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| A Semi-Monthly Newsletter for the Gases and Welding Distributors Association |
June
23, 2007
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BREAKING NEWS Additional Hotel Rooms Available for GAWDA Convention
The Westin St. Francis is sold out for GAWDA's 63rd Annual Convention on September 15-19. GAWDA has arranged for a room block at an overflow property, the Grand Hyatt San Francisco. The Grand Hyatt is located one block away from the Westin St. Francis, across Union Square. The room block is listed as "GAWDA" and the rates are $229 plus tax for a single and $254 plus tax for a double. The deadline for booking your room at the Grand Hyatt is August 14. Please call the Grand Hyatt directly to make your reservations at 415-398-1234 or 800-233-1234. You also may book your reservations online through the GAWDA Web site; you must input the group code G-IGAS in the Group/Corporate# section to obtain the group rate. If you have
any questions, please contact GAWDA Headquarters at 215-564-3484
or gawda@gawda.org. For additional
Annual Convention information, see GAWDA News below. We look forward
to seeing you in San Francisco! New Rule to Protect Small Business Federal Contracts A new rule from
the Small Business Administration requires small businesses to alert
the government and recertify their size whenever they buy a company,
are acquired or merge in order to retain their status as a small
business. The rule, which goes into effect on June 30, is designed
to ensure that federal contracts set aside for small business are
not going to larger companies. Federal agencies will not receive
credit toward awarding the required 23 percent of procurement dollars
to small businesses if contracts are given to unqualified companies.
The SBA will also introduce a new small-business report card to
rate the progress of agencies toward reaching their small business
procurement goals. Visit www.sba.gov
for more information. Risky Business
In the Summer 2007 issue of GAWDA's magazine, Welding & Gases Today, three independent distributors with experience acquiring another distributorship share the obstacles they faced and the lessons they learned in the art of acquisition. Here are their tips for questions a distributor should ask before moving forward with an acquisition:
Read more about
distributors' acquisition experiences, as well as articles on branching
out, moving and merging, all in the latest issue of Welding &
Gases Today, available in print and online at www.gawda.org. Summertime Safety
With the arrival of summer comes an increased need for safety awareness, both on the job and off. Check out the June issue of GAWDA Edge, the e-magazine for young professionals in the gases and welding industry, to learn about the biggest safety threats on the road, how to prevent hand and finger injuries on the job, and tips to keep your personal information safe from identity thieves. Plus, visit exotic locales where you can deepen your knowledge of the welding and gases industry, even while on vacation! GAWDA Edge is also available in mobile and dial-up versions. Don't forget to visit the GAWDA Edge Forums to network with other Young Executives.
INDUSTRY
BEAT Wilson Welding & Medical Gases Acquired (Warren, MI) • Praxair Distribution, Inc. acquired Wilson Welding & Medical Gases, which operates a cylinder filling plant and retail store in Warren, MI, retail stores in Macomb and Pontiac, MI, and a beverage CO2 business in Flint, MI. The business generated sales of $20 million in 2006 and has 72 employees. "The addition of Wilson to our existing network in southeastern Michigan further strengthens Praxair's ability to serve customers throughout the Great Lakes region," says Praxair Distribution President Wayne Yakich.
Wright Brothers Named Small Business of the Year (Cincinnati, OH) • The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber honored Wright Brothers as one of the region's best small enterprises at its annual Small Business Excellence Awards Luncheon on May 23. CEO Charlie Wright was presented with the honor for his company's business achievements, management, product innovations, service, technology and community service. "It's a great honor to be recognized as a leader in the greater Cincinnati community," says Wright. "This award is a testament to the quality work we do, both locally and nationally. Cincinnati has provided us with the talented employees who have helped our company to grow and excel." Cramer Decker Opens New Facility (Santa Ana, CA) • Cramer Decker Industries significantly expanded its Eastern warehousing and distribution operations. The company's new facility is located at 8350 Bristol Court, Suite 109, Jessup, MD 20894, and can be reached at 301-776-9292. Cramer Decker Industries' Eastern operations are overseen by General Manager Ken Meyer. ATTC
Acquires Precision Products
(Bradenton, FL) • The American Torch Tip Company purchased
the Precision Products Company of Canaan, NH. Precision Products
specializes in manufacturing plasma torches and consumables used
primarily in the metal fabricating industry. The acquisition will
give ATTC an expanded product line and increased manufacturing capability.
OTC DAIHEN Opens New Branch (Tipp City, OH) • DAIHEN Inc. opened a new facility in Novi, MI. The facility serves as a sales branch for the company's Michigan staff and includes an application development center for both robotic and hand welding application demonstrations and development. Bigham Joins Matheson Tri-Gas (Basking Ridge, NJ) • John Bigham was appointed director, Helium Product Management & Global Logistics for Matheson Tri-Gas. He will have responsibility for helium product management in the United States, helium sales to non-U.S. wholesale customers and global logistics. Bigham joins Matheson Tri-Gas after 11 years with BOC.
US Tank Breaks Ground on New HQ (Bradenton, FL) • US Tank and Cryogenic Equipment will move its business operations from Bradenton, FL, to a new 48,000 sq. ft. facility in Lewisburg, TN. "This move will allow us to become more centrally located in the country, helping our distribution and enhancing our service and reach to the industrial gas and medical markets we serve," says President Tim Miller. The company expects the move to be complete by November 2007.
WELDING FUME LITIGATION Judge Sets Three Welding Fume Cases for Trial • U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen McDonald O'Malley has set three welding fume cases in the Multidistrict Litigation in federal court. The trial for plaintiff Jeff Tamraz will begin November 5, 2007, in Judge O'Malley's court. Tamraz was selected from a pool of randomly selected plaintiffs chosen for pretrial preparation. He was diagnosed with manganism by a doctor other than Paul Nausieda—the defendants have questioned the diagnosis techniques of Dr. Nausieda. In addition, Tamraz will be tried under the law of California, which has different product liability laws than other states where welding fume claims have been brought. Judge O'Malley also set a January 28, 2008, trial date for plaintiff Robert Jowers, who worked at Ingalls Shipyard and filed suit in Mississippi. His claims arise under Mississippi law, but Judge O'Malley did not decide whether his case would be tried before a jury in court in Mississippi or in another court. Finally, Judge O'Malley set a third case for trial beginning July 14, 2008, with the plaintiff to be determined by the court at a later date. The plaintiff will be selected from a pool of 100 claimants
GAWDA NEWS Eastern Zone Holds 2007's First Regional Meeting • On May 30-31, Lloyd Robinson of AWISCO hosted the first Regional Meeting and Golf Outing of the year at The Tropicana Hotel & The Links at Brigantine Beach in Atlantic City, NJ. Eighty-two members enjoyed the meeting, including GAWDA President Bob Ames, who gave opening remarks. Jim O'Connor of Norton Abrasives talked about store merchandising and BOC's Terry Hall addressed the state of the industrial gas business today. Sixty-one members participated in the golf outing, including winners Adam Konrad of American Compressed Gases (longest drive) and Mike West of TriWeld (closest to the pin). The 50/50 raffle winner was Bernie Hickey of Northeast Pressure Vessel Testing. Members viewed a video showing interviews with GAWDA Consultants Bob Yeoman and Rick Schweitzer, who addressed important issues facing our membership today.
Southeastern Zone Meets in Hattiesburg, MS • On June 3-4, Sam Thompson of Airgas South hosted a Regional Meeting and Golf Outing at the Canebrake Club House and Golf Club. Nancy McAfee of 3M gave an update on the current status of Hexavalent Chromium (Chrome 6), followed by John Stropki, chairman & CEO of The Lincoln Electric Company, who presented an update on Lincoln Electric and its position in the industry, as well as where the industry is headed. Sixty-four members participated in the golf outing, including winners Ronnie Puryear of Southern Welding Supply, Tripp Tuggle of ArcOne and Jim Appledorn of The Lincoln Electric Company. Members enjoyed a Networking Cookout featuring catfish and ice cream with peaches. One member stated, "This is the best program we have ever had." Follow this link to view more photos from the meeting.
Central Zone "Gives Back" • On June 4-5, John DeHoust of Baker's Gas and Welding hosted a Regional Meeting and Golf Outing at Timber Ridge Golf Club in Lansing, MI. The business session was attended by 102 members, including GAWDA President Bob Ames, who gathered to hear GAWDA President-Elect Gary Stoneback of Metro Welding Supply Corporation, who focused on membership, and John Stropki, chairman & CEO of The Lincoln Electric Company, who addressed the state of the welding industry. Ninety members enjoyed networking at the Cocktail Reception the night before the meeting. The golf outing drew 102 members, including winners John Small of Pooch Welding Supply, Steve Clark of KC Welding Supply, Al Stark of Norris Cylinder Company and Bill Asbury of Manchester Tank & Equipment Company. A "Silent Auction" to support 2007 GAWDA Gives Back recipient Hamilton Family Center raised a very impressive total of $20,140. Thank you to everyone involved! Follow this link to view more photos from the meeting.
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The
GAWDA Connection is distributed on the 8th and 23rd of each
month to all GAWDA members as GAWDA
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No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher. Privacy Statement |
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