Author: Steve Guglielmo

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…