Author: Steve Guglielmo

Haun Welding Supply Partners With MACNY and Operation Next. According to a post on the company’s LinkedIn Page, Haun Welding Supply partnered with MACNY and Operation Next. Operation Next is a first-of-its-kind program in New York State that is providing soldiers transitioning out of the military (and their spouses) with a proven training program to prepare them with the knowledge and skills needed for various career pathways in advanced manufacturing. AOC Mexico Partners with Hebei Runfeng According to a post on the company’s LinkedIn page, AOC Mexico has partnered with Hebei Runfeng, a leading provider of cryogenic equipment. As a…

PHMSA to Hold Public Meeting on Hazmat Registration Fees.  The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will hold a virtual public meeting on June 28, 2023 to solicit input on potential adjustments to its hazardous materials registration and fee assessment program. The fees, which are currently $250 for small businesses and $2,575 for large businesses (plus a $25 administrative fee for each), raise revenues that are used to fund hazmat emergency preparedness, response and related programs.  The amount of revenue that may be raised is capped by statute.  The annual fees may be adjusted if the revenue exceeds or falls…

GAWDA’s Safety Committee has been working on developing new infographics for all of GAWDA’s Safety Documents on the association’s Member’s Only page. Recently, the committee released a new infographic discussing the importance of joining the GAWDA/CGA program. See below for more information on how to join and more information about “Navigating the Roadmap of Safety & Compliance.” Click the image to download the infographic.

Holston Gases Acquires Superior Dry Ice Holston Gases completed the acquisition of Superior Dry Ice, which has operations in Cartersville, Georgia. Holston Gases will continue to operate from the Superior Dry Ice location at 3439 Hwy 411. Holston Gases President, Robert Anders, said, “We are very pleased to add Superior Dry Ice to the Holston family. Combining the customer base and production capability of Superior Dry Ice with the resources of Holston will allow Holston to expand its dry ice distribution into central and south Georgia.” Superior Dry Ice owner, David Simpson, agreed that the businesses are a great match.…

American Welding & Gas (AWG) announced that it had welcomed Coastal Welding Supply to the AWG team. The announcement read: “It is with great pleasure that we welcome the over 200 teammates of Coastal Welding Supply and its related affiliates to our AWG family.  Currently led by Chuck Mazoch, Barbara (Mazoch) Nelson, and Tom Johnson, Coastal is one of the most well-respected, high-quality producers and distributors of gases and welding supplies in the United States.  Known for its operational excellence in the industrial, medical and specialty gas fields, Coastal’s commitment to its vast customer network across the Gulf Coast and…

Like most companies that have lasted for 110 years, ILMO Products Company bears little resemblance to the company founded in 1913. When D.O. Floreth and his father, Henry Floreth, decided to open their doors, the company was a wholesaler of automobile accessories called Illinois Tire and Vulcanizing Company. Later, as the company evolved, it began going by Illinois Tire & Battery. It was through the automobile industry that today’s ILMO Products entered the gas business. “[ILMO] got into the gas business through the carbide acetylene headlights for automobiles,” says Executive Vice President Liz Standley. “We slowly transitioned from automobile accessories…

CK Supply Acquires Welds Supply, Inc.  In a press release on its company website, CK Supply Inc. announced that it had acquired Welds Supply Inc. “We couldn’t be more excited and appreciative about the opportunity to combine forces with Welds Supply Inc. as our teams mutually share a dedication to the customer and product knowledge expertise that is unmatched in our region” stated Brad Dunn, Executive Vice President of CK Supply Inc. The Welds Supply Inc., property located at 5654 NW Riverpark Dr., Riverside MO will continue to act as the primary destination for the region’s experts in metal fabrication,…

GAWDA Joins Letter to Senate on Changes to Hazmat Registration Fees.  GAWDA has joined 26 other trade associations representing shippers and carriers of hazardous materials in a letter to the Chair and Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on proposed revisions to the annual Hazardous Materials Registration fees.  The fee legislation under consideration is in response to the recent derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio, although the proposed fee revisions would affect all modes of hazmat transportation, including by truck. The letter questions the need to raise the fees since…

As part of its continued push to help GAWDA members get the most out of their membership dues in the association and stay on the front lines of emerging industry trends and hot-button issues, GAWDA has several volunteer committees devoted to specific areas of the industry. The volunteer committees include: Government Affairs, Human Resources, Industry Partnering, Insurance Trustees, Leadership Development, Member Services, Safety, Women of Gases and Welding, and Young Professionals. This feature in Welding & Gases Today will update readers on the latest news and events from each committee. We thank all the committee chairs for their help and…

The purpose of Ask Your Board is to ask common business questions that all GAWDA members might be dealing with and to see how GAWDA’s Board of Directors are dealing with these issues within their own companies. To submit a question for GAWDA’s Board Members to consider, please email [email protected] QUESTIONWhat do you do ahead of a GAWDA National Convention (either AC or SMC) to ensure that you and your team can most effectively make use of your time? If you are bringing other employees to this year’s SMC, what pieces of advice will you offer them? And what will…