Hobart Brothers Company
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| Hobart Brothers has been providing high quality filler metals to the welding industry for 90 years! |
This year marked Hobart Brothers Company's 90th year of success in the welding industry! Our founder, Charles Clarence Hobart, his wife Lou Ella and their three sons—Edward, Charles and William—incorporated the company in 1917 in Troy, Ohio, where our headquarters still remain. Hobart Brothers was family-owned and operated until its acquisition by Illinois Tool Works (ITW) in 1996. Today we are a leading manufacturer of premium filler metals under the brand names Hobart®, McKay®, and Tri-Mark® and our company is still going strong!
So what’s changed in the past ninety years?
Then and Now
Hobart Brothers' roots are in machinery. We began serving customers’ welding needs with the production of our first arc welder in 1925, followed by the development of welding rectifiers and Micro-Wire machines, among others. Our company went on to establish a well-known and reputable training school, the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology (1930), which now operates as a separate, non-profit entity. In the 1940s, Hobart Brothers began producing what we are now best known for: filler metals. Throughout that transition, and the years that have followed, one thing has remained constant about our products: quality.
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| Brothers Charles, Edward and William incorporated Hobart Brothers Company in 1917. They originally manufactured arc welders and began production of filler metals in the 1940s. |
Today, Hobart Brothers produces high quality, reliable and consistent stick electrodes, tubular wires (flux-cored and metal-cored), solid wires and hard surfacing products.
Our Hobart brand features a full range of mild steel and low alloy, stick, solid and tubular filler metals, while our McKay brand offers stick electrodes and tubular wires for stainless and hard surfacing applications. Our Tri-Mark brand is best known across the welding industry for its premier flux-cored and metal-cored wires.
Our engineers have specially formulated each type of filler metal with our customers' needs in mind. Each wire and every electrode is designed to help improve productivity, minimize unnecessary costs and provide the best welds possible, no matter how difficult the application.
What's Next?
Without question, Hobart Brothers will continue to operate under the same principles of excellence that we have embraced since the early 1900s. In addition to providing quality filler metals, we will continue to provide top-notch technical support and training to both our customers and our distributors. We want to be sure that everyone has the most up-to-date information necessary to implement our products as effectively and efficiently as possible. And because we know that quality products don't mean anything if they don't reach their destination in time, Hobart Brothers will continue its commitment to fast delivery and accurate fulfillment of all our filler metal orders. Guaranteed.
Here's to serving the welding industry with quality, reliability and efficiency for another ninety years—and beyond! That's the Hobart Brothers' commitment.
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Dear GAWDA Members,
Tawnee, Malvenia, Kate, Taylor, Kent and the entire Fernley & Fernley staff wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season and the happiest of New Years.
Your Headquarters Staff
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BREAKING NEWS
Jury Awards $20.5M to Welding Fume Plaintiffs
On December 5, a jury in Cleveland, Ohio, returned a substantial verdict in favor of the plaintiffs in the Tamraz case and awarded a total of $20.5 million against the welding rod manufacturers. The jury found in favor of the plaintiffs on their negligence and strict liability claims, but in favor of the defendants on the fraudulent concealment counts. The verdict did not contain an award for punitive damages. No distributors were defendants in the Tamraz case at the time of trial. The jury deliberated for more than eight days and reported they were deadlocked at one point before reaching a verdict. The defendants plan to appeal.
Tamraz was the first and only welding fume case to be tried in 2007. The industry won all six welding fume trials in 2006. Tamraz is only the second jury trial plaintiffs have won, and comes four years after plaintiffs' other win in the Elam case. Defendants have won 16 of the last 18 welding fume cases tried.
The next welding fume case scheduled to go to trial is the Andre case, set for January 9, 2008, in Louisiana state court. Jowers, the next scheduled MDL trial, is currently set for February 4 in Mississippi.
The Countdown Is On
If you have not paid your annual membership dues, the privileges of association membership will cease for you on January 1. No more access to GAWDA consultants! No Welding & Gases Today! No Safety Organizer! No semi-monthly newsletter! No network! No Edge! No Spring Management Conferences! The clock is ticking. Pay your annual dues today! Go to www.gawda.org and click on "Members Only."
Scaling New Heights
 In Welding & Gases Today's Sixth Annual Business Forecast, distributors and suppliers discuss their success strategies for the coming year. Find out what they expect for 2008 and how they will improve on last year's record breaking results. Also, meet GAWDA's 2008 Board, see photos from the 2008 Convention, and learn about the rise in overseas manufacturing in the welding supply industry. All this and more in the latest issue of Welding & Gases Today, available in print and online at www.gawda.org.
NEW MEMBERS
GAWDA welcomes new Supplier Member Broco Inc., of Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
INDUSTRY BEAT
(what
people are talking about)
GasServ Businesses from Harsco Sold; TWI Welcomes New Ownership (Mechanicsburg, PA) • Wind Point Partners, a private equity investment firm, acquired the Harsco GasServ group of gas technology businesses from Harsco Corporation. The acquisition includes Taylor-Wharton, compressed gas cylinders and cryogenic storage vessels; American Welding & Tank, propane tanks; Structural Composites Industries, filament wrapped composite cylinders and Sherwood precision valve products. The four complementary businesses will operate collectively as Taylor-Wharton International (TWI). Robert E. Gadomski has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer for TWI. The majority of the existing management team will remain in place as TWI's management team. Gadomski worked at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. for 34 years, most recently as executive vice president of the Gases and Equipment Group. After three years of consulting and university teaching, he is excited to return to the challenge of business building. He says, "Wind Point is delighted to own the TWI businesses and will step up investment in innovative new products, improved services and manufacturing efficiencies. We will invest to improve TWI's relationships and technical capabilities. Our strategic approach to expanding TWI's worldwide footprint will also include future growth through acquisition." Taylor-Wharton International operates 19 manufacturing, sales, warehouse and service facilities in 6 countries and markets its products in over 80 countries.
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| Jim Hoffman |
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Hoffman Joins Gas Innovations (Houston, TX) • Jim Hoffman was named vice president of sales at Gas Innovations Inc. Hoffmann will work with distributors to grow their propylene fuel gas business while also managing Gas Innovations' product development, asset utilization and distribution activities. Hoffman worked at Praxair for 30 years. Most recently, he was in branch operations with Airgas. "Our mission is our distributors; Jim Hoffmann will support our distributors," says Ashley Madray, vice president.
Airgas Makes Three More Acquisitions (Radnor, PA) • Airgas, Inc. acquired Wright Welding Supply, Inc., an industrial gas and welding supply distributor in Des Moines, IA; Basin Welding Supply in Odessa, TX; and Mainland Welding Supplies Ltd. in Surrey, BC, near Vancouver, Canada. Together, the three transactions add $22 million in acquired annual sales.
Praxair Announces Price Increase (Danbury, CT) • Effective January 1, 2008, Praxair, Inc. and Praxair Canada Inc. will increase price and facility fee/monthly basic charges:
• 10% to 20% for nitrogen, oxygen, argon, hydrogen and carbon dioxide
• 15% to 30% for helium
• Up to 15% for facility fees/monthly basic charges.
According to Praxair, these actions are being implemented in response to escalating energy, logistics and other operation costs, as well as current supply/demand imbalances. Supply system capital and maintenance costs have also risen. Price adjustments may be higher or lower than these ranges where applicable.
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Lincoln Electric Acquires Vernon Tool Company (Cleveland, OH) • Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. acquired the assets and business of Vernon Tool Company, Ltd., a privately held manufacturer of computer-controlled pipe cutting equipment used for precision fabrication purposes. Based in San Diego, CA, Vernon Tool's annual sales are approximately $9M. Founded in 1930, Vernon Tool Company provides solutions to difficult pipe fabrication and process flow issues in industrial construction, as well as heavy fabrication uses in the infrastructure and energy-related segments.
 In Sympathy
Max Hughes, 92, owner of Superior Welding Supply Co., in Waterloo, IA, passed away on December 11, 2007, after a brief illness. Mr. Hughes devoted his life to his business and will be remembered for his sharp mind and his relationship with his employees. He was an avid golfer and a dedicated alumnus and supporter of Iowa Hawkeye sports. |
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5 Challenges Facing Distributors and
5 Investments Distributors Will Make
During 2008 |
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| According to a survey of GAWDA Members conducted during December, here are the top 5 challenges and investments distributors expect during the coming year. |
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Top 5 Challenges Facing Distributors |
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1. Gross margin pressure
2. Finding and retaining quality employees
3. Regulatory compliance
4. Rising insurance premiums
5. Managing growth |
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Top 5 Investments Distributors Will Make |
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1. Cylinders and bulk tanks
2. Training
3. Facilities (new and upgrades)
4. Hiring and retaining employees
5. Trucks |
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| Find out more in the latest issue of Welding & Gases Today Online. |
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GAWDA
NEWS
Plan Improvement for GAWDA/Met Life, Group Life Insurance Program
• At a recent GAWDA Insurance Trustees meeting, the trustees voted to increase the Dependent Life insurance portion of the program applicable to children up to age 19, from $2,000 to $5,000, effective January 1, 2008.
All 117 participating companies were notified of this benefit enhancement. It is estimated that over 80% of those companies providing Employee group life insurance do not provide Dependent life insurance. The GAWDA program does insure Spouses for $10,000 (unchanged) and makes no premium charge for either the $10,000 spouse and now $5,000 child (ren) insurance.
Charles Miesch, Purity Cylinder Gases, Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI), was named 2008 Insurance Trustee Chairman, replacing 2007 Chairman David Weigel, Oxygen Service Company (St. Paul, MN).
For more information, please contact GAWDA’s Group Life Insurance Consultant David Irving at (610) 566-4851, or e-mail davebarbirving@aol.com.
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.
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2007-2008 Dues Final 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 “Members Only.” 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 or kcole@fernley.com.
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WORKSHOPS,
WEB CONFERENCES & SEMINARS
GAWDA Sponsors University of Industrial Distribution
Register to attend the University of Industrial Distribution in Indianapolis, IN, on March 2-5, 2008. Register early. This program was sold out the last 4 years! Visit this page to register online and for program details. For GAWDA members, the Early Registration Fee is $995 if postmarked, faxed or submitted online before February 1, 2008, a savings of $100.
GAWDA Consultants Forum
The 2008 GAWDA Consultants Forum will be held April 1–4 in Indianapolis, IN. Featured topics include a presentation on the new security regulations now going into effect, changes to DOT requirements, upcoming changes to the USP/NF medical gas monographs and how that will potentially affect how medical gases are analyzed, and an in-depth session on establishing and managing an effective lockout/tagout program. General registration will open on January 15, 2008.
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NAW
SmartBriefs
Top Stories from around the industry.
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The
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Privacy
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GAWDA
HEADQUARTERS
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