BREAKING NEWS

SMC Registration Opens Online

Online registration is now available for the GAWDA University 2007 Spring Management Conference at the Pointe South Mountain Resort in Phoenix, AZ, on May 20-22. The conference promises to draw another record crowd, and to be the educational and networking event of the spring season. Owners, executives, and operations and sales managers will definitely want to be there! This is the only SMC in 2007.

Register now and save! Visit www.gawda.org to register online and for program details. You can also download the registration forms at the above link.

Better Than a Box of Chocolates

Why go picking your way through a box of chocolates this Valentine's Day, trying to find the "good ones"? Instead, you should be flipping through the GAWDA MembersOnly Buyers Directory07, where you luck out every time, because every manufacturer and supplier listed is a GAWDA member! The MembersOnly Buyers Directory07 will be mailed to members on February 14, so watch your mailbox. And visit www.gawda.org now for the online edition of the Buyers Directory07, searchable by company name, location and category.

Talk Amongst Yourselves

Have you ever wondered, "Where can I chat with others about potentially career-killing moves?" or thought, "I wish I had a place to go where I could learn from industry pros about how to be a good manager"? Well, never fear, because the GAWDA Edge Forums are here! Visit www.gawdaedge.org/ forums to network with other professionals in the welding and gases industry. Use this unique opportunity to your advantage and begin conversing with your peers around the world about trends in the industry, developing a career path, sales strategies and more!

While you're there, don't forget to visit www.gawdaedge.org to download the latest issue of GAWDA Edge. Find out what's in store for your region in 2007, sign up for GAWDA's Young Executives group, and get expert advice on how to treat your customers to the excellent service they deserve.

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE NEWS

DOT Issues Final Rule on Air Transport of Compressed Oxygen and Generators • The Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published a final rule in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations to require cylinders of compressed oxygen and other oxidized gases and packages of chemical oxygen generators to be placed in an outer packaging that meets FAA flame penetration and thermal resistance requirements when placed on board an aircraft (72 Federal Register 4442 (January 31, 2007)). The amendments to the HMR go into effect on October 1.

The new final rule requires cylinders of compressed oxygen and chemical oxygen generators to be transported in an outer packaging that meets the same flame penetration resistance standards as required for cargo compartment sidewalls and ceiling panels in transport category airplanes. The outer packaging for a cylinder containing compressed oxygen or another oxidizing gas must meet the standards outlined in 14 CFR Part 25 Appendix F, which say the materials of the outer packaging must remain below the temperature at which its pressure relief device would activate and an oxygen generator must not actuate when exposed to a temperature of at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 hours. The outer packaging of an oxygen cylinder must prevent penetration by a flame of 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Furthermore, the new rule requires cylinders of compressed oxygen and other oxidizing gases to maintain an external temperature below 199 degrees Fahrenheit when exposed to a 400 degree Fahrenheit temperature for 3 hours.

FMCSA Publishes Proposed Rule on Electronic On-Board Recorders • The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published its proposed rule regarding electronic on-board recorders for hours-of-service compliance (72 Federal Register 2339 (January 18, 2007)). The FMCSA is proposing that truck and bus companies with a history of serious hours-of-service violations be required to install electronic on-board recorders in all of their commercial vehicles for a minimum of 2 years.

The FMCSA proposed that those carriers found to have HOS violation rates of 10% or more of the records reviewed during each of 2 compliance reviews conducted within a 2-year period would be issued a remedial directive requiring that they install EOBRs in all of their CMVs within 45 days (for hazmat carriers) and use the devices for HOS recordkeeping for a period of 2 years. The proposed rule also encourages industry-wide use of electronic on-board recorders by providing incentives for voluntary installation by carriers. Incentives include using an examination of a random sample of drivers' records of duty status as part of a company compliance review and partial relief from HOS supporting documents requirements.

Finally, all EOBRs installed in commercial motor vehicles manufactured more than 2 years after the effective date of any final rule would have to meet new performance requirements. The FMCSA proposed that EOBRs record basic information to track HOS compliance, including the driver's identity, duty status, date and time, location of the CMV, distance traveled, and other items the driver would enter. The EOBR would be required to identify the driver, and would also be required to have a GPS or other location tracking system that records the location of the CMV at least once every minute.

Valve Safety Alert • A home health agency customer reported oxygen content loss with Catalina aluminum cylinders that were fitted with Young-Do CGA 870 post valves (single o-ring design). Catalina purchased and installed these valves between February 1999 and March 2003. The valves can be identified by the Young-Do logo and a lot number beginning with the numbers 99, 00, 01 or 02 (for year of manufacture). The Catalina cylinders are marked either "M4002 . . . CATALINA" or "CLIFFDIV," each followed by a serial number, and have a warning label with the Catalina logo attached to the side of the cylinder. For more information, including a list of steps to take, visit www.gawda.org.

SARA Title III (EPCRA) Reporting • March 1 is the filing deadline for your Hazardous Chemical Inventory Report. This report usually is submitted on a Tier I or Tier II Form. Keep in mind that your state may require one of these forms be used over the other or even have its own special form. Your state may even have different reporting quantities. Check with your State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) if you have questions regarding what form to use or other possible state requirements. If you submitted this report last year, use it as a guide. The report(s) must be submitted to your Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), your SERC and the local fire department with jurisdiction over the facility. EPA has a Web site for Tier ll electronic reporting and links to State SARA Title lll information. The EPCRA hotline for free help is 800-424-9346. Additional information related to SARA Title III can be found in the GAWDA EPA Manual in sections 5, 6, 7 and 8.

February Safety & Technology Organizer Online • The February 2007 Safety & Technology Organizer is now available at www.gawda.org. Topics include Forklift Safety, DOT's Top 15 Items Cited, Sale of NF Nitrogen to Plumbing Companies, and When Is a Forklift Truck Unsafe to Operate?

NEW MEMBERS

GAWDA welcomes new Active Member Ravena Welding Supply, Inc. of Ravena, NY, and Associate Member MPT Industries of Dover, NJ.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

Praxair Acquires Mittler Supply (Danbury, CT) • Praxair Distribution, Inc., a subsidiary of Praxair, Inc., acquired Mittler Supply, based in South Bend, IN, including 18 retail sales and distribution locations in the three states. The business includes 210 employees and generated sales of $73 million in 2006. "The addition of Mittler Supply to our existing network in the Great Lakes area further strengthens Praxair's ability to serve customers throughout this important region," says Praxair Distribution President Wayne Yakich. Says Mittler Supply Chairman Tom Mittler, "The opportunity presented by combining our business with Praxair benefits our customers and employees. The customers will have a greater assurance of product supply from our primary supplier, Praxair, and our employees will enjoy increased growth and expansion possibilities by becoming part of a national distribution network."

AWISCO, Gas Arc Sign Service Agreement (Maspeth, NY) • AWISCO signed a management services agreement with Gas Arc Company (West Orange, NJ), now operating under the name Gas Arc Division, AWISCO Corp. Gas Arc President John Bluhm will join the AWISCO sales staff and develop new business in the area and Tom Allen will serve as branch manager. Allen has worked in AWISCO's Maspeth Branch for the past year and brings more than 18 years of experience in the welding supply industry to the position. "This agreement broadens AWISCO's ability to service our New Jersey customers and complements our West Milford, NJ, location," says AWISCO President Lloyd Robinson.

Frank Hartzell

Michael Brown

Changes at Acme Cryogenics (Allentown, PA) • Effective late December, controlling interests in Acme Cryogenics and Quality Cryogenics of Atlanta were sold to Gladstone Investment Corp., the senior management team of Acme, and Brant Point Partners. Additionally, Acme's founder, Roderick Fink, has retained an equity position in the new ownership structure. Frank Hartzell, previously VP and COO, was named president and CEO of the company, overseeing operations of all Acme Cryogenics Divisions, including CVI Controls and Quality Cryogenics. Michael Brown was appointed director of sales and marketing, with overall responsibility for Acme's global sales and marketing efforts.

Buzard Joins CTR (Rock Hill, SC) • Kevin Buzard joined CTR as engineering sales manager based in Chicago, IL. Buzard will concentrate his efforts on the needs of distributors and major industrial gas companies throughout the region.

Don Bobyk

Bobyk Named VP (Houston, TX) • Gas Innovations named Don Bobyk as VP of marketing, responsible for marketing the company's wholesale distribution operations, including propylene fuel, specialty gases and cylinder services, along with the company's line of cutting, heating and welding supplies. Bobyk brings over 30 years' industry experience in specialty and industrial gases, welding and cutting to the position.

ACD Signs Agreement with Global Systems (Santa Ana, CA) • ACD, a Cryogenic Industries company, implemented an agreement with Global Systems to market and sell the company's pump products and spare parts. Effective April 1, ACD will no longer use multiple distributors to market and sell pump products and spare parts in the Mexican, Caribbean, and Central and South American markets. ACD, in conjunction with Global Systems, plans to establish a sales and service center in Brazil, facilitating local repair services and providing technical support for ACD pumps and general cryogenic pump applications.

Ryan Lizotte

Lizotte Joins Tregaskiss (Windsor, ON, Canada) • Ryan Lizotte joined Tregaskiss Welding Products as a product engineer reporting to Product Engineering Manager Jeff Wells. Lizotte brings 6 years of experience in a manufacturing environment utilizing various types of CAD design to the position.

ATTC Promotes Stamos, Expands (Bradenton, FL) • American Torch Tip Company promoted sales representative Domonic Stamos to regional sales manager for Canada. Stamos will be responsible for the day-to-day operations and sales from ATTC's Canadian warehouse in Ontario. ATTC also opened a new warehouse in Schoonhoven, Netherlands, to better service ATTC customers in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

GAWDA NEWS

Members of GAWDA's MI Committee at their meeting in Philadelphia

Management Information Committee Meets • GAWDA's Management Information Committee met on January 15 at GAWDA Headquarters in Philadelphia. The Committee discussed and established, among others, the following action plans for 2007 that are valuable to the membership: software standards—price files; webinars—educational and commercial; and technical articles for GAWDA's magazine, Welding & Gases Today.

GAWDA 2007 Profit Survey • It is time to start producing some real profits. The economy is demonstrating real sustained growth. With the benefit of sales growth, every firm should be producing much higher profits. Unfortunately, higher profits are not automatic; they must be earned. To ensure that you reach your full potential, you need some realistic financial benchmarks. The best source for financial benchmarking information in the industry is the PROFIT Report. Attention GAWDA Active (Distributor) Members! Watch your mail for the GAWDA 2007 Profit Survey and plan to participate. Remember: Only members who participate in the survey will receive the final Report. Nonparticipating members WILL NOT be allowed to purchase the Report.

HR Report Available • The February 2007 HR Manager's Legal Reporter and QuickStep Trainer is now available for download at www.gawda.org.

Clearinghouse Updated • The GAWDA Clearinghouse has been updated for February. For more information, visit www.gawda.org.

WORKSHOPS, WEB CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

University of Industrial Distribution Update • The University of Industrial Distribution, taking place March 4-7, 2007, in Indianapolis, is currently sold out.

The Habit of Selling
March 20-22, Dayton, OH
This seminar, presented by Don Buttrey, is co-sponsored by GAWDA with AEA to offer a sales training opportunity for distributor salespeople and sales managers. Learn while networking with distributor salespeople from a variety of industries. Cost is $895 per person (includes 2 1/2 days of sales training, work binders, tools, worksheets and most meals). Download the program details and the registration form here.

2007 GAWDA University Compliance Update Seminar
March 27-30, Indianapolis, IN
GAWDA University announces its 2007 Compliance Update Seminar. This year's session features a new seminar on crisis management and emergency planning, as well as our industry-leading compliance update training. Space is limited, and the last two seminars have sold out completely, so register early to reserve your space. Online registration is available at this link. Program details and the registration form can also be found at www.gawda.org.

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. 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.

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