GAWDA Connection

A Semi-Monthly Newsletter for Gases and Welding Distributors Association Members

January 23, 2010

	Breaking News • Safety & Compliance • New Members
	Industry Beat • GAWDA News • Education & Training

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New Distributor Opportunities for 2010

As 2010 begins, many manufacturers will be looking to improve their welding processes and reduce overall cost. Gullco International, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio, has been encouraging its customers to try Electrode Stabilizing Ovens and KATBAK Ceramic Weld Backing to do just that.

That Customer base will be available to the Gullco distributor. Gullco also has the largest variety of ceramic welding backup tiles (shape and inventory) available to the Distributor. The Gullco ovens are now available to the Distributor at extremely competitive prices and are in stock for immediate delivery.

In today’s welding industry, it has become easier to find low-cost solutions to those things that result in costly re-work. Using the Gullco line of Electrode Ovens, the welder is able to keep consistent electrode properties, which results in fewer defects that require back gouging and re-welding. This becomes increasingly important to users of such electrodes as flux core, where low hydrogen levels must be maintained for quality welds. When this is paired with Gullco’s world-renowned KATBAK Ceramic Weld Backing, the efficiency of the welding process is greatly increased.

Ceramic weld backing allows for one-sided welding with x-ray quality root pass, and it is perfect for applications where weld integrity is of critical importance. The welder is able to achieve full penetration welds in a fraction of the time. This is due, in part, to the increase in weld deposit seen when ceramic backing strips are used in the weld procedure. Couple this with Gullco Automation and the savings are impressive.

These Gullco products will allow Distributors to increase sales to their present customers and open doors to new ones by offering competitive advantages such as customer service, cost savings and onsite training. Gullco is committed to working with Distributors to establish markets for these newer products, as well as develop relationships for assisting your customers in utilizing welding automation.

Gullco welding automation is effective but simple, low cost, easy to operate and provides significant benefits to the operators as well as the customers. An additional benefit to the Distributor is that increased use of these products promotes the use of filler metals and gas. And keeping your customers competitive increases the likelihood of new projects.

Gullco is better able to serve its distributors in the United States and Canada (as well as throughout the world) through its experienced application specialists. These specialists are available to travel to your customer’s location to do on-site demonstration. These on-site demonstrations assist in opening up new business opportunities and expand sales with current customers. In addition to onsite training and demonstrations, Gullco also provides training to the Distributor sales staff.

Gullco has made its name through the sale of welding and cutting automation equipment and continues to expand its product line to offer the industry cost-effective solutions while increasing productivity and reducing operator fatigue. Contact GULLCO today to ask about how we can increase your sales and bottom line while saving your customers time and money.

sales@gullco.com
www.gullco.com

Breaking News

GAWDA Mourns Loss of Tom Eynon

Thomas W. Eynon

Thomas W. Eynon, who served as GAWDA's OSHA and EPA Consultant from 2002 to 2008, passed away on January 9 after a brave fight with pancreatic cancer. He was 70 years old. A career safety professional, his first job in the industry was at Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation. In 1987, he became Northeast Region Safety Manager for BOC, then took responsibility for process safety for BOC Gases America. After retiring in 1998, Mr. Eynon returned to the industry as an independent contractor and joined B & R Compliance Associates as a senior associate in 2002, at which time he was tapped to provide OSHA and EPA consulting services for GAWDA. He knew that many small companies were not able to support an on-site safety professional, and he dedicated himself to making sure that GAWDA members kept their employees and their assets safe. He had a significant impact in developing and implementing numerous safety standards and programs, particularly the CGA Standards for Process Safety Management in the Gases Industry.

Mr. Eynon is survived by his wife of 33 years, Mary Ann, 4 children and several grandchildren. Donations in his name can be made to The Lustgarten Foundation in Bethpage, NY, an organization devoted to research to develop treatment and a cure for pancreatic cancer.

SMC Schedule Released

This year there is only one Spring Management Conference. Don’t miss this opportunity to network with the industry’s best and brightest in Chicago. View the full schedule here and read more about the conference in GAWDA News below.

FMCSA To Hold Final Hours-Of-Service
Listening Sessions

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will hold 2 more listening sessions to gather information and comments as the agency prepares a rulemaking proposal on hours-of-service requirements for property-carrying commercial vehicle drivers. The agency wants to hear about topics such as rest and on-duty time, sleeper berth use and the effect the current hours-of-service rule has on loading and unloading times for drivers. A record of the listening sessions will be placed in the public docket for the rulemaking.

The next listening session will be held Monday, January 25, at the Double Tree Hotel-Los Angeles International Airport from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The final session will be held on Thursday, January 28, from 1-9 p.m. at the Comfort Inn Hotel and Suites in Davenport, IA.

Overheard on Twitter:

LincolnElectric We're proud to be involved RT @Welding5794: Cool Story! @LincolnElectric Lincoln Supports Olympic Effort http://bit.ly/4P43hC

Five wiki terms you should know
	1. 2. 3. 4. 5.	Hazard Communication Standard Environmental Protection Agency Germane Gas mixture Oxyacetylene welding
To add your own term, go to www.GAWDAwiki.org.

Safety & Compliance News

U.S. Customs Delays Enforcement of Empty Container Rule Modification • On July 17, 2009, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published Customs Bulletin and Decisions, Volume 43, No. 28, providing notice of modification of a prior headquarters ruling (HQ 113129) which allowed containers meeting the requirements of 19 U.S.C. 1322(a) and 19 CFR 10.41a as instruments of international traffic (IIT) and containing residual chemicals to be entered as empty containers. This notice is available on the CBP public Web site (page 138).

The CBP has now issued a further notification that it will delay enforcement until further notice in order for the trade community to fully comply with these requirements. Once a definitive enforcement date is established:

Instruments of international traffic containing residual chemicals, cargo, goods, etc., must be manifested and entered in compliance with customs laws;
If qualified, shipments containing residual goods can be entered as American Goods Returned (AGR); and
Since the exact amount of the residual goods may not be known at the time the advance cargo information is required to be transmitted, the importer may estimate the amount when providing that information to the carrier for transmission to CBP. Additionally, the same estimated amount should be used at the time of entry of the goods. If a more precise amount is obtained after arrival, then the entry should be amended.

Any questions regarding this notice should be directed to CBP Cargo Chief Chris DeMello at 360-332-2661.

January Safety & Technology Organizer Online • The January 2010 Safety & Technology Organizer is available at www.gawda.org. Some topics include Emergency Action Plan, Driver Qualification File and Breathing Air and Update on Electronic Registration and Listing.

Industry Beat
(what people are talking about)

Superior Products Acquires West Coast Business (Cleveland, OH) • Superior Products acquired Macro Technologies of Kirkland, WA. Macro Technologies manufactures proprietary quick connects, relief valves, stainless hoses and shutoff valves for compressed and cryogenic gases used in home medical, transportation and industrial markets. The company is very active in the emerging LNG and CNG markets, including alternative fueling.

Joy
Milne

Deb
Misenhimer

Chris
Brignola

Colleen
Mahoney

AWESCO Adds Staff (Albany, NY) • AWESCO hired four new people: Joy Milne as controller, Deb Misenhimer as director of human resources, Chris Brignola as purchasing agent and Colleen Mahoney, daughter of AWESCO President and CEO J. David Mahoney, as a corporate management trainee.

Gas and Supply Opens Location in Oklahoma (Baton Rouge, LA) • Gas and Supply opened a new branch in Tulsa, OK. The branch, formerly known as American Industrial & Welding Supply, will supply industrial, bulk and specialty gases and components, welding equipment and consumables, safety products and other related products and services. The company has 26 locations in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Alabama.

GAWDA Members Team Up (Auburn, ME) • Maine Oxy-Acetylene Supply has a new fill plant. Built by CryoVation, the upgraded fill plant includes a complete traversing manifold system, touch-screen automated inert/mix and oxygen control systems, fast vent/vacuum systems and automated helium cascading.


Aaron Fischer

Fischer of Sales (Denver, CO) • General Welding Supply appointed Aaron Fischer as sales manager. A 2009 graduate of the University of Northern Colorado’s Monfort School of Business, Aaron is the son of President Dave Fischer.

Bohnert on Board (Lafayette, IN) • Alloy Custom Products hired Troy Bohnert as engineer manager. He recently served as operations manager for AMKO.


Anthony Battle

Battle Advances (Cleveland, OH) • Lincoln Electric Holdings named Anthony Battle as vice president, internal audit. He will be responsible for Lincoln’s worldwide audit process and staff. Battle joined Lincoln as an audit manager in 2003 and was promoted to director, internal audit, in 2004.

John Kaylor

Paul Pfingston

John Kuhn

New Leaders at ABICOR Binzel (Frederick, MD) • ABICOR Binzel named John Kaylor as president, US and Canada; Paul Pfingston, director of sales and marketing, US and Canada; and John Kuhn, vice-president of finance and administration, US and Canada. Kaylor has been with the company over 20 years, while both Pfingston and Kuhn have been with Binzel for 13.

Serving Up Honors (Sugar Land, TX) • The International Society of Automation Analytical Division awarded Servomex second place in its Best Technical Paper category, and gave it the 2009 Gilmer/Thomason/Fowler/Konrad award. Servomex’s winning paper was titled "A Comparative Analysis of the Errors in the Measurement of Oxygen Between In-Situ and Extractive Methods."

Matheson Tri-Gas Acquires ETOX, Gastech (Basking Ridge, NJ) • Matheson Tri-Gas acquired ETOX in Tyler, TX, and Gastech in Texarkana, TX. The purchase adds 14 new branches to the Matheson Tri-Gas network.

In Memoriam

Thomas H. Copeland

Thomas H. Copeland, Mailam USA
Thomas H. Copeland, 73, died December 22, 2009. He was the president and CEO of welding equipment manufacturer Mailam USA, which he founded in 2004. Mr. Copeland had nearly 4 decades of experience in the gases and welding industry. "Tommy had good values and always treated the customer right. He believed in taking care of the people with whom we were doing business. I think he loved the people most of all. He loved being on the road, calling on and meeting new people," says Ken Moore, office and inventory control manager at Mailam USA and Copeland's son-in-law.

	ATTENTION GAWDA MEMBERS!
	GAWDA Connection is a way for you to tell the world about events happening at your company, about new employees, promotions, big and small jobs, etc. Send it at any time by clicking on Submit a News Item in the left menu bar or calling the publisher at 315-445-2347.

GAWDA News

Make Your Hotel Reservations for the Spring Management Conference • A special GAWDA rate of $249, single or double occupancy, is available to the SMC attendees at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Please make your reservation directly with the Hyatt Regency Chicago on or before March 17, 2010 by calling 800-421-1442. When making your reservation, please be sure to mention the GAWDA conference rate of $249.

It is vitally important that you reserve your accommodations at GAWDA’s host hotel, the Hyatt Regency Chicago. GAWDA is contractually obligated to fill its room block and may be exposed to significant financial liability should the association’s members fail to support this room block.

SMC Exhibitors—Will You Exhibit at the Chicago SMC? • If yes, your company information will be included in the 2010 Exhibitor Guide in Welding & Gases Today. All you have to do is e-mail mavery@fernley.com and let her know that your company will be exhibiting at the Contact Booth Program. In order to meet the publication deadline, you must act quickly.

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

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

Workshops, Web Conferences & Seminars

GAWDA University—Now Free to GAWDA Members
Attention GAWDA members: As an added membership benefit, GAWDA has decided to let all GAWDA members take advantage of GAWDA University for free. We've heard one of the toughest challenges facing companies today is training new employees and keeping current employees up-to-date on safety, compliance and industry best practices. GAWDA University is an industry tested training program that will help your company! And now it's completely free! If you would like to take part in a brief overview of GAWDA University please e-mail Kate Marlys, GAWDA Membership Director, at kmarlys@fernley.com to register.

University of Industrial Distribution—Sponsored by GAWDA
March 8-11, 2010
University Place Conference Center and Hotel, Indianapolis, IN. Enrollment is limited. Details can be found here.

GAWDA Professional Compliance Seminar
March 22-25, 2010
At Chart Industries, Ball Park, GA (near Atlanta). To register, visit this page.

Upcoming Events

For more information about these events, please click
on underlined titles or call GAWDA at 215-564-3484.

March 2

• Southeastern Zone Regional Meeting (Bonita Springs, FL)

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Philadelphia, PA 19103-1443
phone 215.564.3484 - fax 213.963.9784
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