Lincoln Electric Donates to AWS Foundation Campaign to Relieve Welder Shortage

The Lincoln Electric Co. (www.lincolnelectric.com) will donate $300,000 to the American Welding Society Foundation (www.aws.org) to help relieve a nationwide shortage of welders.

In association with this donation, Lincoln and the AWS Foundation will collaborate on new marketing initiatives to promote welding careers and help bolster the ranks of welders.

According to AWS and other research, the average age of a welder is in the mid-fifties. Fewer graduates entering the profession, coupled with the continuing retirement of experienced welders, has led to a shortage of skilled welders that could weaken the U.S. manufacturing sector and overall economy.

Lincoln will donate the funds over a two-year period beginning in 2008.

Lincoln also will contribute marketing support and will join with the American Welding Society to produce a promotional welding career video that will be designed to be used online, in classrooms and throughout industry. The video will feature several well-known personalities who have sponsorship agreements with Lincoln.

The AWS Foundation will use this donation to fund new programs and marketing initiatives for the recruitment of welders and promotion of welding careers. In addition, funds will support the foundation’s Solutions Opportunity Squad (SOS), which is made up of new AWS staff individuals who consult with and build strategies for end users and welding educational institutions. They will also support local AWS Sections, businesses and other organizations that have specific workforce development needs.

In addition, this donation will support the American Welding Society Foundation’s Welder Workforce Development Program.

The foundation launched the program in 2006 to address the critical need for recruitment and specialized training of entry-level welders while supporting industry workforce needs. It is an essential component of the AWS Foundation’s $10 million capital campaign, Welding for the Strength of America that is aimed at facilitating programs, scholarships and other initiatives in support of the welding industry.

At year-end 2007, the AWS Foundation had raised $2.6 million toward its campaign effort.

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Airgas Acquires European Positioner Equipment Firm

Airgas, Inc. (www.airgas.com) has acquired A&N Plant, a European-based supplier of new and reconditioned rotating, positioning, and welding equipment.

The business generated approximately $20 million in revenues for the year ended June 30, 2007. The acquisition was completed on April 4.

Airgas said the acquisition creates a new business unit for Red- D-Arc Ltd., an Airgas company that provides of welding, positioning, and related rental products and services in North America.

A&N Plant has an office in Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire, and facilities in St. Helens, Merseyside, England, and in Stellendam, The Netherlands.

It operates in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and serves a diverse customer base in offshore and onshore oil and gas, petrochemical, power generation, environmental, industrial plant, and steel fabrication industries.

Andre Frenette, vice president of sales for North America, is to relocate to oversee the integration of the company. Frenette was named Red-D-Arc’s vice president of European Operations.

A&N’s founder, Alaster Dibbo, his partner, Rob Damstra, and 28 A&N Plant associates were added to the Red-D-Arc team, Mitch Imielinski, president of Red-D-Arc, said.

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Fanuc Robotics and Lincoln Electric Extend Partnership

Fanuc Ltd. and The Lincoln Electric Co. have extended their cooperative marketing partnership, and will work together to sell welding and robotic equipment in Asia.

The companies’ joint marketing partnership for North America was extended in June to Asia.

In conjunction with the agreement, Lincoln Electric is investing more than $40 million into a new 115,000-square-foot facility in Euclid, Ohio, focused on the research and development of robotic welding systems and technology for worldwide distribution.

The new Robotic Welding Center will be housed in a facility adjacent to the company’s Cleveland headquarters. Slated for full renovation, the building formerly was a manufacturing site acquired this year from Hitachi Construction Truck Manufacturing Ltd.

With more than 800 current Lincoln Electric employees directly related to machine and robotic technology, the staff is expected to increase due to the expanded new center and the partnership with FANUC.