Author: Steve Guglielmo

FMCSA Hosts Analysis, Research and Technology Forum.  On March 10, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hosted its annual Analysis, Research and Technology Forum to highlight the agency’s ongoing research and analysis dedicated to improving motor carrier safety. The forum heard presentations from FMCSA staff on trends in commercial motor vehicle safety, agency enforcement efforts, policies on automated commercial motor vehicles, and FMCSA research activities supporting those efforts. The FMCSA Pocket Guide to Large Truck and Bus Statistics was referenced as a source for data on truck inspections, operational mileage and crashes by type.  The guide also includes the most…

Red Ball Oxygen honored employees who came to the rescue during the winter weather emergencies. For their handwork, Red Ball awarded them its Winning with Teamwork Award. These employees represents the true spirit of teamwork and how dedicated Red Ball is to its customers and to one another.

The AWS Foundation offers four National Educator Scholarships, ranging from $2,500 – $4,500. ➡ Deadline is April 1st, apply today! https://t.co/TfjbsiaCnF 🔹#americanweldingsociety #weldingisAWSome #welding #welder #stem #scholarship pic.twitter.com/mKoIPBTZRR — AWS.org (@AWSHQ) March 3, 2021

F&M MAFCO, a leading international supplier of tools and equipment rental, sales, and service programs, announced the opening of an expansive facility in Kansas City, Missouri. This recent opening comes three months after the opening of its Evansville, Indiana facility. According to Tim Fries, COO of F&M MAFCO, “We are very excited about the opening of our Kansas City facility. It gives us an important foothold in the region as we grow our strategic tool management programs across both our current and prospective customer bases.” He added, “Both our StrikeForce and NEXT S.T.E.P. complete tool management outsourcing programs continue to…

Holston Gases is proud to announce the ground-breaking of a $3,000,000 construction project at its Kentucky region headquarter in Louisville, KY. Holston will be expanding its current site by building a Welcoa-designed fully automated cylinder fill plant. This project will double the size of the current facility while significantly increasing its specialty gas capabilities. The new facility will improve Holston’s capabilities to service its current customers across its 10 Kentucky locations while allowing for future growth and expansion into the lower Midwest. 

By Gary Konarska, Executive Director and CEO of the American Welding Society (AWS) During times of crisis, good business leaders control the factors they can, adapt readily and plan for life post-crisis. Our industry successfully controlled its destiny by ensuring that welding, cutting and related companies were deemed “essential businesses.” As a result, comparatively more workers retained their jobs. One might think the pandemic temporarily alleviated the shortage of skilled welders, but it actually exacerbated it in many instances, such as when one person testing positive required an entire department to self-isolate. Lack of a stable workforce has hindered organizations…

FMCSA Extends CDL, CLP, Medical Card Waiver Through May 31 – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended its waiver of requirements for renewal of Commercial Driver Licenses, Commercial Learner’s Permits and Medical Certificates through May 31 due to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency.    The waiver permits, but does not require, States to extend the validity of CDLs due for renewal on or after March 1, 2020 beyond the 8-year maximum period of validity set forth in 49CFR 383.73(b)(9) and 383.73(d)(6). Under this waiver, States have the discretion to determine whether, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, there…

The following are responses from GAWDA suppliers across North America about what they expect to see in 2021. To see video interviews for those suppliers who participated, visit the GAWDA Media channel on YouTube or check buyersguide.gawdamedia.com to see individual company responses with embedded videos. Thank you so much to all who participated! Weldcoa expects sales to be up in 2021. “The disruptions that occurred this year didn’t cancel any projects. It put them on hold,” says President and Co-Owner Hector Villarreal. “In fact, it sped some of them up. But ultimately, I think a lot of projects that were…

Vern Lewis Welding Supply was featured in The Standard Newspaper’s business spotlight recognizing the welding competition that it collaborated on with the River Valley High School. The article, which can be read in the Facebook posts below, highlights not only the event, but who Vern Lewis is as a company and the purpose of the competition, which was to encourage and support young people interested in welding. Congratulations to Vern Lewis!

Oxygen Service Company was recognized by ABB Robotics with its Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the 2020 ABB Robotics Americas Value Provider Awards. According to the ABB website: ABB Robotics Value Provider conferences are one of the most important events on our calendar every year and specifically designed to bring together the key players in your business to share knowledge, experience, and insights regarding current and emerging robotics technologies, best practices, and industry trends. One important VPC tradition is recognizing our partners who made an extraordinary contribution at a gala awards ceremony. This year we are virtually meeting and…