Welding & Gases Industry Forecast Examines The New Normal

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb. 14, 2012 - As businesses in the gases and welding industry look ahead in 2012, they see the emergence of promising opportunities as the hurdles of the past three years continue to get smaller. In preparing its annual Business Forecast issue, Welding & Gases Today interviewed almost 150 executives at distributor and supplier companies who shared the challenges and opportunities they will face in their businesses in 2012. The Winter 2012 issue of the leading magazine for the gases and welding equipment industry features a series of articles called “2012 Business Forecast: The New Normal.”

“The fun starts in late October when the magazine staff begins to call GAWDA members to inquire about the upcoming year. We talk about business strategies, challenges, new offerings, sales projections and more,” says Welding & Gases Today Managing Editor Carole Jesiolowski. “This year, we asked a question that stumped a few people: What can you do to make your company go from being really good to being really great?”

For the 2012 Business Forecast, 136 executives from GAWDA member companies were interviewed, representing both large and small distributors and suppliers from all geographic regions and product offerings. When the interviews were finished, the Business Forecast story came together from thousands of pages of notes.

Along with the supplier and distributor forecasts, the 2012 Business Forecast features an outlook for helium in 2012. In 2011, the gas industry felt the strain of a helium shortage. “Eyeing Potential Shortages In 2012” reveals that the new year may continue to present supply challenges for the welding and gases industry.

Also in the 2012 Business Forecast, American Welding Society Executive Director Ray Shook offers his outlook for the welding industry in his article “Recruiting Welding Personnel Remains Key Need.”

To access the most relevant and up-to-date articles for gases and welding industry professionals, read the Winter 2012 issue of Welding & Gases Today (http://www.weldingandgasestoday.org/index.php/magazine/cu...), available now at Welding & Gases Today Online. For more information, contact Devin O’Toole, content editor at Welding & Gases Today at devin@weldingandgasestoday.org or 315-445-2347.

About GAWDA
Founded in 1945, the Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA) is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education and networking. Through its member journals (http://www.weldingandgasestoday.org), e-magazines, newsletters and industry wiki (http://www.gawdawiki.org), GAWDA connects suppliers of gases and manufacturers of related equipment as well as manufacturers of welding equipment and distribution leaders, for the purpose of safely delivering optimal solutions to the users of those products. GAWDA publications are the industry’s voice for all matters related to the latest technology and the most up-to-date processes spanning welding equipment and products and services related to industrial, medical, specialty and cryogenic gases. A 501(c)3 organization, GAWDA members are located throughout North America.