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| A Semi-Monthly Newsletter for the Gases and Welding Distributors Association |
October 23, 2007
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BREAKING NEWS 3rd Quarter Job Growth Stronger Than Expected Nearly 300,000 jobs were added to the economy between July and September, more than originally anticipated, according to a report by U.S. Department of Labor released October 5. The 110,000 jobs added during September rounded out a quarter which saw 93,000 positions created in July and 89,000 in August—approximately 4,000 more than originally reported for that month.
INDUSTRY
BEAT
Praxair, Welco, GT&S Form Industrial Gases Joint Venture (Danbury, CT) • Praxair distribution, Welco-CGI Gas Technologies and GT&S have agreed to form an industrial gases distribution joint venture. Welco-CGI and GT&S will contribute their current businesses and Praxair Distribution will contribute certain production-related assets including its Bethlehem, PA, specialty gases manufacturing facility. The new company will have about 700 employees and serve approximately 34,000 customers in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, environmental, chemical, bio-technology, university research and fabrication industries. Valley National Gases Acquires Allegheny Welding and Industrial Supply (Washington, PA) • Valley National Gases acquired Allegheny Welding and Industrial Supply, an industrial gas and welding distributor with locations in Johnstown, Greensburg and McKeesport, PA. "Allegheny Welding and Industrial Supply have a reputation for outstanding customer service and we are pleased to have the opportunity to continue this tradition," says Valley's CEO Michael Ziegler.
Vern Lewis Welding Supply Opens Branch (Avondale, AZ) • Vern Lewis Welding Supply opened its fourth location in Wickenburg, AZ, on September 4. The new branch, with a 1,000 sq. ft. showroom and 1,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, operates as Vern Lewis Associates and is owned and operated by Stacy Shelton, daughter of Vern Lewis Welding Supply President Vern Lewis. The store sells all the product lines available through Vern Lewis Welding Supply, as well as steel and towing accessories. "Our goal with the store is to increase business by delivery, because there’s no other welding supply service and delivery in the Wickenburg area," says Shelton. Jackson Safety Purchases Wilson Industries’ Assets (Fenton, MO) • Jackson Safety reached an agreement to purchase the assets of Wilson Industries in Pomona, CA. Wilson's President Dean Wilson, with 33 years of industry experience, joins Jackson's executive staff as part of the purchase. "Wilson Industries fits our strategy of expanding the welding product line, especially with disposable categories," says Thomas Burns, Jackson Safety CEO. OXARC Merges with National Gas (Spokane, WA) • OXARC has merged with National Gas, in Sunnyside, WA. The merger expands OXARC's retail operations to 17 branch stores in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Matheson Tri-Gas Changes Organizational Structure (Basking Ridge, NJ) • Matheson Tri-Gas announced William Kroll, current board member for Matheson Tri-Gas' parent company Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, will divest his duties as CEO to increase his role as chairman of Matheson. James Samples will be promoted from president and COO to president and CEO. Additionally, Matheson Tri-Gas will promote three of its executive staff to corporate officer status. Scott Kallman will become the senior executive vice president and COO; Rick Kowey will be promoted to executive vice president, CMO and general manger; and Joe Bellitto to executive vice president and CFO. The new organizational structure will be effective January 1, 2008.
Weldship Names HR Specialist (Bethlehem, PA) • The Weldship Corporation named Misty Sommers to the position of human resources specialist. Prior to joining Weldship, Sommers was a human resources specialist with the Air National Guard.
ABICOR Binzel Appoints District Sales Manager (Frederick, MD) • Abicor Binzel USA named Tim Rowntree district sales manger, covering the sales territory of Washington, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, California and Arizona. He has experience in both the industrial sales and metal fabrication industries. Kobelco Announces Personnel Changes (Stafford, TX) • Kobelco Welding of America announced Yuji Wakayama has joined the company as national sales marketing manager, replacing Andrew Sawada who was reassigned to the company's Japan office. Glenn Villemez was made general manager. K.C. Sollers Jr. was promoted to district sales of South Texas, South Louisiana and Arkansas. BOC, Linde Gas Rebrand as Linde (Murray Hill, NJ) • The integrated BOC Gases and Linde Gas organizations in North America will be branded as Linde. The Linde logo will begin making its appearance on Linde plants, trucks and bulk gas tanks throughout the United States, Canada and Caribbean. "The integration enables us to deliver more value to customers by broadening our product and service offering," says Pat Murphy, Linde North America president.
GAWDA NEWS Speakers' Presentations from the Annual Convention Available • Presentations from the convention in San Francisco are now available at www.gawda.org. Convention Photos from San Francisco • Members now have the opportunity to view or purchase photos from the annual convention in San Francisco. Instructions on how to buy photos are available at www.gawda.org.
WORKSHOPS, WEB CONFERENCES & SEMINARS Webinar Audio Recording Available • If you missed the October 9 GAWDA webinar "Welding Fume Control Methodology," presented by Dick Smith and Chris Cole of The Lincoln Electric Company, you can now download or listen to the recording on the Podcast page at www. gawda.org.
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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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