Author: Steve Guglielmo

In Memoriam: Robert (Bob) Metzler GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Robert Metzler. AWG announced his passing in a post on LinkedIn. Bob was a legend in the industry and was loved by everyone who knew him. We wish his friends, family and the entire team at AWG peace during this tragic time. Read his full obituary below: Robert G. “Bob” Metzler, 72, a Walt Disney World special effects icon and long-time resident of Orlando passed away suddenly on February 20, 2024, after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his loving family during his final…

New Jersey Increases Truck Liability Insurance Minimum to $1.5 Million.  In a bill signed into law by the Governor on January 16, 2024, the State of New Jersey has increased the minimum liability insurance requirements for truck operators to $1.5 million.  Under the new law, effective July 1, 2024, New Jersey will require commercial motor vehicles to maintain proof of financial responsibility of $1.5 million for CMVs 26,001 lbs. and higher, including those transporting hazardous materials, to cover bodily injury, death and property damage. Trucks weighing between 10,001 and 26,000 lbs. will be required to maintain limits of $300,000. The…

GAWDA Distributors Object to Calls for Economic Instability, Project Robust Growth Across the Board: Standing athwart negative headlines and consumer sentiment, GAWDA distributors expect a big year Each year, the first Quarter Issue of Welding & Gases Today is our Annual Economic Forecast Issue. We speak with GAWDA Distributors, Suppliers (page 64), sister organizations like the American Welding Society (page 70) and Compressed Gas Association (page 72) and combine them with the quarterly ITR Economic Forecast (page 77) to paint as complete a picture of the economic outlook of the industry as we possibly can. One of the biggest lessons…

The GAWDA Consultant Program is a GAWDA member benefit that is included as part of your member dues to the association. It is consistently rated as one of the most valuable member benefits that GAWDA provides. Between the four of them GAWDA’s consultants bring more than 100 years of industry-specific experience to the association. With this being the first issue of 2024, we look back on lessons learned from last year and what we expect to see from a regulatory standpoint for the industry in 2024. GAWDA’s Consultants discussed the bevy of new legislation and proposed legislation and how it…

MassBio and Middlesex Gases Announce a New 7-Year Contract, Extending their Partnership Through 2030 The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio®) and Middlesex Gases, a leading supplier of specialty, medical, and industrial gases in New England, are pleased to announce they have agreed to a new seven-year contract. This contract extends the partnership between the two companies, which began in 2017, through the year 2030 and ensures that Middlesex Gases will remain the preferred supplier of packaged (cylinder), MicroBulk, and Bulk lab gases for MassBio members. Suppliers, like Middlesex Gases, are integral to the success of MassBioEdge, a savings and rewards program…

Like the GAWDA distributors, GAWDA’s supplier respondents are also going into 2024 with expectations of growth, though tempered with warnings about outside influences like continued supply chain issues, labor challenges, and the looming threat of geopolitical forces that could dampen what should be a robust year of growth. The following are responses from GAWDA suppliers across North America about their expectations for 2024. We thank all of the suppliers who participated in this year’s forecast. Be sure to check out the GAWDA Online Buyer’s Guide (buyersguide.gawdamedia.com or download the GAWDA Buyer’s Guide App from the App or Google Play Store)…

Part of developing a comprehensive digital marketing campaign is understanding how customers and potential customers are using the Internet to find your products and your website. The graphs and information below all come from Google Trends, which analyzes the popularity of search queries in Google Search across various regions and languages. The graphs scale “Interest Over Time” which represent search interest relative to the highest point in the chart for the given region and time-period. So, a value of 100 is the peak popularity for the term. Another alternative is “Google Keyword Planner.” To use this tool, you must have…

Thompson Brothers Welding & Industrial Supply announced on its Facebook page that had been named the “2023 Business of the Year” by the Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce.

FMCSA Updates Guidance for Medical Examiners.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has updated its guidance for Medical Examiners who provide physical qualification determinations for commercial motor vehicle drivers.  The FMCSA has published the changes in a revised Medical Examiner’s Handbook. The changes and clarifications to the ME guidance include the following: FMCSA clarified that the right to receive a copy of the Medical Examination Report Form, MCSA–5875, is personal to the individual and does not depend on who paid for or requested the physical qualification examination.  But the guidance clarified that its regulations do not prohibit an employer from…

AWISCO Announces Retirement of Felim O’Malley and Hiring of New Company President AWISCO CEO Lloyd Robinson released the following announcement regarding long-time Executive Vice President Felim O’Malley: “It is indeed a bittersweet moment to announce the retirement of Felim O’Malley from AWISCO. Felim’s contributions over his 20+ years at AWISCO, starting with the acquisition of Dynamic Welding in 2002, have been invaluable. The establishment of AWISCO West Babylon stands as a testament to his integral role in the company’s growth. We appreciate and acknowledge Felim for the many changes and acquisitions he has been a part of during his tenure.…