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…