Year: 2021

After a difficult year in 2020, most distributors expect to see growth in the new year Every year in the 1st Quarter Issue of Welding & Gases Today, we reach out to all GAWDA members to try to get a sense of what the year ahead has in store. We talk to GAWDA distributors and suppliers (page 46), as well as the Chief GAWDA Economists at ITR Economics (page 68). This year, in an effort to paint an even more complete picture, we also spoke to the American Welding Society (page 56), CGA (page 58) and Consultants Buzz Campbell and…

FMCSA Extends Emergency Declaration to May 31.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended its Emergency Declaration related to the COVID-19 national emergency through May 31, 2021. Under the Emergency Declaration, motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in support of relief efforts related to the COVID-19 public health emergency are granted emergency relief from Parts 390 through 399 of the FMCSRs, except as otherwise restricted. The extension of the expanded modified Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002 provides regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations providing direct assistance in support of emergency relief efforts related to COVID-19 and is limited…

By Bob McEniry Describing an eight-decade company as “youthful” and “dynamic” might seem like an oxymoron. However, examining the progression of nexAir illustrates a whole different view of the word “old.” The company has evolved and excelled in an industry that has seen significant changes in distribution roles. Established in 1940, nexAir was formed to distribute packaged gases in a small geography where major gas producers needed service capability. Originally named Standard Welders Supply, the company was initially highly dependent on its gas supplier for producing, packaging, and providing cylinder gases. Over the next 80 years, the whole industry landscape…

Ibn late 2019, Abydee Butler Moore, head of Butler Gas Products and President of GAWDA’s Board of Directors, approached CGA’s Vice President of Operations and Administration Laura Brumsey with an idea for a Young Professionals Summit for Compressed Gas Association and GAWDA members. CGA’s Young & Emerging Professionals Committee had just recently been formed, and Laura was excited to work with this new group to bring Abydee’s vision to life. Then COVID-19 hit and plans for the Summit got put on the back burner. That is, until April, when the committee’s technical education task force made it clear that this…

How a Biden administration will change the regulatory landscape for GAWDA members and how they might handle a COVID vaccine By Tom Badstubner, Marilyn Dempsey, Michael Dodd, Rick Schweitzer, and Steve Guglielmo The First Quarter of 2021 will be marked by two milestone events. The first is a transition of powers within the federal government. And the second is the rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine. GAWDA’s Consultants spoke with Welding & Gases Today about how these two events might impact our industry and the changes that they expect to see as a result of them. Thank you to Tom Bastubner,…

Central Welding Supply announced that the Central Welding Supply’s analytical lab is now Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. The new Specialty Gas Lab, configured, engineered, and installed under the direction of Gary Emerson, Lead Manager for all Central Welding Supply Fill Plant operations, represents expanded capacity for production. ISO Accreditation was Gary’s logical next step. The ISO Accreditation process begun Summer 2020, received the news of accreditation, January 19, 2021. Click here to learn more.

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Rod Spargur, Bellingham Branch Manager at Central Welding Supply. The company posted the following obituary on its website: We are sad to share the news of the passing of Rod Spargur, our long time Bellingham Branch Manager. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rod’s Mom, Stepfather who was “Dad” for 47 years, 3 sisters and a brother, his friends, and the Central Welding Supply team in Bellingham. Rod was pivotal in Central Welding Supply’s expansion into the Bellingham / Whatcom County market, as well as for the growth and management of gas reseller partners in…

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Lorena Kennedy “Mrs. K.” who passed away on February 2, 2021. Red Ball Oxygen announced the tragic news on their Facebook page. Mrs. K was Red Ball’s original CFO and spent more than 30 years with the company. She will be dearly missed by everyone that knew her.

Now in its 3rd edition, safety publication CGA G-8.3, Safe Practices for Storage and Handling of Nitrous Oxide from the Compressed Gas Association (CGA), describes the principles and relevant details of the safe storage, handling, and distribution of nitrous oxide, as well as its properties and hazards. Nitrous oxide (N2O) has been produced and distributed by the industrial gas industry for many years. Commonly used as a medical gas, nitrous oxide is also used as an oxidizing gas for chemical and semiconductor manufacturing, a fuel oxidant for racing vehicles, and a propellant for pressure or aerosol products. Incidents such as…

F&M MAFCO, a leading international supplier of tools and equipment rental, sales, and service programs, announced Tim Fries’ promotion to chief operating officer (COO) from his role as VP sales and marketing. This leadership appointment comes two weeks after owner and COO Bill McKenna’s passing. According to Dan McKenna, the president of F&M MAFCO, “Appointing Tim to this critical leadership role is something that we had envisioned for him from the very first day he joined our organization. Tim has proven to be an amazing leader and has the experience, temperament, and skill set necessary to continue the tremendous growth…

American Welding & Gas, Inc. (“AWG”) is pleased to announce that Axmen Propane, headquartered in Frenchtown, MT, has joined forces with AWG effective immediately. Locally owned and operated in western Montana by the Hanson family and Mike Svoboda since 2000, Axmen Propane has built a strong reputation for prompt, professional service for its customers. The combination formed with our existing Silvertip Propane business creates the largest independent propane provider in Montana and surrounding areas. “We just finished our twentieth year and we are very pleased to have teamed up with AWG to carry on Axmen Propane for at least the…

Congratulations to AWISCO team members, Mushahid Ahmed and Jesus Pichardo, in their new roles within AWISCO. AWISCO is pleased to announce that Jesus Pichardo, previous Assistant Branch Leader of AWISCO Bronx, will be moving to the role of Maspeth Inside Sales Team Leader. Jesus joined AWISCO in July 2018 and has been a great addition to the Inside Sales team at AWISCO. We are excited to have Jesus lead this amazing team. Mushahid Ahmed has agreed to join AWISCO as our Employee Retention and Recruitment Specialist. Mushahid came to AWISCO through the PENCIL Program in 2016 and has been an intern at AWISCO…

nexAir announces the following changes to its sales organization leadership. Steve Sargent, currently Vice President and Area Sales Manager based in South Florida, will relocate to Birmingham, Alabama. Steve will be responsible for the Birmingham and Pell City sales teams, as well as the Productivity Specialists for the entire company. Vice President and Area Sales Manager, Bryan Howard, will remain based in Nashville and retain responsibility for the Middle and East Tennessee, as well as, Huntsville, Alabama sales teams but will also assume responsibility for the Gas Specialists for the entire company. Cale Harris, Area Sales Manager based in North Florida,…

Dale Oxygen, Inc. is pleased to announce its 4th branch location set to open in Somerset, Pennsylvania. While Dale Oxygen has a long history of servicing the Somerset, PA market from its Johnstown location, this branch addition is a deeper commitment to the local Somerset community as well as the surrounding regional markets, according to Harry Bennear, Chief Executive Officer. “Dale Oxygen’s new fill plant (2020) and 14,000 Sq. Ft. warehouse in Johnstown, PA will provide immediate availability for packaged gas and hard good products to support this new location which will also be a distribution hub for our company.”…

Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing for DOT Secretary Nominee Buttigieg.  The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a hearing January 21 on the nomination of Pete Buttigieg to be Secretary of Transportation.  As expected, Buttigieg did not offer any specifics for programs or policies he would implement at DOT, but spoke very broadly about the need for investment in infrastructure as a foundation for economic recovery. He also mentioned the challenges in infrastructure funding, including the insolvent status of the Highway Trust Fund, but did not suggest any particular source of revenue to address the shortfall. Buttigieg further stated that…

An announcement on iwdc.coop reads: “Effective December 18, 2020, two strong regional players joined forces to better service their respective customer bases. Sky Oxygen and James C. Dawes Company, Inc. are in adjacent markets, are passionate about customer service and have similar cultures that value employees. “I saw this as a great way to provide continuity for my employees and to keep serving our long-term loyal customer base” – Brian Dawes, President, James C. Dawes. “I am excited for Sky Oxygen and am very happy that Brian is staying with our merged enterprise. Both our companies are on the same computer system…

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Robert E. Smith, owner of Industrial Welding Supplies and Nordan Smith, who passed away on December 12, 2020, at the age of 86. His daughter, sister and brother-in-law were by his side in his home when he passed. Robert, known by family and friends as Bob, was born to Okley and Gussie Smith on September 3, 1934, in Grenada, Mississippi. He graduated from JZ George High School in Carrollton, MS, and served in the US Air Force from 1951 — 1955. He was a passionate entrepreneur and businessman, a dedicated…

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Bill McKenna, Chief Operating Officer of F&M MAFCO, who passed away on January 4, 2021. An obituary posted on iwdc.coop reads: “He was born 64 years ago into a loving family of four older brothers and a younger sister where the value of hard work was taught by their parents, Bob and Mary. In his youth, Bill did a little bit of everything – paperboy, gas station attendant, mechanic – you name it. Before graduating from his beloved Elder High School, he started working with his father and brothers at…

The following release was posted on CGA’s website. Medical oxygen is an essential part of patient care during the COVID-19 global pandemic, and the compressed gas industry is working diligently to safely and reliably supply health care systems in the U.S. and Canada. CGA member companies are certainly aware of and actively addressing spikes in medical oxygen use in COVID-19 hot spots. Each member is committed to deploy all available resources to respond to the increased demand for medical oxygen and to proactively communicate with health care providers as we fight this pandemic together. Healthcare is a top priority for…

Recently, the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) reached out to the Governors of all 50 states asking that medical, food, and industrial gas workers be included in the Frontline Essential Workers (Phase 1b) of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. See below for an example of a letter that they sent. As the response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues through the equitable distribution of vaccines, we urge that state public health officials include the essential medical, food, and industrial gas workforce in the Frontline Essential Workers (Phase 1b) of the vaccine distribution. This includes medical, food, and industrial gas transportation workers, equipment manufacturers,…