Author: Steve Guglielmo

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of David Jordan, nexAir’s Productivity and Gas Specialist Manager based in Birmingham, who passed away at the end of 2020. David had been a valued and beloved employee since joining nexAir in 2007 as a Territory Manager in the Birmingham area. David later transitioned to a role as a Gas Specialist, supporting Territory Managers by evaluating customers’ gas modes and offering solutions for increased efficiency and cost savings. He was promoted to Manager of the Productivity and Gas Specialist teams in 2019.  David played a key role in so many initiatives…

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of former NWSA President John C. Beringer, Sr., who passed away on February 5, 2021. His obituary was published in the Naples Daily News, and can be read in full below: John Clifford Beringer, 89, of Akron, Ohio and Naples, Florida, passed away peacefully in his home in Naples on February 5, 2021 surrounded by his 10 children and the love of his life, Nancy. One of seven children, John was born to Charles and Kathryn (Loftus) Beringer in Akron. He attended St. Sebastian Parish School followed by Campion High School…

nexAir Opened a new facility in Panama City, Florida. The location is located at 2336 Industrial Drive, Panama City, FL. 32405. The company made the announcement on its LinkedIn page. Click here for more information and to see pictures of the new facility.

American Welding & Gas announced the promotion of Ronald “Ron” Felton to VP Sales – Southeast Region. Ron joined AWG in June 2020 as a Territory Manager located in Columbia, SC, focusing his efforts on expanding AWG’s customer base. Ron brings 30+ years of industry and sales experience including bulk/cylinder gases to the role. In his new role, Ron will lead a team of Territory Managers within the Southeast Region to effectively generate profit growth in the region and assist in the development and implementation of training and professional development for the regional sales team. Previously, Ron served as Newington,…

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…

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…