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?

We look forward to the competitions each year at AWS/FABTECH. From students to old pros, there’s always a way to test your skill against others from around the world. We know welders take great pride in their work - how do you think you’d stack up against the competition?

Details from the Show Guide:

Professional welders will compete Sunday through Tuesday on the show floor for a grand prize of $2,500 by making a pipe-to-plate weld on a pre-tacked joint in five minutes or less. The contest will be judged by a team of AWS Certified Welding Inspectors. Entry fee is $20 and registration is at the show.

For more details, check out www.AWS.org/competition. Think you have what it takes? The competition starts at 11:00 this morning in the North Hall. Come down and find out. Or tell us a little about what makes YOU America’s best welder.

Fall shifts to winter, and that only means one thing in our industry: AWS/FABTECH 2009!

Miller is once again a proud exhibitor at this year’s show (Booth #34071), held November 15 to 18 at McCormick Place in Chicago. We’ll have our usual live arc demonstrations and introduce some of the newest industry-spanning equipment.

New products include the AlumaFeed™ Aluminum Fabrication System, FILTAIR™ MWX-D Mobile Fume Extractor, Miller’s Arc Armor™ PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator), PipeWorx™ Welding System and Trailblazer® 302 Air Pak™ welder/generator/air compressor.

We’ll also be bringing show highlights to you each day via our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube sites. Sign up at www.MillerWelds.com/fabtech for a chance to win a free auto-darkening welding helmet from Miller.

So whether you’ll join us in Chicago or you’ll be interacting with us on the social media sites, thanks for visiting Miller and we’ll see you at the show!

Do you tweet? It’s ok, you can admit it if you do. Social media websites, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and scores of smaller peer networking and message board sites have exploded in popularity over the last few years—to the point that social media is now the most common use of the internet.

Social media sites offer the opportunity to communicate in real time with real people, so instead of having to ask your neighbor, Joe, why your MIG weld doesn’t look quite right, you can ask literally thousands of people for their opinions with a few quick strokes of the keyboard. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s hard to believe that SEMA 2009 is coming to an end. Yet again, Las Vegas has provided the perfect backdrop for this showcase of the specialty automotive industry.

Don’t worry - we won’t be letting up just because today is the last day of the show. Miller’s booth (#23813) in the Racing & Performance pavilion will be busy all day with welding demonstrations and some of the newest equipment for the home hobbyist and motorsports user.

Have you entered to win your free ArcStation yet? There is still time, but don’t wait much longer: www.MillerWelds.com/SEMA.

Also - just because SEMA 2009 is coming to a close, that doesn’t mean we’re going to put away our car gear until next year. Miller is committed to the motorsports and custom automotive industries. You can interact with us all year at our motorsports forum on our website. We’re always happy to answer any questions you have about anything you can strike an arc to.

So stick around, expect more photos and videos, and have a great Friday.

Congratulations to Rodger Lee of Ironworks Speed & Kustom (www.ironworksspeedandkustom.com) for winning GM’s 2009 SEMA Design Award for his C6 ‘57 Chevy truck.

Check in later for a video interview with Rodger and check out his website for information on the truck and other projects.

Good morning!

Day 3 of SEMA 2009 begins and we’re loving every minute of it. The first two days have brought a flood of people through the Miller booth and onto the show floor. We’ve seen a little bit of everything: hot rod aficionados, off road racers, custom bike builders, tributes to musical acts such as Cheap Trick and Brooks & Dunn, and some of the most passionate automotive and motorsports people you’ll find everywhere.

Yesterday visits included:

Stacey David: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m0NKZ5FLpE

Ron Covell (one of the nicest guys in the industry): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOWtk1b9EbU

Students from Embry-Riddle’s Jet Dragster Team: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbIOUsm_k5o

We also visited some of the displays we found interesting, including the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize booth and the folks at Equipt Expedition Outfitters.

To see videos of SEMA highlights, visit our Youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/nielsmiller

We have more videos, photos and interviews coming today - so stay tuned!