02 ASSOCIATION NEWS
CONTENTS 02 04 06 08 10 12 15 16 18 20 22 23 Welcome Conference 2011 Industry News Product Reviews ● Thermadyne Industries Plasma Cutting & Welding Helmets ● 3M - Eye Protection ● Gullco International Welding Carriage ● Weldability-Sif Paste Flux & Welding Machines ● JEI Solutions - Plate Beveller ● GYS - Plasma Cutting Industry Insight Welding Wo<strong>rld</strong> Highlight ● Fowlmere Engineering Ask The Expert Jon Mills Interview TWI Spatter Matter Harvey’s weldweb Sif tips AWD MEMBERSHIP For more information and becoming a member can help your business contact us on: 01952 290036 or email us at membership@awd.org.uk or visit us on the internet at: www.awd.org.uk Message from your Chairman... A NEW FUTURE FOR THE AWD I would like to say ‘thank you’, to all the Membership for electing me to the post as your National Chairman. I have been closely involved in the welding distribution industry both at BOC and as Managing Director of Weldability-Sif. I hope this past experience will stand me in good stead as your new Chairman. WELCOME I further would like to thank my predecessor Danny Gallagher, on behalf of the AWD Council and all the members, for his tremendous work, commitment and enthusiasm during his Chairmanship. He has served the AWD and the Council well for over 11 years. When I started my career in the Welding Industry back in the 70’s it was a time of much change. It in fact was the very moment when the manufacturers became focused on the distributive trade for its pathway to service industry. Most Welding Product brands of the time were delighted for the opportunity to cut their operational costs and support their preferred distributor route to market. Sadly some of those brands today now support the notion that only 60% of sales should go via the distributor and 40% should go direct. 33 years on and is this repeating pattern the new direction of the Welding Distribution industry? I am certain that many of my fellow AWD Members today can be satisfied that their fellow AWD Members, who often own major product brands, still believe that supplies to the Distributive trade remains the only route to market. It is those values that will help us ensure a positive and mutuallysuccessful future for our market. I am happy to report that since announcing the need to form 3 new working groups at the AWD conference in April, the groups have been formed with the first meeting of the PSQ (Product Safety and Quality) committee in particular, taking place on the 4th July. Each of the groups will play an active role in delivering information and constructive assistance to the Membership and help the industry develop its professionalism and relevance still further. Projects within the UK’s Renewable Energy sector strategy and structure will remain central to the future of the Welding Industry and provide us all with many new opportunities for investment, innovation and profit. The AWD is aligning itself with many of these projects in order to assist Members in developing local contacts to supply. The AWD’s strongest marketing tool is the “Welding Wo<strong>rld</strong>” brand which is being trademarked and is clearly promoted by our magazine and exhibition. Your continued support of these activities should be seen as time and money well spent in investing in a brighter future in more ways than one! Our Membership Manager, Wendy Barber, is busily contacting each Member and establishing how exactly the AWD can make a difference to your business. Many are taking the opportunity to use the magazine and website to advertise and as both of these become more central to industry-wide communication, your membership status is further enhanced. We must act as an Association representing the needs of its Members and to take control of promoting all that is good about our industry, including good practice and products, eradication of bad practices and putting forward the long-term benefits of more professional welders. We, the AWD National Executive, National Council and Regional officers are well on the way to delivering many of our best intentions and we thank you for your continued support in doing so. Adrian Hawkins, Chairman Welding Industry News Reviews Membership News FeaturesW <strong>rld</strong> AGM & Conference Industry News Product Reviews Ask the Expert JULY also... Welding Wo<strong>rld</strong> Highlight FRONT COVER IMAGE: The Dyfi Bridge in Machynlleth Metalworking sculptor PUBLISHED BY: Association of Welding Distribution Ltd. Secure Hold Business Centre, Studley Road, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 7LG Tel: 01952 290036 Fax: 01952 290037 Email: secretaraiat@awd.org.uk Web: www.awd.org.uk EDITOR: Martin Clark Tel: 01952 250312 Email: editor@awd.org.uk DESIGN & PRODUCTION: ADVERTISING MANAGER: Dominic Roberts Tel: 07850 922364 Email: advertising@awd.org.uk Creative Digital Printing Limited . Oxon Business Park, Shrewsbury, SY3 5DD Tel: 01743 263030 . Fax: 01743 263031 Email: sales@creativedigitalprinting.com . Web: www.creativedigitalprinting.com Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information in each issue of Welding Wo<strong>rld</strong>, the publishers, authors and printers cannot except liability for errors or omissions nor for any claims made by the advertisers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the copywrite holder and the publisher. Applications for which must be made direct to the publisher. The Association, publishers, editors or it’s contributors cannot be held responsible for any statements of views expresses editorily. The opinions expressed by the correspondents are not necessarily those of the publisher. 03