated business originally started by Ken and Oscar Gano. Headquartered in Charleston, Illinois, and serving the surrounding area since the 1920s, Gano carries a full line of welding equipment and supplies, and a wide range of industrial and medical gases. “ILMO Products Company is a great fit as another family-owned and operated business,” said Pat Slaughter, Gano’s principal owner. “Gano customers can look forward to an expanded service area and product offering through our combined…

Central McGowan (www.CentralMcGowan.com), a leading supplier of gases and state-of-the-art equipment/technology for the manufacturing, welding, medical, and food and beverage industries in the upper Midwest and a FANUC- and Lincoln-authorized integrator, announced it has completed the acquisition of Preferred Welder Sales in Mankato, Minn.—bringing its acquisition roster for 2021 to three. The company acquired Metro Welding Supply in Minneapolis, Minn. in April and Fessler Carbonic Gas in Des Moines, Iowa in March. According to Joe Francis, President/CEO, these acquisitions complement Central McGowan’s current business while strengthening its presence in key market areas. All three of these companies were independently operated,…

Haun Welding Supply and Specialty Gases is thrilled to announce that Josh Haun and Erich Haun will be jointly stepping into the role of Co‐President and officially making Haun a 4th generation owned and operated company. Josh and Erich have both served in multiple roles within the company, from store counters and sales, to inner office departments. They bring with them a fresh new perspective while preserving the company’s core values instilled in them by their father and grandfather. In regards to the upcoming promotion, Josh stated “It’s really exciting, for me, to now be in this position to be…

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Victor Arthur Suhr who passed away on October 18, 2021. Vic, as he was affectionately called, was a kind, loving, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to a large family who will miss him dearly. On June 14, 1932, Victor was born on the family farm in Cochrane, WI to Arthur and Julia Suhr. Vic spent his youth working on the farm where he learned the value of a strong work ethic that he carried throughout his entire life. There was never a more committed employee which he exemplified in…

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to protect workers of employers with 100 or more employees from the risk of contracting COVID-19 by strongly encouraging vaccination. Under the ETS, covered employers are given two options: They must develop, implement, and enforce a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy; or They must adopt a policy requiring employees to either get vaccinated or elect to undergo regular COVID-19 testing and wear a face covering at work in lieu of vaccination. The ETS will be published in the Federal Register in the next several days. According to a…