Your GAWDA Connection | December 1, 2018
This newsletter is brought to you by:
Precision Specialty Gas Products, a subsidiary of Weldcoa, is a one stop shop for the highest quality equipment and services for the production of specialty gases, allowing distributors to implement, upgrade, or add new capabilities. We can help you prepare a budget, design a facility, manufacture the equipment, install the fill systems, train your people and support your business long term with proper documentation and validation of your equipment. Reach out to us today to get started solutions@weldcoa.com .
FEATURED NEWS
It’s Time for the 2019 Forecast and We Need You!
As you know, the First Quarter issue features member input on expectations for the upcoming year. It’s a great opportunity to share news about your company with the GAWDA membership. Here are the questions we have for you this year:
  1. What do you expect in the coming year at your company? Are you celebrating an anniversary, opening a new branch, opening a new line of business or transitioning to new ownership?
  2. Where do you see the industry going in 2019?
  3. Do you see any new markets on the horizon for GAWDA members?
NEWS FROM GAWDA
GAWDA Seeks Member Input to Refine Economic Report
GAWDA continues to refine the economic forecasting report in our quarterly magazine. As you know, ITR Economics provides an economic report in each of our quarterly issues of Welding & Gases Today. This report has been running for about two years now. The first year started with 4 pages of basic key indicators and an Executive Summary. During the second year, more indicators were added, which more than doubled the size of the report. 

In addition to the quarterly reports, ITR offers a free annual webinar that talks about the data and the methodology for applying that data to your business. If you missed the last webinar, don’t worry, you can access it by visiting the members-only site, selecting the ITR folder and downloading the GAWDA webinar recording. For a shortcut directly to the last webinar, click here.

Over the coming year, we’re hoping to get member feedback on how we could make the report more practical and easier to understand. The goal is for our members to be able to use this information as a tool when making future business plans. Like any tool, it’s only as good as the value you get out of it. With that in mind, we’re going to ask our members for some very specific feedback. Who in your company reads the report? What do you like about the report? What don’t you like about it? How could we make it easier to understand? How can we help make the connection between the data and your business? It’s our hope that with your feedback, this report will evolve into a practical tool for multiple levels of your organization. You can help with this evolution by gathering feedback from different members of your company and participating in the quarterly survey. Remember, your feedback counts.

— John Ospina
GAWDA EVENTS
2019 Spring
Management Conference
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Saturday, May 4 – Monday, May 6, 2019
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
1300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55403

For a tentative schedule of events, click  here.

For 2019 SMC hotel details, click  here.
2019 Annual Convention
Washington DC
Saturday, Sept. 28 – Tuesday, Oct.1, 2019
Marriott Marquis Washington DC
901 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001

For 2019 AC hotel details, click  here.
2020 SPRING MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
J.W. Marriott Austin
110 E 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
 
Sunday, Apr. 5 – Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2020
2020 ANNUAL CONVENTION
J.W. Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
5350 E Marriott Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85054
 
Friday, Sept. 25 – Monday, Sept. 28, 2020
 
SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE
Simplified Sample Procedures Available for Food Gases – Qualified Facilities
The new Food Safety Modernization Act and 21 CFR 117 allow for easier and modified compliance if your company can claim “Qualified Facility” status. There are two ways to claim Qualified Facility status. The most common way to meet the Qualified Facility definition is if your entire company sells under $1,000,000 per year of food gases. The modified requirements reduce the burden for Hazard Analysis and Risk-based Preventive Controls (HARPC) and for the Supply-chain Program. 
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Supplier Member:
Transmet Corporation
4290 Perimeter Dr. 
Columbus, OH 43228-1036
(614) 276-5522 FAX 614-276-3299

Tom Fee, senior sales engineer

Justin Clarke, general manager

Transmet Corporation manufactures and supplies rapidly solidified metal products, including cast zinc shot, which is 5 times more durable than steel shot for removing paint and rust from gas cylinders and will not damage blast equipment.

Distributor Member:
A+ Distributing, LLC
313 Oak St. (POB 609)
Strawberry Point, IA 52076-9612
563-933-6463   FAX 563-933-2131

Robert Maker, owner

Diane Maker, bookeeper

A+ Distributing sells and distributes liquid carbon dioxide.
LINKS YOU’LL LIKE 
In our communications with members and research for the GAWDA publications, we often come upon links that are worth sharing. Check them out, and if you come across any links you like, please send them to editorial@gawdamedia.com.

New GAWDA Online Buyer’s Guide: The members-only GAWDA Buyer’s Guide is a one-stop shop for all distributor needs. Search for suppliers by company name, location or product/service category and contact them immediately using the phone number listed or the e-mail link provided. 

ITR GAWDA Webinar: A link to the FREE annual ITR webinar explaining how to use the GAWDA economic forecast to grow your business.
Our new Online Buyers Guide is live and suppliers have already started creating their listings. Click here for the latest product information.

MEMBER NEWS
  • Central Welding Supply Announces the Acquisition of AXIUM Gases Northwest 
  • CPV Manufacturing Announces Recent Partnerships with Global Distributors
  • Air Liquide to Build First World-Scale Liquid Hydrogen Production Plant in Western U.S.
  • Bug-O Systems Changes Address
  • Economy Welding & Industrial Supply has Moved
NEW PRODUCTS
  • American Torch Tip Co. Receives Patent for CleanCut Nozzle Technology