When Miller introduced Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) technology on its welder generators, the job site detailed in the article below is a perfect example of the target market: contractors looking to reduce welding costs AND reduce the environmental impact of their work (the site is a LEED-certified complex). EFI accomplishes both goals.

You can read the whole article here and preview the contents below.

Seattle University’s new Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons— scheduled to open in September 2010—transforms the original 1966 building into a 21^st century, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold-certified masterpiece. The new structure includes 37,000 square feet of new construction and an extensive renovation of the original structure. The result is a sparkling new, environmentally friendly 125,000-square-foot learning center for students and faculty.

Spearheading the structural steel work is Apex Steel of Redmond, Washington. The company is experienced in LEED-certified construction and specializes in structural steel, steel reinforcement and tower crane erection. Apex Steel uses equipment that lowers its cost of operation and helps reduce the overall carbon footprint required to put up a steel building. To that end, the company used Miller Electric Mfg. Co.’s new Trailblazer 302^®, a 300-amp welder generator with 25 HP Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) gas engine from Kohler.  EFI welder generators reduce harmful hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and have lowered Apex Steel’s welder generator fuel use by 20 percent.

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.

Welding literally holds together the ships, airplanes, tanks and other vehicles that protect our country and its people on a daily basis, and the problems encountered in these ships is evidence of the skill and knowledge required to successfully perform a weld that will endure extreme stress and pressure.

It’s also sadly ironic that this news story emerged just about a week after welding was listed as the fifth worst out of 200 selected careers. The welding industry needs people with the ability and desire to perform the welds critical to our national security, yet surveys like these could discourage those people from considering a career in welding.

On a positive note, the company that builds these ships for the Navy said that it has recertified its welders and inspectors and stepped up its pipe weld inspection system. Hopefully their efforts will result in improved weld integrity and very little downtime for these ships.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Have you noticed a lack of skill at the highest level of safety-critical welding? Do you believe that companies are not enforcing their welding specifications as strictly as they should? What can be done to show our best and brightest the potential for rewarding and important work within the welding industry? Share your thoughts by posting a comment below.

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.

The site ranked jobs based on five factors — physical demands, work environment, income, stress and hiring outlook. Although the results are based on what a typical job seeker would look for in a career, welders are often anything but typical and many find the physical demands and work environment to be some of the most rewarding parts of the job. The money can be pretty darn good, too!

Surveys like this fail to reflect the fact that many people thrive on physically demanding work and the rewards of creating things with their own two hands. People like this would never envy the actuary (the top ranked job in the survey) sitting at a desk and staring at numbers on a computer screen all day.

On a more serious note, these types of surveys can actually harm the welding industry by potentially scaring away people who would otherwise enjoy welding as a career or hobby.

They’ve had their chance, now it’s yours. Let’s hear why this Web site is wrong and why welding is a great career. Share your thoughts and stories about how you came to be a welder by posting a comment below.

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