BREAKING NEWS

GAWDA Takes Strong Stand Against Wendy's Ads

In a November 6 letter to Kerrii B. Anderson, CEO and President of Wendy's International, GAWDA President Gary Stoneback raised the industry's concern about Wendy's recent television advertisements suggesting the inhalation of helium for recreational purposes. Stoneback explained the dangers that helium may cause, citing strong and clear examples of concern, including loss of life and litigation. In the letter, he demands that Wendy's stop sending the message that inhalation of helium is funny and without consequences, and asks Wendy's to pull the ads, as well as run Public Service Announcements illustrating the dangers of abusing inhalants. Read President Stoneback's full letter here.

UL Targets Counterfeit Manufactured Goods

According to the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition, the global trade in illegitimate goods has increased from $5.5 billion in 1982 to approximately $500 billion annually in 2007. In an article last week in US Industry Today, Underwriters Laboratories President and CEO Keith Williams, who also serves as secretary/treasurer of the U.S.-China Business Council, points out that a company's brands and commitment to quality are easily destroyed by counterfeit products that do not meet expectations. Brand names associated with subpar performance or serious safety issues can be detrimental to a company's long-term viability. UL has taken an aggressive stand on counterfeit products entering the United States and, since 1995, has seized more than 1,500 products at entry ports. Williams offered advice to manufacturers to undermine the efforts of overseas counterfeiters. You can read the article in its entirety here.

Passport News

GAWDA's 2008 Annual Convention will be at the Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. To get to the Bahamas from the United States, a passport is required. If you need a passport, please keep in mind that it will take several weeks to get one. Do it today! Click on this link to order your passport.

Linde Tests Helium Recycling at Macy’s Parade

For the 13th consecutive year, Linde, formerly known as BOC Gases, has been the sole provider of helium to inflate the balloons at New York City's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. At this year's parade, Linde supplied some 300,000 cubic feet of helium to the parade. This year, Linde and Macy's attempted to reclaim some of the helium used in the parade balloons. This effort will test the feasibility of recovering balloon helium in order to reduce the total consumption of helium gas. Steve Penn, head of global helium, Linde, says the recycling test is a response to the continued tight helium supply. "Macy's and Linde are looking toward the future to further reduce the amount of helium that’s used."

Helium used to fill the balloons floating over New York City in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began its high-profile journey from the American heartland. Crude helium was transported by pipeline from its sources in Kansas and Texas to Linde's helium production facility in Otis, KS. After the helium was purified and liquefied, it was filled into 11,000-gallon tankers and trucked across the country to a Linde plant in Middlesex, NJ. From there, liquid helium evaporated into helium gas, which was compressed into high-pressure tube trailers a day or two before the parade and transported to New York City. On the day before the parade, workers began inflating the balloons using gas filling apparatus Linde customized for the Macy's Parade. Early Thanksgiving morning, the balloons were topped off with helium and poised for the parade. As the balloons exited the parade route, Linde and Macy's employees determined which balloons would be selected for the test helium-reclamation effort. "If the trial goes well," adds Linde's Penn, "Macy's and Linde may look to expand it in future years to recover more helium."

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE NEWS

November Safety & Technology Organizer Online • The November 2007 Safety & Technology Organizer is now available at www.gawda.org. Topics include First Aid in the Workplace, Do Your Drivers Have Second Jobs?, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, and Adverse Event Reporting and Medical Device Reporting Requirements: Handling Product Complaints that Qualify for Reporting Under These Regulations.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

ORS Nasco Sold for $180M (Muskogee, OK) • United Stationers Supply Co. of Deerfield, IL, agreed to acquire ORS Nasco Holding Inc., at a purchase price of $180 million. ORS Nasco has annual sales of $285 million and sells to more than 10,000 independent distributors in multiple channels, including industrial, MRO, safety, construction, welding and oilfield services. Eight distribution centers are located throughout the United States. "Acquiring ORS Nasco will diversify our product offering and provide us entry into the estimated $22 billion wholesale industrial supplies market," says United Stationers' President and CEO Richard W. Gochnauer.

United Stationers is a $4.5 billion master distributor of business products and offers 46,000 product lines from 550 manufacturers, including technology products, office products, office furniture, janitorial and breakroom supplies. The company has a network of 62 distribution centers. Bill Scheller, president and CEO of ORS Nasco, adds, "Their commitment to the pure wholesale model and the independent distributor makes United Stationers an ideal match for our business. The scale and capabilities they bring to our partnership will enable us to provide additional value to our customers and achieve faster growth and greater profitability."

Argyle Relocates to Expanded Facility (Albuquerque, NM) • Argyle Welding Supply Co. moved to its new location at 550 North Telshor Boulevard in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The move was designed in order to better service the southern New Mexico and El Paso, Texas markets. The 14,000 sq. ft. building sits on two acres. The company fills oxygen, nitrogen, argon and CO2 at this location.

Matheson Appoints Chief Technologist (Basking Ridge, NJ) • Terry A. Francis joined Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., as chief technologist of electronics and will be responsible for all aspects of the company's technology development in the electronics arena, including coordinating efforts on a global basis with Matheson's parent, Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, and the other TNSC entities. Francis will also establish advanced collaborative research programs focused on the semiconductor market.

Airgas Acquires 2 Texas Companies (Radnor, PA) • Airgas, Inc. acquired GAWDA member Central Welding Supply as well as Texas Industrial Gas. Central Welding Supply has 3 locations in Texas: Ennis, Terrell and Stephenville; Texas Industrial Gas has one location in Houston. Both companies were integrated into Airgas Southwest.

Terry L. Lodge was named president of Airgas Mid South, replacing Mike Duvall who retired in October. Lodge joined Airgas with the acquisition of The Jimmie Jones Company in 1994, serving as CFO of Jimmie Jones/Sooner Airgas, one of the hub companies that formed Airgas Mid South. He served as CFO and then division vice president. Airgas Mid South, headquartered in Tulsa, OK, has more than 70 locations in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, Louisiana, Tennessee and Mississippi.

Air Liquide Acquires Iowa Dry Ice Business (Radnor, PA) • Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP (ALIUS) acquired the carbon dioxide and dry ice assets of Galva, Iowa-based Ramsgate Corporation, which formerly conducted business as Heller’s Carbonic West. "This acquisition will more than double our dry ice capacity in this region," says President Etienne Lepoutre, "allowing ALIUS to increase its services for food processing and cold transport applications."

Superflash Relocates (Westlake, OH) • Superflash Compressed Gas Equipment, IBEDA, Inc. moved its headquarters and North American plant from North Olmsted to Westlake, OH. The newly renovated 27,000 sq. ft. building has double the manufacturing capacity of the previous facility. A direct video link with the plant in Germany was added to facilitate teamwork and innovation. Superflash Compressed Gas Equipment, IBEDA, Inc. and Applied Home Healthcare Equipment, Inc. are divisions of Applied Companies, LLC. The companies were founded by David Marquard in 1993.

Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough(r) cuts the chain with an oxy-acetylene torch at the Superflash IBEDA open house. Assisting the mayor in the ribbon-cutting ceremony is Superflash CEO and Owner David J. Marquard II.

Airco Distributors Meet (Murray Hill, NJ) • Over 50 distributors attended the Airco Distributor Association’s 12th annual meeting in Memphis, TN. Members use the meeting to share ideas for business improvement and to network with preferred vendors. Since its inception in 1993, the Airco Distributor Association has enabled independent distributors to leverage group purchasing power to achieve volume discounts and earn rebates. John Tillman Company, a manufacturer of leather protective garments, welding screens and accessories, was chosen as the group’s "Vendor of the Year," an award based on service, delivery and sales communication.

CVA Names VP of Sales (Mont Belvieu, TX) • Cryogenic Vessel Alternatives hired Tim Miller as vice president of sales. Miller brings 15 years of technical sales experience in the cryogenic industry.

Air Products Adds New Delivery Fleet (Lehigh Valley, PA) • Air Products' new fleet of Microbulk Solutions delivery trucks are equipped with upgraded supply capabilities intended to decrease production downtime and improve operational efficiencies for the growing laser cutting industry. The delivery trucks supply high purity nitrogen, oxygen and argon. Product is delivered at pressures up to 29 bar. "The trucks are also equipped with auto shut-off, which reduces product loss during delivery, and submerged pumps for inert service, which eliminates cool-down and reduces delivery time," says Air Products' John Tapley, business development manager–microbulk. The new trucks will be rolled out in North America in 2008.

In Sympathy 1977-78 NWSA President George Motzenbecker Sr. George Motzenbecker Sr., 83, passed away on November 13. The founder of Welding Gas and Equipment Company in Detroit, MI, Mr. Motzenbecker also served as NWSA president in 1977-78. Mr. Motzenbecker believed strongly in the mandate of the association to provide members with information about the industry that would help their businesses maintain growth. During his tenure as NWSA President, trucking costs were skyrocketing. In a 2005 interview with Welding & Gases Today, Mr. Motzenbecker recalled those years. "We had to drastically change our internal way of handling gases, and it became very important for the association to make members aware of how much it really was costing them to deliver their products." He set out to do just that, saving many bottom lines in the process. Those years also saw manufacturers begin to steadily acquire distributorships. "One of our duties as an association is to provide information to members, and we set out to make distributors aware of what was happening." Upon his retirement, Mr. Motzenbecker sold his company to Union Carbide. His son, George Motzenbecker Jr., is operations manager for Smith Welding Supply in Ferndale, Michigan.

Five Most Popular Articles in Welding & Gases Today Online During the Last Two Weeks Partnering For Sales Success When money is tight, distributors need to uncover the customer's need and tap every resource necessary to meet it. 2007 GAWDA Convention Contact Booth Program Guide Members continue to look back at the new products and offerings from the best in the industry. 40 Under 40 Interviews with the next generation of industry leaders. Living Legends Profiles of the association's past presidents. Distributors Having Fun Giving back to the communities where we work and live. Click here to view these and other articles in Welding & Gases Today Online

GAWDA NEWS

2007-2008 Dues Payment Reminder • The 2007-2008 GAWDA dues renewal invoices were e-mailed and mailed to all Distributor and Supplier Members. Payments should be made as soon as possible. These dues cover the membership year from November 1, 2007, through October 31, 2008.

For your convenience, dues can now be paid online at www.gawda.org under the Members Only tab. You will need your company's login information to access the online dues page. Please pay your annual dues promptly so that we can continue to provide you with the membership benefits you enjoy all year. Non-payment of dues will result in the loss of all member privileges beginning January 1, 2008.

For questions about membership dues, please contact Director of Membership Kate Cole at 215 564-3484.

The Power of Teamwork The latest issue of GAWDA Edge, the e-magazine for young professionals in the gases and welding industry, is available at www.gawdaedge.org. This issue showcases the power of teamwork in the welding and gases industry, from the new team of volunteer leaders guiding GAWDA through the coming year, to the combination of gases that will help your customer achieve the perfect aluminum weld. Find tips to help distributors build successful relationships with suppliers and learn what every supplier rep should know about distributors. Plus, discover the combination of qualities that make for a successful salesperson. GAWDA Edge also is available in mobile and dial-up versions. And while you're there, don't forget to visit the GAWDA Edge Forums to network with other up-and-coming industry professionals.

GAWDA Announces Young Executives Education Partnership Program • GAWDA announced the creation of a Young Executives Education Partnership Program to support GAWDA’s growing Young Executives program, which provides educational programming and networking opportunities for young executives. A letter from President Gary Stoneback and Industry Partnering Committee Chair Mark Blakely and an outline of the program are available here, and a Young Executives Education Partnership Program registration form is available at www.gawda.org. Please consider this opportunity to support the Young Executives Program, while increasing the profile of your company among your peers and customers.

WORKSHOPS, WEB CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

GAWDA Sponsors University of Industrial Distribution
March 2-5, Indianapolis, IN
*** Don't Wait – Sold Out Last 4 Years ***
GAWDA is pleased to sponsor the University of Industrial Distribution at The University Place Conference Center & Hotel. This program will offer 37 classes featuring some of the most accomplished experts in sales, finance, branch management, HR, distribution technology and the distribution channel: Tim Underhill, Al Bates, Joe Ellers, Peter Land, Bill McCleave, Michael Marks, Michael Workman, Bruce Merrifield, John Monoky, Don Rice, Kathryne Newton and other well-known professionals. This program has sold out for the last 4 years. For GAWDA members, the Early Registration Fee is $995 if postmarked, faxed or submitted online before February 1, a savings of $100. You may register online at www.univid.org or via GAWDA’s Web site.

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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