A Semi-Monthly Newsletter for Gases and Welding Distributors Association Members February 23, 2007 
Breaking News   •   Safety & Compliance   •   New Members
Industry Beat   •   GAWDA News   •   Education & Training

Weldcoa Leads
Lead the Pack!

All Lead Dog Leads are:
  • In Stock
  • Post Sintered
  • Oxygen Cleaned
  • Hydro Tested
  • Nitrogen Leak Tested

For nearly 40 years, Weldcoa has built its reputation on providing the highest possible quality and safest possible solutions in the industry.
Our Lead Dog Leads continue this tradition by delivering excellence to our customers.

We are an in-stock supplier of flexible leads and cryogenic hose, manufac-turing a wide variety of solutions:
  • 3000 to 6000 Teflon Lined PSI
    MAWP
  • Teflon Lined, Post Sintered
     1/4" and 1/2"
  • Flexible Metal Cryogenic Hose
  • Armor
  • Braided with Stainless Steel or
     Monel 400 Inner Lining

Why Is Post Sintering Important?
All Lead Dog Flexible Teflon Leads are post sintered. The proprietary
post sintering process provides for maximum fusing of the hose lining
to reduce the diffusion of small molecules such as helium.

Integral, Industry Specific Ends!
Lead Dog Leads are manufactured
as a single piece. That means less potential for hazardous leaks. Lead Dog Leads are available with a wide variety of industry specific ends and are available for quick delivery. We can provide a wide variety of end configurations:
  • CPV Fittings
  • SAE Fittings
  • VCO
  • VCR
  • Many More!

Cleaning & Testing
At Weldcoa, we know that durability and safety are your primary concerns. Therefore every one of our leads and cryogenic hose is 100% oxygen cleaned and tested in house.

Find out why our Lead Dog Leads lead the pack by ordering our catalog today at 1.800.852.2325.


BREAKING NEWS

Register Early and Save

Don't wait until the deadline! Register early and save for the GAWDA University 2007 Spring Management Conference at the Pointe South Mountain Resort in Phoenix, AZ, on May 20-22. Visit www.gawda.org to register online and for program details. You can also download the registration forms at the above link.

Young Executives Organizational Meeting Scheduled

Everyone who has registered to participate in GAWDA's Young Executives is invited to a meeting being held at the 2007 Spring Management Conference in Phoenix. The Young Executives Organizational Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 22, from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. A full breakfast will be served. The purpose of the meeting is to determine the governance structure of the Young Executives and to develop the program for the Young Executives meeting in San Francisco during the Annual Convention this fall. If you have not yet registered for the Young Executives, please visit GAWDA's Web site and register today.

Share Your Passion for the Industry

The February issue of GAWDA Edge, the association's e-magazine for young executives, is now available online at www.gawdaedge.org. Meet GAWDA's committees and the dedicated volunteers who provide association members with service and support. Discover how your forebears in the welding and gases industry used their passion for innovation to shape the industry we have today. And learn how to become the sort of manager people will love to work for. GAWDA Edge is also available in mobile and dial-up-friendly versions. Plus, don't forget to visit the GAWDA Edge Forums to network with other people who love the welding and gases industry just as much as you do.



SAFETY & COMPLIANCE NEWS

New Security Program for Maritime Port Workers The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, issued as a joint rule from both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), appeared in the Federal Register on January 25, 2006. The rule lays out the enrollment process, disqualifying crimes, usage procedures, fees and other requirements for workers, port owners and operators. This will apply to any transportation individuals who require unescorted access to secure areas of the nation's maritime transportation system. The TSA overview is available at this link. To read the actual Federal Register (about 1 MB, 469 pages), follow this link.

CGA Regulatory Alert on Food Chemicals Codex The United States Pharmacopeia has issued a public notification calling for comment on the Food Chemicals Codex. CGA issued a Regulatory Alert (RA-49) that provides more information. To read the Regulatory Alert, visit www.gawda.org.

FY 2008 Budget Request Includes $18 Million Increase for OSHA The President's budget request for $490.3M for OSHA during FY 2008 will allow the agency to improve workplace safety and health through compliance assistance and enforcement of occupational safety and health regulations and standards, explained Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke Jr. during a briefing in Washington, D.C. on February 5. The President's request includes increases for federal enforcement, federal compliance assistance and cooperative programs.


 

Audio Recording of Compliance Teleconference An audio recording of the GAWDA Compliance Update Teleconference presented by GAWDA Consultants on January 26 is available on the Podcast page of GAWDA's Web site.


NEW MEMBERS

GAWDA welcomes new Associate Members Alumig Wire Company, Inc. of Traverse City, MI, Americana Program Underwriters of Charlotte, NC, Liberty Cryogenics, LLC of Aurora, CO, and Merit Abrasives of Stephenville, TX.


INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

Arco Welding Supply's renovated store

Arco Welding Supply Renovates Store (Malden, MA) • Arco Welding Supply finished the renovation of its 1,500 sq. ft. store January 15, including new shelving, lighting, counters, ceiling and flooring. The store also now features a flat screen TV behind the counter to entertain customers while they are waiting. "It was time for an upgrade," says General Manager Thomas Crowley. "The visual stimulation when customers walk in makes a big difference. Now, it's bright and cheery."

Harris Industrial Gases Adds Fill Plant (Citrus Heights, CA) • Harris Industrial Gases' new fill plant became fully functional in mid-January, completing the half-million-dollar, yearlong project to enable the company to fill rare and special gases. The company added 2,000 sq. ft. to accommodate the new fill plant and is in the process of building a new warehouse to house inventory. Fourth-generation Harris family member Aaron Haupt serves as the project coordinator for the fill plant.

Richard Green

CONCOA Appoints Green (Virginia Beach, VA) • CONCOA appointed Richard Green manager of business development, assuming responsibility for identifying and marketing CONCOA's gas control technology to new business segments and managing the laser and blender product lines. Green previously served as product manager for 4 years and territorial manager for a 9-state region.

Muller Named Senior VP (Radnor, PA) • Airgas named James A. Muller, formerly regional company president of Airgas East, to the position of senior VP – specialty gases and life sciences. Muller will report to Mike Molinini, executive VP and COO, and head a new corporate department, integrating specialty gas operations and marketing to support sales of specialty gases and equipment through the 13 regional companies within Airgas.

Steve Varga

Western Names Marketing Manager (Westlake, OH) • Steve Varga joined Western Enterprises' industrial team as product marketing manager. Varga is responsible for product development, marketing and management activities related to core industrial product lines.

Lincoln Reorganizes Customer Service Department (Cleveland, OH) • The Lincoln Electric Company underwent a reorganization of its customer service department to include a wide range of best practices from a variety of service industries. The yearlong process incorporated operating practices from Six Sigma, training principles from Dale Carnegie, as well as a host of leading procedures, methods and measurable reliability standards.

In Sympathy
John W. Blake, 79, co-founder of Colony Inc., died January 27 after a long illness. Born in Boston, Mr. Blake graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover in 1945 and from Harvard University in 1951. He was also a graduate of the New York Maritime Academy and served in the U.S. Navy. After Mr. Blake's service, he worked as treasurer for his father's Boston business, Blake and Company. In the early 1960s, he and his brother Gary co-founded Colony Inc., a distributor of industrial gases and welding supplies. Mr. Blake was a longtime member of NWSA (now GAWDA) and an active community member who felt a responsibility to give back to the community in any way that he could.


GAWDA NEWS

Attention GAWDA Distributor Members Did you receive the GAWDA 2007 Profit Survey that was e-mailed to you on Monday, February 5? If you did not receive it, please request a copy by e-mailing Malvenia Avery at mavery@fernley.com, or download the survey at www.gawda.org. GAWDA encourages all distributor members to participate in the survey. The Profit Report is the best source for financial benchmarking information in the industry. However, only members who participate in the survey will receive the final Report. Nonparticipating members WILL NOT be allowed to purchase the Report.


WORKSHOPS, WEB CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

The Habit of Selling
March 20-22, Dayton, OH

This seminar, presented by Don Buttrey, is co-sponsored by GAWDA with AEA to offer a sales training opportunity for distributor salespeople and sales managers. Learn while networking with distributor salespeople from a variety of industries. Cost is $895 per person (includes 2 1/2 days of sales training, work binders, tools, worksheets and most meals). Download the program details and the registration form here.

2007 GAWDA University Compliance Update Seminar
March 27-30, Indianapolis, IN
GAWDA University announces its 2007 Compliance Update Seminar. This year's session features a new seminar on crisis management and emergency planning, as well as our industry-leading compliance update training. Space is limited, and the last two seminars have sold out completely, so register early to reserve your space. Online registration is available at this link. Program details and the registration form can also be found at www.gawda.org.

Demonstrating Total Cost Savings
March 28, 1:00 p.m. ET
In this webinar, co-sponsored by GAWDA with AEA, Tim Underhill of Strategic Business Solutions LLC will show you why customers need suppliers that can reduce their total operating costs, why you need to show your value, and how you can document your value quickly and easily. Registration is $149 per site. Online registration is also available. For more details, visit www.gawda.org.



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