BREAKING NEWS

What Suppliers Expect for the Year Ahead

GAWDA members from across the country were recently surveyed about their expectations and strategies for 2009. The economy is a determining factor for distributors and suppliers, who all forecast a shaky year. However, both distributors and suppliers also see many opportunities in the next 12 months. Among GAWDA suppliers, 58% anticipate sales in 2009 to be better than sales in 2008; of these companies, the rate of growth ranges from 2% to 20%, with an average increase of 8%. Thirty percent of suppliers predict sales to be level with last year, and 7% are preparing for sales to be worse, with an average decrease of 8%. The remaining 5% are unsure of what to expect. Suppliers are keeping their eyes open for niche markets—such as pipeline, energy and propane—that will do well despite the downturn in the economy. They also plan on introducing new products and technologies designed to increase efficiency and profitability for the user. Increasing efficiency and keeping up with customer demand are at the forefront of suppliers’ concerns for 2009. Suppliers intend to focus on maintaining inventory levels, making prompt deliveries and implementing lean operations techniques. You can read the full 2009 Business Forecast in the Winter issue of Welding & Gases Today, in print or online at www.WeldingandGasesToday.org.

Experts Foresee Midyear Rebound in Economy

Stock market strategists are predicting that the economy will most likely recover midyear, according to an article in USA TODAY on January 2. While best-case and worst-case scenarios are also mentioned, the article states that the most probable scenario has investors’ panic subsiding early in 2009, allowing for the economy to return to normal in the months that follow. This prediction is in line with the belief of many GAWDA members who revealed in Welding & Gases Today's 2009 Annual Business Forecast that they expect an upturn in the economy in the latter half of 2009. Read the full article from USA TODAY here.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

Sutton-Garten Recognized for Welding Classes (Indianapolis, IN) • A recent article about the best of Indianapolis in Indianapolis Monthly magazine recognized the welding classes offered by Sutton-Garten Company and taught by Instructor Chris Foster. The article refers to Foster’s skills as a welder/artist and recommends the 5-week class, which offers an introduction to welding for hobbyists and artists. “Being mentioned in the magazine has been great exposure," says President Pat Garten. "We’ve received quite a few calls because of it.” The company is mentioned under "Best Welding Classes" under the "Best Arts & Media" link in the article, located here.

Lisa Byall Bruce Chantry

Lincoln Electric Promotes 3 (Cleveland, OH) • Lisa Byall and Bruce Chantry were promoted to the newly created positions of portfolio managers at Lincoln Electric. Byall, formerly product manager for flux-cored wires, is responsible for overseeing the company's welding consumable portfolio. Chantry, formerly product manager for advanced welding equipment, is responsible for overseeing the welding equipment portfolio. Both Byall and Chantry are responsible for leading the marketing product management teams. Dusty Hickman was promoted to the newly created position of industry segment manager for offshore, process and power generation. Previously a technical sales representative, Hickman is responsible for coordinating the company’s product offerings and welding solutions for the specified industries.

Great Lakes Oxygen Sells Company (Painesville, OH) • Great Lakes Oxygen, also doing business as Welder's Supply, Westside Welders Supply, Great Lakes Propane, and Lake Erie Iron and Metal, was sold to Airgas. Established in 1982, Great Lakes Oxygen has 3 locations in Ohio and generates annual revenues of over $15 million. All 50 Great Lakes Oxygen employees, including President Martin Hathy, will be integrated into Airgas Great Lakes.

Thermadyne Specialty Markets Group Adds Channels (St. Louis, MO) • The Thermadyne Specialty Markets Group will add multiple distribution channels to meet the needs of distinct emerging business segments. The channels that the Thermadyne Specialty Markets Group will serve are HVACR and plumbing, catalog/mass market retailers, automotive aftermarket, tracker supply and equipment companies, hardware industries catering to non-industrial settings, and tool and equipment distribution companies that carry light construction, industrial and related products.

Robinson Joins Oxford Alloys (Baton Rouge, LA) • John Robinson was hired by Oxford Alloys as director of export sales. He will assist the company’s efforts toward the marketing and sales of welding consumables on a worldwide basis.

Hypertherm Acquires CAM Software Company (Hanover, NH) • Hypertherm acquired the core assets of 25-year-old MTC Software, a developer of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software used by the sheet and plate processing industry. The software is used in conjunction with CNC systems for oxy-fuel, plasma, waterjet, laser and other cutting processes. MTC headquarters will remain in Lockport, NY, and its 40 associates will continue to work at their current locations.

Leadership Changes at Taylor-Wharton (Mechanicsburg, PA) • Taylor-Wharton International made several changes to its executive leadership. Stuart Jara was promoted to president of the cylinders and cryogenics divisions for Taylor-Wharton. Hoyt Fitzsimmons was appointed vice president of business development for Taylor-Wharton International. Mike Larsen was appointed vice president and general manager of Taylor-Wharton Cylinders. Ted Reilly was appointed vice president and general manager for American Welding & Tank. Reilly will also retain his responsibilities as vice president of sales for AWT.

NuCO2 Acquires nexAir's Beverage Division (Stuart, FL) • NuCO2 acquired the 25-year-old beverage division of nexAir. With annual revenues of around $13 million, the division serves a 14-state area and will add approximately 10,000 customers to NuCO2's existing base of approximately 120,000 customers. "This is a big step for us in growing the company," says NuCO2 Chairman and CEO Michael DeDomenico. The majority of the division's 50 employees will transition to positions at NuCO2.

GAWDA NEWS

GAWDA Hosts Chinese Gas Association • On January 13, GAWDA's Executive and Industry Partnering Committees met with a 10-member delegation from the China Industrial Gases Industry Association (CIGIA). CIGIA represents 500 companies that manufacture industrial and medical gases throughout China. China currently has air separation units capable of producing 83,000 m3/h of product. The delegation focused on: The latest trends and developments in the American industrial gases and welding industry. The ideas of future market, growth and technological progress of the industry Safety and environmentally responsible standards and practices to achieve common operation practices worldwide Establishing goodwill contacts to explore cooperation opportunities in the future, such as training, company consulting and industrial cooperation. In addition to the meeting with GAWDA's leadership, the delegation toured Linde's air separation facility in Claymont, DE, on January 12, and a hospital in the Washington, D.C., area that receives its medical gases from Roberts Oxygen (Rockville, MD) on January 14. GAWDA has been invited to send a delegation to Beijing during CIGIA's National Exhibition in 2010. Look for a more detailed article about the delegation and their visit with GAWDA in the Spring issue of Welding & Gases Today.

The CIGIA delegation meets with Roberts Oxygen employees at Inova Loudoun Hospital outside Washington, D.C. Chungan Pu, deputy secretary general of the China Industrial Gases Industry Association, gives GAWDA President Britt Lovin a bamboo scroll printed with the "Art of War." CIGIA with GAWDA's Executive and Industry Partnering Committees

Take Advantage of GAWDA University Online

GAWDA U is an easy-to-use and inexpensive online training tool for your employees. The educational content of GAWDA U was developed to support GAWDA's primary mission of providing information to assist you in improving your company's safety and compliance.

GAWDA U Online is an ever-changing and growing program. We are conducting weekly webinars to introduce members to the functions and content of GAWDA U and to answer any questions. Please contact GAWDA Membership Director Kate Cole (kcole@fernley.com) to sign up for the introductory webinars or to find out more about this exciting opportunity!

Click here to view course listings.

WORKSHOPS, WEB CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

University of Industrial Distribution
March 8-11, 2009
The University Place Conference Center and Hotel
Indianapolis, IN

GAWDA is pleased to invite you to participate in the University of Industrial Distribution, March 8-11, 2009, at The University Place Conference Center and Hotel (Indianapolis, IN). Next year marks the 16th year the UID has been serving the distribution industry. The program will offer 36 classes featuring some of the most accomplished experts in sales, finance, branch management, HR, distribution technology and the distribution channel.

For GAWDA members, the early registration fee is $995 if postmarked, faxed or submitted online before January 16, 2009, a savings of $100. Register online at www.univid.org.

Get more information at GAWDA News.

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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