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Welding Journal | January 2014

BUSINESS BRIEFS Ford Adds Jobs, Invests Millions in Buffalo Stamping Plant Ford Motor Co. will invest $150 million and add approximately 350 new jobs at its Buffalo Stamping Plant in New York. The venture is for more than 25 new subassemblies, including hoods, doors, and fenders; more than 500 new dies and a new blanking line; as well as equipment upgrades and refurbishing to support future product programs. The plant will also add a third shift to its press room. “These additional jobs are the direct result of the dedicated effort our United Automobile Workers (UAW) members display every day at facilities all across the country, and serve as another reminder of the resilience of American workers and our nation’s manufacturing sector,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president and director of the National Ford Department. Recent Acquisitions At FABTECH 2013, Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, announced the company acquired an ownership interest in Burlington Automation Corp., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, a designer and manufacturer of 3D robotic plasma cutting systems. Rob Tyler serves as its president. In addition, the company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Robolution GmbH, based outside of Frankfurt, Germany, a European provider of robotic arc welding systems. Wolfgang Koenig is its managing director. Victor Technologies™, St. Louis, Mo., has acquired Gas-Arc Group Ltd., a privately held manufacturer of gas control equipment in the United Kingdom, for approximately $40 million in cash, subject to post-closing adjustments. Its portfolio includes branded gas control products that meet specialty gas application requirements as well as cutting and welding equipment for the industrial, laboratory, and medical gas control markets. In addition, Gas-Arc will continue to operate under its own name. Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that, through its wholly owned subsidiary American Metals Corp., the company has acquired all of the capital stock of Haskins Steel Co., Inc., Spokane, Wash. Founded in 1955, Haskins processes and distributes carbon steel and aluminum products of various shapes/sizes. In-house processing capabilities include shearing, sawing, burning, and forming. Haskins will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of American Metals Corp., and current management will also remain in place. Antelope Oil Tool & Manufacturing Co., LLC, Mineral Wells, Tex., has acquired WearSox, L.P., Houston, Tex. Founded in 2004, WearSox is a developer of thermal spray-on casing centralizers and stop collars, as well as stabilizers for the deep water/offshore segment of the oil and gas industry. WearSox’s patent-protected process allows for shapes to be built directly onto casing without affecting the casing’s metallurgical properties. George Ribble, Antelope’s CEO, will oversee the combined business. Airgas, Inc., Radnor, Pa., has completed acquiring the assets and operations of The Encompass Gas Group, Rockford, Ill., one of the largest privately owned suppliers of industrial, medical, and specialty gases/related hardgoods in the United States, with eleven locations and more than 130 associates in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Automation International, Inc., Danville, Ill., has acquired Hess Industries’ Rim and Wheel Intellectual Property. Hess Industries was located in Niles, Mich., and ceased operations in June 2012. The purchase aligns with the company’s role as a provider in the design and manufacture of automated wheel production equipment, including welding, metal forming, assembly, and spinning. Keen Compressed Gas Co., Wilmington, Del., has acquired the assets of Urie & Blanton Welding Supply Co., including all assets associated with the industrial gas and welding supply business. Urie covered New Castle County, Del.; southeastern Pennsylvania; the Philadelphia area; some of South Jersey; and had two retail locations that Keen will take over. Mistras Group, Inc., Princeton Junction, N.J., has acquired Carmagen Engineering, Inc., a professional engineering consulting and technical training services provider serving the hydrocarbon processing and other energy-related industries. Since 1986, Carmagen has provided services focused on the oil and gas industry that includes plant operations support; turnaround planning/ execution programs; and technical training.♦ 14 JANUARY 2014 Ford Motor Co. will invest $150 million and add approximately 350 new jobs at its Buffalo Stamping Plant. (Photo courtesy of Ford.)


Welding Journal | January 2014
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