PTN July 2008:Layout 1 6/6/08 4:41 PM Page 4

PRESS TIME
NEWS
Publisher Andrew Cullison
Airgas to Provide Jobs, Welder Training to War Veterans
Editorial
Airgas, Inc., Radnor, Pa., has set a goal to hire 100 veterans who have served in Iraq Editorial Director Andrew Cullison
and Afghanistan over the next 12 months. The company will also offer its Welding 101 Editor Mary Ruth Johnsen
course to any veteran interested in exploring a welding career. Associate Editor Howard M. Woodward
Additionally, the company has pledged $300,000 to Operation Homefront, a charity Associate Editor Kristin Campbell
that supports America’s soldiers by providing emergency assistance and moral support Peer Review Coordinator Erin Adams
to the families troops leave behind when they are deployed and to wounded service
members when they return home. The donation will be paid in increments of $100,000 Publisher Emeritus Jeff Weber
per year over the next three years, with 70% going toward Operation Homefront’s proj-
ects to assist wounded soldiers. Graphics and Production
Production Manager Zaida Chavez
Senior Production Coordinator Brenda Flores
USEC Awards $92 Million Contract to Teledyne Brown
Advertising
USEC Inc., Bethesda, Md., awarded a $92 million contract to Teledyne Brown Engi- National Sales Director Rob Saltzstein
neering Inc., Huntsville, Ala., to manufacture 540 gas centrifuge service modules for its Advertising Sales Representative Lea Garrigan Badwy
American Centrifuge uranium-enrichment program. Advertising Production Manager Frank Wilson
Critical to the operation of the centrifuge machines, service modules are welded,
steel frame structures with pipe headers and valves, control and instrument cabling, ven- Subscriptions
tilation ductwork, and electrical distribution cables. acct@aws.org
Teledyne Brown recently opened a new manufacturing facility in Huntsville to han-
dle this contract. It expects to add nearly 200 jobs at the facility, which is being expanded American Welding Society
from 130,000 to 206,000 sq ft needed for production operations. 550 NW LeJeune Rd., Miami, FL 33126
(305) 443-9353 or (800) 443-9353

North American Robot Orders Decline 17% in First Quarter

Publications, Expositions, Marketing Committee
North American robotics companies reported new orders sold to North American D. L. Doench, Chair
manufacturers fell 17% in the first quarter of 2008 from the same quarter in 2007, but Hobart Brothers Co.
revenue rose 5%. Additionally, orders to nonautomotive companies surged, an encour- T. A. Barry, Vice Chair
aging sign for future robotics growth, according to the Robotic Industries Association Miller Electric Mfg. Co.
(RIA), Ann Arbor, Mich. J. D. Weber, Secretary
A total of 3828 robots valued at $288.1 million were sold in the opening quarter by American Welding Society
North American-based robotics companies, according to new figures released by RIA. R. L. Arn, WELDtech International
When sales to companies outside North America are included, the totals are 4281 S. Bartholomew, ESAB Welding & Cutting Prod.
J. Deckrow, Hypertherm
robots valued at $311.3 million, a decline of 15% in units and a gain of 6% in revenue.
J. Dillhoff, OKI Bering
Also, orders to automotive manufacturers and their suppliers fell 34% in units.
J. R. Franklin, Sellstrom Mfg. Co.
“Welding and coating/dispensing orders showed big declines because these are heav- J. Horvath, Thermadyne Industries
ily tied to automotive. Assembly and material-handling applications showed gains be- D. Levin, Airgas
cause many of these applications are also extensively used in nonautomotive industries,” J. Mueller, Thermadyne Industries
said Jeffrey A. Burnstein, executive vice president of RIA. R. G. Pali, J. P. Nissen Co.
J. F. Saenger Jr., Consultant
Plastic Welding Certification Facility Offers Courses S. Smith, Weld-Aid Products
D. Wilson, Wilson Industries
J. C. Bruskotter, Ex Off., Bruskotter Consulting Services
A new plastic welding training center offers plastic fabricator education, hands-on
H. Castner, Ex Off., Edison Welding Institute
training, and certification in plastic welding and portable extrusion welding in accor- L. G. Kvidahl, Ex Off., Northrup Grumman Ship Systems
dance with The Welding Institute (TWI) specification, thanks to STAR Process Heat G. E. Lawson, Ex Off., ESAB Welding & Cutting Prod.
Systems LLC and RRE Inc. — The Plastic Welding School. The two organizations E. C. Lipphardt, Ex Off., Consultant
recognized the need to offer a formal training program and facility on how to weld plas- S. Liu, Ex Off., Colorado School of Mines
tics. The program is based on European CEN (Committee for Standardization) and C. Martin, Ex Off., Phoenix International
DVS (German Welding Society) plastic welding standards. E. Norman, Ex Off., Southwest Area Career Center
The training facility for RRE Inc. — The Plastic Welding School is located at STAR R. W. Shook, Ex Off., American Welding Society
Process Heat Systems LLC in Farmingdale, N.J. The class schedule is the third week of
each month. Standard courses offered are as follows: ATC61 — 3 Day Extrusion Weld-
ing; ATC62 — 2 Day Gas Appreciation; ATC66 — 5 Day Hot Gas Welding; and ATC68
Copyright © 2008 by American Welding Society in both printed and elec-
— 3 Day Plastic Welders Certification. tronic 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 in-
R.B.A. Doubles Manufacturing Space tended for use without independent, substantiating investigation on the
part of potential users.

Broadwind Energy, Inc., Naperville, Ill., recently announced its heavy steel fabrica-
tion company, R.B.A. Inc., Manitowoc, Wis., a provider of subcontract machining, fab-
rication, refurbishing, welding, and assembly, has acquired a second facility. Located in
Clintonville, Wis., it comprises approximately 60,000 sq ft. The company has begun hir-
ing employees and expects to add approximately 40 people.
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4 JULY 2008