BREAKING NEWS

Welding Helps to Save Lives in Iraq

The U.S. Army is welding potentially life-saving hooks to the doors of armored Humvees in combat in Iraq, according to a May 7 report in USA Today. The armored vehicle doors—which can weigh 600 pounds apiece—have been known to jam shut in the event of an attack, trapping soldiers inside. As a result, the Army began welding D-shaped hooks to Humvee doors, enabling another truck to rip the doors off with a cable. The hook is built into the newest version of the Humvee armor.

To learn more about the role of the welding and gases industry in U.S. military operations, read "Gases And Welding On The Front Lines," exclusively in Welding & Gases Today Online.

May Brings Positive Economic News

Manufacturing grew at a faster-than-expected rate in April, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). On May 1, ISM announced that its manufacturing index rose to 54.7 in April, the highest reading since May 2006, and above economists' forecasted reading of 51.0. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

Alan Beaulieu, senior analyst with the Institute for Trend Research, observes that although there have been a lot of mixed messages regarding the U.S. economy in recent months, there are still plenty of opportunities available for distributors. "The next two to three months will be critical in evaluating the strength of the economy in the second half of 2008 as we wait to see what happens in some important leading indicators," Beaulieu says. "Most of you will be glad to know that we are not looking for a general economic recession to begin in the U.S. until early 2009, or perhaps late 2008." Look for a full report of Beaulieu's predictions in the Summer 2007 issue of GAWDA's magazine, Welding & Gases Today, available on June 15.

Are You Ready for Phoenix?

Get Your Career in Order

The latest issue of GAWDA Edge, the e-magazine for young professionals in the gases and welding industry, is available at www.gawdaedge.org. Polish up your leadership skills, discover how GAWDA's consultants help distributors clean up their acts, sign up to network with other Young Executives at the 2007 GAWDA SMC, and much more. GAWDA Edge is also available in mobile and dial-up versions. And don't forget to visit the GAWDA Edge Forums to network with other up-and-coming industry professionals.

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE NEWS

May Safety & Technology Organizer Online • The May 2007 Safety & Technology Organizer is now available at www.gawda.org. Topics include Protecting Young Workers: Prohibition Against Young Workers Operating Forklifts & Performing Other Tasks, LPG Filling and Storage, Sale of USP Oxygen & Breathing Air Used for Breathing in "Mine Refuge Chambers," and New Electrical Installation Standard.

NEW MEMBERS

GAWDA welcomes new Associate Member Caplugs of Buffalo, NY.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

A&B Industrial Clothing

New Stores for A&B Supply (Lake Havasu City, AZ) • A&B Supply completed construction in April on a 4,000 sq. ft. branch location in Mohave Valley, AZ. The new industrial supply store is scheduled to open in June. A&B Supply also launched a 3,000 sq. ft. industrial clothing store, called A&B Industrial Clothing, in Lake Havasu City, AZ, across the street from its main location. "The clothing store complements our industrial supply business very well," says Vice President John Hobday. "Both new stores are part of our effort to diversify and grow. We already did a lot of deliveries in the Mohave Valley area, so we needed to have a footprint up there."

Lincoln Electric Opens Training Center (Cleveland, OH) • The Lincoln Electric Company opened a regional distribution and training center in Chicago in April. The 110,000 sq. ft. Chicago center allows customers to demonstrate, learn and select equipment with hands-on training and demonstration during the buying decision process. It also provides continuing education for existing customers, distributors and the public.

History Channel "Marvels" at Welding • The History Channel's Modern Marvels series is scheduled to explore the history, science and technology of various welding methods during its May 9 episode. In five segments, the show will tell the story of arc, explosion, underwater, robotic and friction welding. "Modern Marvels: Welding" is scheduled to air on Wednesday, May 9, at 8 p.m. EDT. Check your local listings.

Dissolvo Acquired (Bowling Green, OH) • DayMark Safety Systems acquired the Dissolvo brand and its full product offering from Gilbreth International. "DayMark's purchase of Dissolvo is a logical extension of our substantial interest in the dissolvable paper market," says Jeff Palmer, president of DayMark Safety Systems and Dissolvo.

Shawn M. Taylor

Taylor Joins InterMed (Boca Raton, FL) • Shawn M. Taylor joined InterMed Gas Products LLC as senior VP, Industrial Division. Taylor brings over 10 years of operational, marketing and management experience.

Koike Receives ISO 9001:2000 Certification (Arcade, NY) • Koike Aronson/ Ransome was awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification of its management system by Bureau Veritas Certification North America. The scope of supply cited in the official award is design and development, manufacturing, installation, service, repair, sale and distribution of cutting and weld positioning equipment; the sale and distribution of portable and gas apparatus equipment; and contract work. The certification remains in effect until April 2010.

Airgas Builds Midwest ASU (Radnor, PA) • Airgas, Inc. will build an air separation unit in New Carlisle, IN, to meet increasing demand for bulk and packaged gases in the Midwest and to supply major steel processing facilities. When completed in early 2009, the plant will have the capacity to liquefy at least 350 tons per day of nitrogen, oxygen and argon.

FIBA Granted U3 Certificate of Authorization (Millbury, MA) • FIBA was awarded a U3 Certificate of Authorization from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the National Board of Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspectors. This certification grants FIBA authorization to manufacture high-pressure (10,000 psi and higher) vessels in accordance with the ASME Alternative Rules for Construction.

Taylor-Wharton Beijing

Taylor-Wharton Opens Beijing Facility (Mechanicsburg, PA) • Harsco GasServ celebrated the grand opening of the company's new cryogenic manufacturing operations near Beijing, China. The Taylor-Wharton Beijing facility will produce a wide range of large cryogenic bulk tanks for the Asian and Pacific markets. The manufacturing capacity of the new factory is expected to more than double the throughput of the previous plant.

GAWDA NEWS

Profit Survey Deadline Extended • The deadline for the GAWDA 2007 Profit Survey has been extended through May 15. Please complete the survey today if you have not yet done so, and send it directly to the Profit Planning Group. If you have problems completing the survey, contact the Profit Planning Group at 303-444-6212 or GAWDA Headquarters at 215-564-3484. Thank you for your participation. You can download the survey under GAWDA News at www.gawda.org.

HR Report Available • The May 2007 HR Manager's Legal Reporter and supplemental QuikStep Trainer are now available for download at www.gawda.org.

Clearinghouse Updated • The GAWDA Clearinghouse has been updated for May. For more information, visit www.gawda.org.

2007 Regional Meetings Regional Meetings offer attendees a chance to hear industry leaders speak about the industry and to meet with GAWDA Consultants, Board Members and other association volunteers. Meet with customers and suppliers, network with your peers, and get insight on the industry. It's an unbeatable value! Do you live in the Central Zone and would like to receive Regional Meeting announcements for meetings in the Eastern Zone? To fill out the form to receive additional announcements to meetings outside your zone, visit www.gawda.org. The regional calendar will be updated as new meeting dates become available!                2007 Regional Meeting Dates                ZONE DATE LOCATION REGIONAL CHAIR PHONE EA May 30-31 Atlantic City, NJ Lloyd Robinson AWISCO 718-786-7788 or 917-560-5405   SE June 3-4 Hattiesburg, MS Sam Thompson Airgas South 678-776-0023 CE June 4-5 East Lansing, MI John DeHoust Baker's Gas 313-383-5690 EA June 12 Beaver, PA Heather Ferrand Butler Gas 412-771-7660 EA June 21 Boylston, MA Robert E. O'Brien Gas and Air Systems, Inc. 610-838-9625 or 610-462-7979   CE July 12 Indianapolis, IN Gary Halter BOC 317-562-9060 CE July 20 Naperville, IL Hector Villarreal Weldcoa 630-806-2000 W July 25-27 Union, WA Dan Enz Gordon Sales Co. 360-705-2391 CE August 2 Columbus, OH Jim Smith DeLille Oxygen Company 614-444-1177 SE August 12-13 Birmingham, AL Gregg Waltman Linde Gas 205-322-9990 CE August 15-16 Watertown, SD Cindy Day Smith Equipment 605-882-8268 SW August 20-21 Kansas City, MO David Hanchette Kirk Welding Supply 816-221-3040 CE August 21 Merrimac, WI Brad Peterson Mississippi Welders Supply Company 507-454-5231 EA August 28 Gettysburg, PA Doug Morton Harsco GasServ 717-443-0752 W October 5 Lodi, CA Rob Kinney Airgas 916-759-6445

WORKSHOPS, WEB CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

Advanced Cylinder Management and Mobile Delivery
Tuesday, May 15, 11:00 a.m. ET
This webinar, presented by David Schaer of Computers Unlimited, is for distributor personnel responsible for fill plant operations, dispatching and delivery, cylinder tracking, management and analysis. Free to GAWDA members. More details at www.gawda.org.

Liquid Cylinders
Tuesday, May 29, 11:00 a.m. ET
This webinar, presented by Jeff Clay and Troy Stukey of Harsco GasServ, is for distributor personnel responsible for liquid cylinder applications (filling, distribution, installation, operation, sales and safety). Free to GAWDA members. More details at www.gawda.org.

The GAWDA Connection is distributed on the 8th and 23rd of each month to all GAWDA members as a membership service of GAWDA, the Gases and Welding Distributors Association, 100 N. 20th Street, 4th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19103-1443. Neither GAWDA nor Data Key Communications, LLC, their officers, directors, members and staff are responsible for contents or opinions other than those concerning Association activities.

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