BREAKING NEWS

FDA Offers New Registration Training

Effective June 1, 2009, the FDA has converted the old paper-based registration and listing process to an online system. Since the instructions for completing the online submission are not very clear, the FDA is conducting a training session for the gases and welding industry. The training session will be conducted both at the FDA's Rockville, MD, location and online via WebEx. Details are as follows:

Title: “SPL R4 Session Thirteen training session - Preparing Compressed Gas Electronic Drug Establishment Registration Drug Listing Submissions"
Date: June 30, 2009
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

If you would like to attend the training session in person, send an e-mail to spl@fda.hhs.gov and ask to attend the SPL R4 Session Thirteen training session. If you want to attend the training session online via WebEx, e-mail Tom Badstubner at Tom@AsteRiskLLC.com.

This meeting is scheduled to last five hours. AsteRisk is attending the meeting and will prepare a quick users guide to the new online registration system. If you are not able to attend the meeting, AsteRisk will get the new instructions to you after the meeting.

NEW MEMBERS

GAWDA welcomes new Distributor Member NFC Company Inc., of Chicago, IL.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

Construction of Arc Weld’s new branch in Mitchell, IN, is slated for completion later this month.

Arc Weld to Open New Branch (Corydon, IN) Arc Weld is putting the finishing touches on a new branch located at 3158 State Rd. 37 in Mitchell, IN. They hope to have the branch completed and open for business by the end of the month. Steve Bahe will be manager of the 14,000 sq. ft. branch that consists of a showroom, offices and warehousing space.

Air Liquide Acquires Pacific Science (Houston, TX) • Air Liquide acquired Pacific Science, Inc., a provider of cryobiology equipment and services to biobanks, in Torrance, CA. The transaction was made by Air Liquide Healthcare America Corporation, Air Liquide’s American Healthcare subsidiary. Pacific Science, Inc., a 15-person company, will complement Air Liquide’s offering to American hospitals, particularly on the West Coast, and is a channel to bring Air Liquide’s cryobiology solutions to the U.S. market.

Central Welding Supply Expands (Marysville, WA) • Central Welding Supply announces the acquisition of Compressed Gas Western, a beverage gases supply company based in Seattle, WA. “Compressed Gas Western has been providing unmatched beverage gas service to over 1,500 restaurants, bars, brewpubs and food service establishments in the greater Seattle metropolitan area since 1974,” says Dale Wilton, president/CEO of Central Welding Supply. “We are excited to continue the tradition of reliable beverage gas service that founders/owners Russ and Joann Ivers began over 35 years ago.”

Taylor-Wharton Appoints Chairman and Interim CEO (Allentown, PA) • Taylor-Wharton International announced the appointment of Bill Corbin, a current board member, to chairman and interim CEO. Corbin has more than 20 years of experience in the industrial gases and propane industry. He replaces Robert E. Gadomski, who recently retired for family health reasons. The company has retained an executive recruiting firm to conduct a national search for a permanent CEO.

Brian Cantrell

Tomco Appoints Sales Engineer (Loganville, GA) • Tomco Equipment Company appointed Brian Cantrell as sales engineer to promote dry ice equipment within the U.S. and Canada. He will also assist the parts and service department on promoting parts sales and help on servicing existing Tomco equipment at various manufacturing sites. Cantrell has worked at Tomco as a design engineer for 8 years and helped develop Tomco’s dry ice reformers.

Airweld Holds Grand Re-Opening Celebration (Farmingdale, NY) • Airweld recently completed a remodeling project at its 1002 Alabama Ave. branch in Brooklyn, NY, and is celebrating with a grand re-opening ceremony on June 24. The branch location was given a “facelift,” according to President Christopher Leahy. “We made the facility more customer friendly and added products that local customers wanted to see on a regular basis,” says Leahy. The project took just over a month to complete and the branch remained open for business the entire time.

Worthington Makes Three Acquisitions (Columbus, OH) • Worthington Industries purchased the assets related to the business of Piper Metal Forming Corporation, U.S. Respiratory, Inc. and Pacific Cylinders, Inc. Piper is a manufacturer of aluminum high pressure cylinders and impact extruded steel and aluminum parts, serving the medical, automotive, defense, oil services and other commercial markets, with one manufacturing location in New Albany, MS. U.S. Respiratory provides value-added assembly and distribution of Piper’s medical cylinder products. Pacific Cylinders provides West Coast distribution from Diamond Springs, CA.

Linde Receives Safety Award (Murray Hill, NJ) • Linde North America was awarded Norfolk Southern Corporation’s Thoroughbred Chemical Safety Award for 2008. Wick Moorman, chief executive officer of Norfolk Southern, congratulated Linde for safely transporting chemicals by rail across Norfolk Southern Railway’s network with a record of zero incidents. “We are happy to recognize these exemplary safety achievements,” said Moorman.

Advanced Gas & Welding Solutions Combines Locations (Eastlake, OH) • Advanced Gas & Welding Solutions moved its headquarters from Eastlake, OH, to Wickliffe, OH. The company also relocated its repair facility from Cleveland, OH, to the new Wickliffe location. The combined facility is located at 30400 Lakeland Blvd. in Wickliffe, and is approximately 25,000 sq. ft. The new location is immediately off the freeway, giving customers easy access and helping to boost the company’s walk-in business.

GAWDA NEWS

Register Online For GAWDA’s Annual Convention in San Antonio • Log on to GAWDA’s Web site and visit the Current Events page to register online for the meeting, golf and contact booth exhibit at GAWDA’s 65th Annual Convention. Members can also make individual Gives Back donations online. This year’s Gives Back charity is WINGS, a provider of financial assistance for breast cancer patients. For corporate donations, please download and complete the donation form here. Learn more about this year’s GAWDA Gives Back in Welding and Gases Today Online.

Take Advantage of GAWDA University Online • 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!

View course listings here.

Linking to GAWDAwiki As it is a benefit not only for distributors but for their customers, GAWDAwiki is inviting all suppliers and distributors to create a link from their company Web site to GAWDAwiki. Not only does GAWDAwiki offer limitless industry information for your customers, it has a buyers directory where they can view all of your branches and the suppliers you represent. Creating a link is simple. Find instructions by clicking here or by calling 315-445-2347.

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