PRESS TIME NEWS AWS Holds Open House to Celebrate World Headquarters More than 200 guests attended an open house celebration held at the American Welding Society’s (AWS) new world headquarters in Doral, Fla., on November 30. The renovated, 122,482-sq-ft building has five stories and offers space for future growth. “Over the past few years, AWS has seen a significantly increasing interest from across the globe in attaining AWS certifications, standards, and membership,” said Ray Shook, executive director, AWS. “We’ve launched a global initiative that will allow us to better serve the welding community, and our new modern headquarters is one of the primary steps to becoming more accessible to our members.” During the event, AWS President William A. Rice Jr. showed a photo journey through the organization’s 93-year history. In addition, Rice announced that he along with his wife, Cherry, donated $50,000 for a new scholarship intended to help women interested in welding careers. The AWS Foundation will match that amount for a total of $100,000. Also, a 6-ft-tall bronze welder sculpture donated to AWS by Bill and Cherry Rice was unveiled. Noted artist Gregory Johnson of Cumming, Ga., created the welder that weighs more than 225 lb and kneels on top of a base made by D&D Mobile Welding and Fabrication, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The figure resides in the first floor lobby of the AWS headquarters building. “I’m thrilled. It has met and exceeded my expectations,” Johnson said of the sculpture, adding he is humbled AWS visitors will see his artistry. Creating the sculpture took about 200 hours, spanning over the course of two months. Johnson first made an armature using threaded rods and braided copper wire, then pressed clay onto this form. He then kept refining and detailing his work. As a reference, he looked at welders’ attire, including a helmet, jacket, gloves, pants, and shoes. The bronze welder holds a gas metal arc welding gun in its right hand. Eagle Bronze, Inc., Lander, Wyo., performed the mold and casting duties, which Johnson oversaw. Among the attendees were AWS leadership, consisting of current officers, board members, and past presidents, as well as international counterparts and agents, vendors, and community members. Speakers included The Honorable Michael Bileca, Florida House of Representatives, and Miguel Otero, deputy chief of staff for Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. Diaz-Balart has an office in the building. The event video is at http://videos.aws.org. The day concluded with AWS employees guiding visitors around the building where they met spokespersons from each department. Lunch was catered by Carolina Ale House, a tenant, and served on the second floor’s covered patio area. Lincoln Electric Acquires Businesses from ITT Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, has acquired the Kaliburn, Burny, and Cleveland Motion Control (CMC) businesses from ITT Corp. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but all three businesses are consolidated in a headquarters and manufacturing operation in Ladson, S.C. The combined annual sales in 2011 were $35 million. The three operations employ approximately 140 people.◆ 6 JANUARY 2013 Publisher Andrew Cullison Editorial Editorial Director Andrew Cullison Editor Mary Ruth Johnsen Associate Editor Howard M. Woodward Associate Editor Kristin Campbell Editorial Asst./Peer Review Coordinator Melissa Gomez Publisher Emeritus Jeff Weber Design and Production Production Manager Zaida Chavez Senior Production Coordinator Brenda Flores Manager of International Periodicals and Electronic Media Carlos Guzman Advertising National SalesDirector Rob Saltzstein Advertising Sales Representative Lea Paneca Senior Advertising Production Manager Frank Wilson Subscriptions Subscriptions Representative Sylvia Ferreira sferreira@aws.org American Welding Society 8669 Doral Blvd., Doral, FL 33166 (305) 443-9353 or (800) 443-9353 Publications, Expositions, Marketing Committee D. L. Doench, Chair Hobart Brothers Co. S. Bartholomew, Vice Chair ESAB Welding & Cutting Prod. J. D. Weber, Secretary American Welding Society D. Brown, Weiler Brush T. Coco, Victor Technologies International L. Davis, ORS Nasco J. Deckrow, Hypertherm D. DeCorte, RoMan Mfg. J. R. Franklin, Sellstrom Mfg. Co. F. H. Kasnick, Praxair D. Levin, Airgas E. C. Lipphardt, Consultant R. Madden, Hypertherm D. Marquard, IBEDA Superflash J. F. Saenger Jr., Consultant S. Smith, Weld-Aid Products D. Wilson, Well-Dean Enterprises N. C. Cole, Ex Off., NCC Engineering J. N. DuPont, Ex Off., Lehigh University L. G. Kvidahl, Ex Off., Northrup Grumman Ship Systems D. J. Landon, Ex Off., Vermeer Mfg. S. P. Moran, Ex Off., Weir American Hydro E. Norman, Ex Off., Southwest Area Career Center R. G. Pali, Ex Off., J. P. Nissen Co. N. Scotchmer, Ex Off., Huys Industries R. W. Shook, Ex Off., American Welding Society Copyright © 2013 by American Welding Society in both printed and electronic formats. The Society is not responsible for any statement made or opinion expressed herein. Data and information developed by the authors of specific articles are for informational purposes only and are not intended for use without independent, substantiating investigation on the MEMBER part of potential users. Ribbon cutting ceremony participants at the AWS open house were (from left) Executive Director Ray Shook; Treasurer Robert Pali; Vice President Elect Dave McQuaid; Vice Presidents David Landon and Dean Wilson; President- Elect Nancy Cole; and President William Rice. Noted artist Gregory Johnson poses next to the bronze welder he sculpted that resides in the first floor lobby of the AWS headquarters building.
Welding Journal | January 2013
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