BREAKING NEWS

Settlement Reached in
Airgas-Mid America et al. vs. Thoroughbred

Airgas and Scott-Gross Company jointly announced on January 26, 2009, the settlement of a lawsuit relating to a cylinder exchange program operated by Scott-Gross’s wholly owned subsidiary Thoroughbred Industrial Cylinder Exchange. The lawsuit was previously reported in the December 23, 2008, issue of GAWDA Connection. All parties have agreed to dismiss their various claims and counterclaims without any admission of wrongdoing by any party and without certification of the plaintiffs' claims as a class action. Read the terms of the settlement here.

OSHA Form 300A Reminder

This is a reminder that you are required to post OSHA Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, from February 1 through April 30 in a visible location so that employees are aware of injuries and illnesses occurring in the workplace. A company executive is required to certify the summary by signing it. Employers are also required to keep a log for each establishment or worksite. If you have more than one establishment, keep a separate log and summary for each physical location that is expected to be in operation for one year or longer.

If you have any questions on this subject, please contact Mike Dodd at MLDSafety@hotmail.com or 573-785-5111 for more information.

Laid-Off Workers Turn to Welding and Trucking Jobs

A recent article from The New York Times reports that victims of lay-offs are drawn to careers in welding and trucking, as these jobs are likely keep a person employed at reasonable pay through a downturn. The article cites workers who, since being laid off at a paper mill in Eastern Wisconsin, are undergoing training to become welders and truckers. Read the full article here.

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE NEWS

February Safety & Technology Organizer Online  • The February Safety & Technology Organizer is now available. Topics include: Enclosed Cylinder Carts and Baskets, State Regulations on Medical Drug Gases and Chemical Inventory Reporting.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

The customer service center at Norco’s Meridian branch includes privacy booths Norco’s 52,500 sq. ft. production plant

New Branch and Production Plant for Norco (Boise, ID) • Norco has completed construction on a new branch and production plant in Meridian, ID. The 47,000 sq. ft. branch was designed according to Norco employees’ suggestions. A lighting system that dims lights when the sun is out and a system that will evacuate hot air/pull in cool evening air in the summer were installed in the warehouse to save energy. The 52,500 sq. ft. production plant houses a fill plant, a cylinder maintenance facility and NorLab, Norco’s specialty and calibration gases division, which includes a 1,250 sq. ft. laboratory equipped to analytically confirm pure gases up to 99.9999% and certified and primary mixtures.

FIBA Receives DOT Approval on Authorization, Hires Finn (Millbury, MA) • Following an extensive audit of FIBA Technologies' tube manufacturing and quality control processes, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration granted FIBA Approval CA2008090018, which authorizes FIBA to manufacture and mark UN tubes built according to ISO design, construction and testing standard ISO 11120. FIBA is the first company in the world to be granted this authorization.

John Finn joined FIBA as business development manager. Finn, son of President John F. Finn, will assist FIBA in analyzing new product opportunities and providing management with strategic recommendations, including site development and acquisitions.

Bruce Toyama Debra Best

Two Join AWESCO (Albany, NY) • Bruce Toyama was hired as director of sales and marketing at AWESCO. Toyama was formerly North American sales manager for Applied Robotics and director of marketing for Magnetic Technologies. AWESCO also hired Debra Best as director of operations. Best was formerly director of human resources consulting for Boston Scientific Gases and director of HR and staffing for Trans World Entertainment Corporation.

Valley National Gases Hires Two (Independence, OH) • Valley National Gases hired Steve Svetik as CFO. Svetik was most recently EVP and CFO of Masterbrand Cabinets, where he managed information technology, corporate accounting, treasury, supply chain, plant operations and strategy. Dennis Hulth also joined VNG as vice president, projects. Hulth was CEO and president of Mittler Supply (South Bend, IN) prior to Praxair’s acquisition of the company in 2007.

Weldinghouse’s new 2,400 sq. ft. fill plant

Weldinghouse Opens Fill Plant (Corpus Christi, TX) • Weldinghouse opened a new fill plant on January 29. The plant is 2,400 sq. ft. and fills argon, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and common welding mixes in both liquid packages and high pressure cylinders. "Now that we can package the gases ourselves, we can service our customers in a more timely matter," says General Manager Ron Waldrop. The plant is located next to Weldinghouse’s headquarters in Corpus Christi, TX.

Cryogenic Industries Promotes Estes (Murrieta, CA) • James Estes was hired by Cryogenic Industries as managing director of ACD and Cryogenic Industries Service Companies. Estes will be responsible for ACD's cryogenic reciprocating and centrifugal pump and turboexpander manufacturing facility, as well as the group’s extensive global service and repair network, Cryogenic Industries Service Companies. Estes has been with the company for 19 years, most recently as vice president of the North American service and repair group.

Valley Welders Supply Changing Name (Billings, MT) • Valley Welders Supply is changing its name to American Welding and Gas Incorporated. The new name will also be adopted by Northern Welding and Supply (Wausau, WI) and American Welding (Willmar, MN) to reflect the fact that the 3 companies are sister companies. "The new name will help the 3 companies to be recognized as a unit, and it will give us combined buying power," says President Rod Adkins.

Don Hodges

Hodges Joins Earlbeck (Baltimore, MD) • Earlbeck Gases & Technology hired Don Hodges as testing and training manager. He is responsible for course development, welder certification testing and accredited test facility implementation. Hodges has been in the industry for 25 years, having held various positions in weld fabrication, production control and finance.

Lincoln Canada Obtains Environmental Certification (Toronto, ON, Canada) • The Lincoln Electric Company of Canada received ISO 14001 certification for its head office and manufacturing facility in Toronto. The ISO 14001 Standard is a specification for environmental management systems to help organizations minimize how their operations affect the environment. Lincoln Canada established its own Environmental Management System (EMS) to monitor and improve upon areas such as reduction of waste from production, reduction in water and energy consumption, and developing and manufacturing environmentally friendly products.

Kathleen Moore In Sympathy Kathleen Moore, the wife of Harry Moore, president of NWSA (now GAWDA) 1963-1964, passed away on January 23 at the age of 88. They were married for 64 years. With Harry and his brother Dinty, they founded Moore Bros. Welding Supply in Sacramento, CA. Described as strong and spirited, Mrs. Moore lived her life with never-faltering courage, love, kindness and humor, traits she brought to the members of NWSA in her role as first lady. She is survived by Harry Moore, her husband of 64 years, 4 children and several grandchildren.

GAWDA NEWS

2009 Spring Management Conferences • Don't forget to register for GAWDA's 2009 Spring Management Conferences. Visit GAWDA's Web site for more details.

Profit Survey for Distributor Members • Participate in the 2009 GAWDA PROFIT Survey. Get full details here.

HR Report Available • The February 2009 HR Manager's Legal Reporter is now available for download at www.gawda.org.

GAWDA Professional Compliance Seminar • Save the date and plan to attend the GAWDA Professional Compliance Seminar on March 16-19, 2009. The seminar will be held in Philadelphia this year. During the seminar, you will be brought up to date on the regulatory issues facing our industry. We will also conduct documented training for the compliance professional. This seminar also covers powerful techniques (compliance strategies, gas loss management, online resources, plant design and operations) to lower your cost of doing business. Information on programming and registration will be available soon at www.gawda.org.

GAWDA Clearinghouse • The GAWDA Clearinghouse has been updated for the month.

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

Winners or Whiners? How to Find, Hire and Develop Outstanding Sales Professionals
(GAWDA Co-sponsored Webinar with AEA)
February 12, 2009
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Eastern)

If the 80/20 rule holds true—that 80% of business is produced by 20% of salespeople—that would also mean that 80% of all hiring decisions made by managers are mistakes. In this webinar, Landy Chase will show you practical, immediately applicable methods for ensuring that you avoid making the mistakes of your peers.

Register online or call KRM Information Services at 1-800-775-7654 and reference Seminar #15410. Be sure to let them know that you are a GAWDA Member. Registration fee is $149 per site. Get more information about the webinar here.

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

UID has been serving the distribution industry for 16 years. 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. 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.

If you no longer wish to receive the GAWDA Connection, please respond here.
Privacy Statement

GAWDA HEADQUARTERS
100 North 20th Street, 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1443
phone 215.564.3484 - fax 213.963.9784
gawda@fernley.com

Copyright © 2009 Data Key Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher.