According to a recent news article, the Navy has ordered the re-inspection of thousands of potentially faulty pipe welds on three classes of ships after an oil lubrication problem on one ship required an emergency docking in Bahrain. Investigators believe that up to 10-15 percent of the welds do not meet specifications.

Unfortunate as the problem is for the Navy and the company responsible for inspecting and repairing the welds, the situation calls to light the importance of welding—highly skilled welding, specifically—to our national security. Read the rest of this entry »

Welding is not a career for the faint of heart – that’s nothing new, but a recent survey by a job search Web site ranked it as the fifth worst out of 200 different professions. Ironworker fared even worse, coming in as the third worst job for 2010. Knowing the passion and pride that welders and ironworkers take in their jobs, we suspect the Web site didn’t consult with any while conducting their survey. Read the rest of this entry »

Signs of an economic recovery in the manufacturing sector are slowly emerging, pointing the way toward what many consider the ultimate sign of recovery — job creation.

The most recent indicator signaling improvement within the manufacturing sector was a higher than anticipated rise in the Institute for Supply Management’s Purchasing Manager’s Index — its highest reading since April 2006. The Index tracks a variety of indicators, including new orders, inventories and production, to arrive at a number that represents the rate of growth or contraction in the market.

With the impact of the recession still fresh in their minds, many companies are choosing to respond to this new growth using their existing staff rather than adding new employees. One option for addressing this challenge is through the acquisition of new, productivity-enhancing equipment.

New equipment can help a company meet its orders with its existing staff, which in turn can increase profitability and eventually help lead the way toward expanding their business.

As we all know, however, financing new purchases has gotten a lot tougher over the past 18 months. In response to the difficulties that many companies face in obtaining credit, some equipment manufacturers, including Miller, are offering financing programs at very favorable interest rates.

How do you plan to respond to an improving economy and increases in orders? Will you look to purchase new equipment before adding to your payroll? Do you expect difficulties finding financing for your purchases? Share your thoughts on this subject by posting a comment below.

More information about Miller’s 0% financing program can be found here.

Well, we’re just about through one of the most challenging and uncertain years for business in recent memory — and good riddance!  Here’s to a prosperous 2010.

Although we’ll all be glad to put 2009 behind us, the unfortunate reality is that changing our economic fortunes is not as simple as changing our calendars. Despite some signs that the economy is recovering, many individuals, businesses and industries continue to struggle through the ongoing effects of the recession.

Nevertheless, the new year does provide an opportunity to take a small step back and assess the lessons learned in 2009 and think about how to apply that hard earned knowledge upcoming challenges in 2010.

A common business practice when deciding on a course of action is to perform a S.W.O.T. analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that you expect to face in 2010? Do you plan to make any changes to your business in the coming year in response to the ongoing economic slump? Do you expect to see a strong pick-up in business next year, or more of the same?

Tell us what your crystal ball is telling you by posting a comment below

Many so-called economic experts are saying that the recession is over, and they cite a number of statistics to support this claim — Gross Domestic Product is up, the unemployment rate is getting less worse (does that really qualify as a good thing?), the Dow Jones Industrial Average is at its highest point in over a year and the purchasing manager’s index indicates that conditions are improving.

And yet when you go beyond these broad indicators and look a little closer at the day-to-day lives of normal Americans, you’ll see that many people are still struggling to manage their personal finances under heavy credit card debt and onerous mortgage payments. Read the rest of this entry »

Once again, another FABTECH International/AWS Welding Show has come and gone. If you were there, or if you checked out our social media reports live from the show floor, you saw many brand new products and even more existing products refined to better serve the industries for which they were developed.

The theme of the show this year was “Converge to Emerge,” as in emerging from the recession in a better position to profit and gain market share as the economy recovers. To that end, both the exhibitors and attendees at the show demonstrated an optimism that the light at the end of the economic tunnel is growing brighter and brighter.

If you attended the show, were you impressed by the products and technologies on display? Do you plan on making any purchases based on the equipment you found at the show? Did you leave the show with a renewed hope for the future of the welding and fabrication industry?

Share your thoughts on this year’s FABTECH International/AWS Welding Show by posting a comment below.

Before we get down to business, please let me remind you: today is the last day to enter to win a free Titanium Elite welding helmet. Simply go to www.MillerWelds.com/Fabtech and sign up for Miller’s Pro eNewsletter and you’ll be eligible.

A: You might win a free helmet. B: The Pro eNewsletter is a wealth of information on welding tips, business practices, new products and just about anything that can help you in your day-to-day work.

Wednesday - day 4 - is highlighted by the student program “Manufacturing your Future” at Fabtech & AWS 2009. This program is designed to educate high school students on the benefits of a career in forming, fabricating, welding and manufacturing. Industry mentors will guide students around the show, interact with manufacturers and suppliers, and lay the groundwork for a successful career in the industry.

The Miller booth (#34071) is student-friendly, and we look forward to talking with students and mentors about the pride and accomplishment that accompanies a career in welding. We look forward to seeing you there.

Good morning and welcome to day 3 of Fabtech & AWS 2009. In case you haven’t been able to join us yet, here’s a glimpse at some of the things you’re missing:

The AWS Professional Welder Contest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDI6_iTaa_0

Miller’s new Trailblazer 302 Air Pak: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdKHDTZiwW8 You can also see how one structural steel contractor is already using this machine here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9j7tzcJJ3A

The PipeWorx Welding System, Regulated Metal Deposition (RMD) and Pro-Pulse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgWYpXhTpAI

And, where would we be without nanofibers? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFEPsPrl0aM

We’ll be posting a video to Youtube later today explaining that last one a little further.

Overall, it’s been a great show thus far and we really hope to see you down here today or tomorrow. If you’re not already doing so, follow along on our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube sites for the latest information.

See you on the show floor!

Here’s a quick rundown of the newest products Miller is showcasing at the show. There’s something for everyone. We hope to see you on the show floor - Booth #34071:

Miller’s AlumaFeed™ Aluminum Fabrication System is designed for high-volume, high arc-on time industrial aluminum applications requiring conventional MIG and pulsed MIG welding outputs. With AlumaFeed there is no learning curve for experienced MIG welders to understand system controls, and novice welders can make production-quality pulsed MIG welds within hours using the system’s synergic control and the Profile Pulse™ output, which creates a “stacked dime” weld bead appearance without torch manipulation. AlumaFeed offers a long reach and lightweight portability for large aluminum weldments: boats, ships, yachts, emergency vehicles, trucks and trailers, recreational vehicles and general aluminum fabrication.

Miller’s new FILTAIR™ MWX-D Mobile Fume Extractor is designed specifically for welding applications. Its MERV-15-rated nanofiber filters last longer and capture more welding fume particles than competitive fume extractors. The FIILTAIR features heavy-duty construction, including a durable, industrial-grade metal cabinet and extraction arm, and is designed to withstand the demands of everyday welding. Its powerful 875 CFM airflow and large bell-shaped hood captures fumes at a greater distance with less repositioning.

Miller’s Arc Armor™ PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) features a blower that is 1.3 lbs. lighter than the leading competitor and incorporates a Miller-exclusive belt/shoulder strap design for maximum comfort. The Arc Armor PAPR features a lithium ion battery with no memory retention from frequent charging, dual air speeds for maximum comfort in varied work environments and audible and vibrating alarms for use in noisy workplaces. The PAPR comes with a Miller Elite™ Series auto-darkening helmet (non-auto-darkening lens model also available) and is certified by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, 42 CFR Part 84), which covers requirements for respiratory protective devices. Miller’s PAPR has an assigned protection factor of 25.

Miller’s PipeWorx™ Welding System is an easy-to-use multi-process welding solution specifically designed for use in pipe fabrication shops to improve pipe welding quality and productivity. PipeWorx provides one-button, quick changeover between processes; cables remain connected to the power source and do not need to be switched for the different welding processes. Stick, TIG, flux cored and MIG processes are each optimized for pipe welding. The PipeWorx System includes Miller’s RMD™ and Pro-Pulse™ processes, which enable even new welders to produce code-quality welds quickly and with less training.

The Trailblazer® 302 Air Pak™ is designed to provide construction, structural steel and equipment repair professionals with a self-contained power source that welds at up to 350 amps, provides 13,000 watts of Accu-Rated™ generator power and 26 CFM of compressed air at 100-percent duty cycle. The Trailblazer 302 Air Pak’s rotary screw air compressor delivers 70 to 160 PSI of air with no storage tank required. It runs most air impact wrenches at idle and provides 100 percent deliverable air, which allows contractors to work continuously without worrying about air pressure. It substantially improves air carbon arc cutting and gouging, and is capable of working with ¼-in. carbons (rated: 3/16-in.) for most applications.

Fabtech & AWS 2009 opens its Solution Showcase Theater on Monday, showcasing ways to operate a more efficient and competitive business. Monday’s schedule includes:

10 AM-11 AM: Don’t Lose Your Sales Focus in a Down Economy; Joe Mayer, managing partner, Mayer Business Group LLC.

11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Smart Strategies for Preserving Stakeholder Relationships; Dick Kallage, Bill Barron and Patric Donahue of KDC Associates

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: How to Protect Your Company from Customer Bankruptcy; Steven Gan, president, Stellar Rick Management.

All of these topics are relevant to the market as it exists today. What is your company doing to stay successful in a down economy?