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GAWDA Members Go Back To School

April 17th, 2012
Bryan Keen and Jim Lisecki Paint A Vo-Tech

GAWDA President Bryan Keen and Linde's Jim Lisecki speak to welding students about opportunities in the welding industry.

Believe it or not, National Welding Month is more than halfway over! Among the many ways the welding industry is celebrating this month, GAWDA’s Paint A Vo-Tech program is one of my favorites. Through this effort, GAWDA members are volunteering their time and resources to help reinvigorate school welding programs with a fresh coat of paint, new welding curtains, technical posters and other touches.

So far, two GAWDA members, Keen Compressed Gases (Wilmington, DE) and AWISCO (Maspeth, NY), have led the charge by getting involved with local schools. Keen Compressed Gases President (and current GAWDA President) Bryan Keen used the opportunity to address students about the opportunities the welding industry has to offer. As he wrote in his column entitled “Not So Extreme Makeover,” “A fresh coat of paint was just the beginning…We decided to really transform the classroom and weld shop into a place the kids could get excited about…We also talked to the kids about careers in the industry and how to improve their chances of getting a job in this tough economy.”

All in all, the Paint A Vo-Tech program sounds like an amazing opportunity for all involved. The schools (who face ever-shrinking budgets) get a helping hand to refresh their facilities, and students have a reason to get excited about welding class. For the distributors and suppliers involved, it’s an act of goodwill that strengthens the relationship with that school and with the students. And if you promote the event to local and industry media, it can be a great source of word-of-mouth advertising for your business and the industry.

With that in mind, be sure to share if you’re going to take part in the Paint A Vo-Tech program. Both AWISCO and Keen partnered with industry suppliers in their school makeovers to make their events a true joint industry effort. Getting the word out ahead of time can help garner support from fellow industry members.

For those readers who are not GAWDA members, do you know a welding school in need of a makeover? Let me know, and I’ll help you connect with a distributor in your area.

As I mentioned at the start of this blog entry, National Welding Month is halfway over. That said, a school makeover in May is just as valuable as one in April. But don’t wait too long—the school year will be over before you know it.

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Helium Shortage Turns Into Force Majeure

April 13th, 2012

Still-Leben Mülheim 10 ies
Despite hopes that the supply of helium might straighten itself out in 2012, it appears gases and welding distributors won’t have it so easy after all. The most recent development is the announcement from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management about a two-week maintenance outage in June 2012, which coincides with a planned 8-week outage of ExxonMobil’s helium supply. There are several other outages, including the shutdown of Skikda in Algeria in anticipation of tying in the Skikda megatrain, which is expected to come online in the Third Quarter. Even in the short term, helium supplies in Qatar and Australia have outages planned for April and May.

Up until now, most distributors I’ve talked to have escaped the clenches of tight helium supply. But with additional outages, several suppliers have allocated their available helium supplies, leaving distributors with little choice. Now the only question is how they will respond.

Cee Kay Supply announced that it will not accept new customers and that existing ones may be subject to price increases and allocation. Gas applications in medial, laboratory and manufacturing are currently exempt from this allocation.

Included in the announcement from Cee Kay were letters from Linde and Air Products explaining the circumstances of their allocations. Air Products writes that it is “providing you formal notice of force majeure,” a term many distributors are familiar with from challenges with calcium carbide supplies in 2011.

As GAWDA Consultant and General Counsel Rick Schweitzer referred to in Welding & Gases Today:

Force majeure is a French term meaning “superior force.” When the seller’s performance is affected by some unforeseeable event, the seller’s performance is excused. The event may be an “Act of God” such as a fire, flood or tornado, or it may be labor unrest, war or insurrection. In order for the seller to take advantage of this provision, the event may not be caused the seller’s negligence or intentional act.

As the helium situation continues to linger, how are you responding?

One suggestion from LinkedIn is to switch customers to a trimix for GMAW and FCAW applications. Although most trimixes contain helium, it certainly requires less helium.

How is your company handling the helium shortage over the next few months?

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How To Spot Remarkable Employees

April 10th, 2012

What are the qualities of a great employee? In the past, we’ve discussed some of the merits of a great salesperson (In GAWDA’s Sales Hall of Fame, for example, and a recent LinkedIn conversation about whether a salesperson needs to know how to weld to sell welding equipment). But beyond those traits that define a great salesperson, manager, customer service rep or any other specific position, are there universal qualities that top employees share?

Inc.com columnist Jeff Haden thinks so. In his article, “8 Qualities of Remarkable Employees,” Haden outlines the qualities that make employees stand out above the rest.

They ignore job descriptions, he says. “When a key customer’s project is in jeopardy, remarkable employees know without being told there’s a problem and jump in without being asked—even if it’s not their job.”

They’re always fiddling, he suggests. “Remarkable employees find ways to make processes even better, not only because they are expected to… but because they just can’t help it.”

Just as important as skills, talent, education and intelligence is drive. “Remarkable employees are driven by something deeper and more personal than just the desire to do a good job,” he says, noting that remarkable employees like to prove doubters wrong.

A critical point Haden makes is that many of these “remarkable” qualities cannot be measured through performance reviews, but nonetheless make a major impact on performance. Perhaps the lesson there is that performance reviews are a tool, but don’t tell the whole story.

In addition to Haden’s qualities, I would argue that remarkable employees are always looking out for customers. Especially with the important role that service plays at gases and welding distributorships, having remarkable employees can be a true game changer, and can be the difference between gaining or losing a customer.

What qualities define your remarkable employees? Share your examples of remarkable employees by leaving a comment.

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The Poetry Of Welding

April 6th, 2012
Welding Rodeo Art

Welding and art are a great combination, shown here at the Welding Rodeo.

As I mentioned in my last post, April is celebrated at National Welding Month. April, as it happens, is also National Poetry Month.

On the surface, the two crafts are very different, but when you look a little deeper, there are quite a few similarities. Both welding and poetry are used to create. Sometimes these creations can be artistic. Welding has taken off in the art world, as evidenced by welding sculpture competitions like the Welding Rodeo. But poetry and welding also provide the tools on which nations are built. “The Star-Spangled Banner” is a perfect example of a poem of influence and historical significance.

The two crafts likewise take skill, training and lots of practice to master. In each, there are many forms. Welding has GMAW (MIG), GTAW (TIG), SMAW (stick) and others, along with newer forms such as ultrasonic welding and friction-stir welding. Poetry has haiku, sonnets, ballads and a variety of traditional and experimental forms.

Finally, welding and poetry rely heavily on advocates of the craft to ensure future longevity. It might be a welding supplier’s efforts that get a young student involved in welding—or it might be a poem that does the trick. I’ve compiled a few poems here that mention welding and illustrate its importance.

Poet Ed Lahey has been called the greatest poet Montana has produced. He was known for writing about miners and other workers, giving a voice to the state’s labor force. He gave voice to a welder in his poem “Gimp O’Leary’s Iron Works”:

“His arc welder would strike
white fire and a bead
of blue-black rod would slide
along between cherry streaks,
and acrid smoke would curl away
to leave clean married steel,
not too frail, or buttered up
but straight and strong,
hard as mill forged rail.”

You can read more from this poem here, beginning on page 101.

Some other welding-related poems to check out are “Arc Welding” by Australian Poet Philip Hodgins and “Vulcan” by George Oppen.

In the past, I’ve looked at movies that involve gases and welding. Indeed, art is a great way to promote the industry. Do you know any other examples of art that promote welding and gases? Share in the comments below or on Twitter @GasWeldEdge.

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April Is National Welding Month

April 3rd, 2012

National Welding Month is upon us. As explained in a 1996 AWS press release, “The reason why April is listed as National Welding Month by Chase’s Edition of Events, a recognized calendar of commemorations, is because welding is the secret ingredient that keeps today’s world together.” It goes on to say that welding is in everyday things, from cars to toasters, as well as more extraordinary things: “Welding has taken us to the moon and back, produced monuments of steel where we work and live, defended us in war and has been integral in modern research—from connecting computer pathways to bonding space age materials.”

Welding Greeting Card

Happy Welding! – via Funkart on Zazzle

Of course, National Welding Month was not created so that members of the welding industry could pat themselves on the back and talk about how great welding is. Those in the industry already know about the “wonders” of welding. National Welding Month is about education and encouragement—informing people about the industry and getting them involved.

How does one go about celebrating National Welding Month? As Helium.com contributor Janet Cipolli astutely observes, “You almost never see any ‘Happy Welding!’ or ‘During This Time of Annealing’ greeting cards.” Hmm…I’m sensing a new market for distributors here.

Working with school welding programs is one great way to promote National Welding Month this April. GAWDA President Bryan Keen and Keen Compressed Gas (Wilmington, DE) made a difference for students at one lucky school by giving them a welding lab makeover. Other GAWDA members will be stepping up to the “Paint A Vo-Tech” challenge throughout the month.

In the video below, 2012 AWS President Bill Rice says, “It is my goal to make national welding month a time for everyone to recognize the contributions to our lives and to our future generations.” He adds, “National welding month is a time to tell everyone what you do and what opportunities are available.”

What are you doing this April to commemorate National Welding Month? Share by leaving a comment or tweeting @GasWeldEdge.

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Argon, Automation And The National Anthem

March 30th, 2012
The Star-Spangled Banner

The Star-Spangled Banner

The Spring Management Conference is less than a month away now. If you’re heading to Baltimore for the SMC, you may also want to take time to visit the Maryland Historical Society Museum, where you will find the Star-Spangled Banner in its original form. From the MDHS website:

Currently on view is The Star-Spangled Banner. A Patriotic Song. Published by Carr Music Store in Baltimore in 1814, it is one of the few remaining copies of the 1st edition of the poem set to music we know as our national anthem.

Not only is the Star-Spangled Banner an important part of our country’s history, but the exhibit itself is an illustration of the wonders of the gas industry. That’s because the nearly 200-year-old manuscript is preserved with high purity argon gas.

Of course, the Star-Spangled Banner isn’t the only thing preserved with argon. The inert gas is commonly used in wine preservation, and is even used for preserving other countries’ precious artifacts. Ever wonder what goes into preserving a document in argon? In the video below, the National Archives shows how it keeps a 715-year-old document intact. The precise engineering that goes into preserving the Magna Carta is incredible.

The video also offers a look into the automated machining equipment used to make the case itself. Typically, when it comes to automation, I think of manufacturers that are looking to increase productivity on large runs. This video, however, shows a very different need for automation—precision. Document encasement, far from being a mass production, allows very little room for error. Now that’s a niche market.

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Social Media Case Study: Ozarc Gas

March 27th, 2012

Last month, Ozarc Gas sponsored the Northeast Arkansas Weld-A-Thon, a welding competition involving area high school and vo-tech welding students. Over the past three years, the event has steadily grown to include 36 students from 12 area schools, giving these young welders a place to show off their skills and learn more about the welding industry. One of the most unique aspects of the 2012 event was Ozarc’s use of social media in conjunction with the event. I spoke with Ozarc sales rep and event coordinator Nick Garner about the experience. Here’s an excerpt from our conversation:

What is the goal of the Weld-A-Thon?
Our goal is to get students interested in welding and show them that this isn’t just a grease-monkey job. It’s a job that’s in demand, and if you’re good at it, you can make excellent wages. We want to get the students excited about welding, so that it’s not just something they do in their high school ag class. We want to help them further their skills and go on in the welding industry.

Ozarc Gas uses Twitter to promote 2012 Weld-A-ThonI enjoyed following along on Twitter. What was the impetus behind live tweeting the event?
I think this industry is behind when it comes to social media. A lot of the current activity on Facebook and Twitter is limited to vendors, and you don’t see many competitions like this taking advantage of social media.

What role does social media play in furthering the goals of the Weld-A-Thon?
Social media is a great way to get the word out about the competition and give these kids the recognition they deserve. Even though these kids are in high school, they possess welding skills that are beyond my abilities. I know I couldn’t do some of the things they are doing. It’s awesome to see. We’re hoping to get more and more exposure for the event through social media. We hope to reach more schools this way.

What was the experience like using social media with the event for the first time?
It was the most fun I’ve had at the competition yet. In addition to the Twitter feed, we posted photos of the event on Facebook. At the end of the competition, we reminded everyone about the Twitter feed and the Facebook page where they can go and look at the pictures. We handed out fliers encouraging participants to like Ozarc Gas on Facebook and tied it in with a welding hood giveaway.

Have you seen results from your efforts?
We’ve seen more followers on Facebook. Giving away the welding hood provided a little more motivation for people to like our page. During the competition, I saw more followers on Twitter from within the welding industry.

Can we look for you to be live tweeting again next year?
Definitely. Next year, I want to try to get the schools involved and get them following on social media, especially the students. We plan to advertise the social media aspect more before the competition next year and really promote that to the students.

For Ozarc Gas, social media is proving to be a great way to promote the the Weld-A-Thon and welding industry in general. And while this particular use may not result in immediate sales revenues, it helps create and strengthen relationships between Ozarc and local schools and students. As Garner admits, there are a few tweaks to be made for next year’s event. With additional promotion, Ozarc hopes to draw in even more students and boost event participation. This in turn provides additional exposure to Ozarc’s propylene cutting demos at the event and introduces more schools to the process.

To see how Garner took advantage of social media for 2012 Northeast Arkansas Weld-A-Thon, take a look at the photos on Ozarc Gas’ Facebook page and see the tweets from February 17 on www.twitter.com/cryogasman.

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March Madness, Business Edition

March 23rd, 2012

Last week, employers lost $175 million to distracted workers during the NCAA tournament. How much did March Madness cost your company?

With any luck, your employees remained productive throughout the first two days of the tournament. But even with the cost of the tournament, many employers also feel that the games can be a way to heighten employee morale. According to a recent poll by OfficeTeam, 68 percent of employers say that tournament games are either welcome or acceptable in moderation in the office. Perhaps these happy employees will return to work more productive than ever on Monday.

Whether or not you are a fan of watching basketball games in the office, there is at least one thing gases and welding distributors (and other businesses) can learn from the NCAA tournament.

Cinderella stories are a staple of the tournament. The last few years, there has been a 12- or 13-seed to make it through several rounds, with unheralded programs like Butler and VCU in the Final Four, or even the championship game. March Madness is a reminder that the little guys can win, and sometimes it’s the team that plays harder that comes out on top.

This brings me to an interesting conundrum:

I read a comment that said, in referring to small distributors in the gases and welding industry, that the niche for small players will always lie in supplying welding equipment. The commenter went on to say that small distributors will always struggle to grow in the gases side of the business due to the need for capital and a larger infrastructure required for delivery and production systems.

What do you think? Can a small distributor excel in the gas business, or does the need for capital limit the small operator to a hardgoods focus?

Then again, when it comes to the NCAA tournament, who would have thought that teams like Butler, VCU and Gonzaga would develop into more than Cinderella stories, but perennial threats?

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Let The Military Train Your Employees

March 20th, 2012

Gases and welding distributors around the country are reaping the benefits of employing service men and women.

There are many advantages to hiring members of the military to work in the gases and welding business, both from a performance and financial standpoint. I came across a great article on OPEN Forum recently called “How To Hire A Veteran,” which addresses some of these benefits and, as the title suggests, how to recruit veterans to work for your business.

From a performance aspect, service men and women are motivated and disciplined. “They know what it’s like to work in a fast-paced and results-driven environment,” CDW Senior Director of Talent Acquisition Melissa McMahon tells OPEN Forum. Beyond that, military men and women come with a great deal of experience and training. By the time they enter the workforce, veterans have already undergone training that would typically cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the private sector. If this training is not enough, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 can help businesses get tax credits to cover the cost of training newly hired veterans.

Looking for a driver? Distributors have talked for years about the difficulty of finding qualified drivers for this industry. In New York state (and possibly others—check with your DMV office), veterans with experience operating a military vehicle can have their CDL road test waived.

Of course, there are some considerations to take when hiring from the military. Members of the National Guard and Reserve can get pulled away from their jobs for active duty. In hiring service men and women, it’s important to understand what this experience means.

The Second Quarter issue of Welding & Gases Today goes inside the experience of National Guard and Reserve members who work in the industry. “Take Your Boss To Work Day” follows Joe Campbell, president of Machinery & Welder Corporation, as he travels to a naval base in Virginia to see first-hand what members of the National Guard and Reserve do when called for duty.

What has your experience been like with hiring veterans? What are the greatest benefits and challenges?

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St. Patrick’s Day Is A Gas

March 16th, 2012

St. Patrick’s Day is a good day for the gas industry. Across the world, massive amounts of CO2 and nitrogen will be consumed as thirsty citizens celebrate the day. According to National Geographic, more than 4.2 billion pints of beer will be consumed on this single day—that’s about 1 percent of the annual consumption total.

Just how much gas will be consumed? Different beers have different amounts of CO2. Brewers speak in terms of volumes of CO2, where 1 volume of CO2 is the equivalent of 1 gallon of CO2 at 1 atmosphere in 1 gallon of fluid. The typical beer has anywhere from 1½ volumes CO2 for a typical British-style ale to up to 5 volumes for a wheat beer. So if we take 4.2 billion pints of beer on St. Patrick’s Day…that’s about 528 million gallons of beer—considering an average of 2.5 volumes of CO2…that’s more than 1.3 billion volumes of CO2—in other words, a lot of gas. (If you are interested in converting this to other measurements, the previous link contains some useful calculations).

Of course, not all of the gas consumed is carbon dioxide. Nitrogen makes up a large part of the gas mix used in beers like Guinness. (Something tells me that nitrogen use is somewhat higher than normal on St. Patrick’s Day.) How many pints of Guinness will be consumed on St. Patrick’s Day? See for yourself:

(Source: guysgab.com)

13 million pints, enough to fill the 60% of the Empire State Building. That’s a lot of nitrogen. Believe it or not, Guinness has a connection to the Gases and Welding Distributors Association. As I wrote about last St. Patrick’s Day, GAWDA member McDantim was responsible for developing a custom gas blender for Guinness & Co. back in 1986.

When it comes to beverage gases, do you see an increase in sales around St. Patrick’s Day? How do you prepare for the addtional demand?

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