The FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show is North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, and welding exposition and conference. The event exists to bring buyers and sellers of metal forming and fabricating technologies together in an environment that facilitates and accelerates business relationships.

The 2008 show will be held October 6 – 8, 2008 at Las Vegas Convention Center– in Las Vegas, Nevada.

One don’t miss event, keynote speaker and Joe Welder’s favorite fabricator / innovator, Dean Kamen. “Inspiring Future Generations to Lead the World in Innovation” on Tuesday October 7.

As an inventor and entrepreneur, Dean Kamen believes in the power of innovation. Innovation is the key to keeping U.S. manufacturing competitive in a global economy, but it depends on a well-educated and skilled workforce. During this high-impact presentation, Dean Kamen will discuss the importance of getting our Nation’s youth excited about careers in science, technology and engineering and cultivating an environment that encourages creativity and risk-taking. Drawing on his own extraordinary experiences and successes, he’ll provide insights on what business leaders and society can do today to increase our capacity to innovate and ensure a strong manufacturing future for years to come.

In case you don’t know who Dean Kamen is… he is the inventor of the Segway…. and with gas prices as high as they are now, the Segway is looking like a really good alternative to a car!

For a complete list of the events at the FABTECH / AWS Welding Show, check out the association website.

Joe Welder, aka Jim Watson will be at The Show. If you’d like to join him, and need a ticket, let us know. We’ll hook you up!

FMA launches its first sheet metal industry certification program

The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA) (www.fmanet.org) announced a new certification program for precision sheet metal operators for testing and validating their skills in sheet metal forming and fabricating. While welders in the industry have had certification programs available to them for proving their knowledge and expertise, the new Precision Sheet Metal Operator (PSMO) Level I Certification is the first to provide a comprehensive exam in the areas of shearing, sawing, press brake, turret punch press, laser cutting and mechanical finishing.

Read the full article at American Machinist magazine online–>

To learn about all the certificate programs offered by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, click here –>

Arrr. I think I got me days mixed up. Or me blogs. Over on me beauty’s blog, Carmen Electrode, they’re postin’ about a welding wench that helped build a pirate ship. And today is Talk Like A Pirate Day, so ye can see how it might be confusin’.

Now afore ye get all mad and shiver yer timbers, or swash yer buckles, I’ll be shore to let ye in on a few litttle tips on how a pirate would weld.

With all those sparrrrrrrks flyin’… a pirate would choose MIG.
Pirate Scurvy Scott says ye don’t need a helmet, “just slide yer patch over yer good eye when the sparks start flyin’… or better yet, train yer parrot to do it for ye.”
But arrrrrr own Captain Joe Welder The Terrible says ye should buy the special, limited edition pirate welding helmet at Arc-Zone.com.

Roger from the Oak Ridge National Labs contacted us looking for 1/2″ diameter tungsten electrodes…
If you’re not familiar with Oak Ridge, they are a

“multiprogram science and technology laboratory managed for the U.S. Department of Energy by UT-Battelle, LLC. Scientists and engineers at ORNL conduct basic and applied research and development to create scientific knowledge and technological solutions that strengthen the nation’s leadership in key areas of science; increase the availability of clean, abundant energy; restore and protect the environment; and contribute to national security.

ORNL also performs other work for the Department of Energy, including isotope production, information management, and technical program management, and provides research and technical assistance to other organizations.”

One can only guess what they’re welding up there!

I’m pretty sure they contacted us because Arc-Zone.com offers the widest variety of tungsten electrodes for TIG and Plasma Arc Welding applications. We offer quality brand names like ArcTime™ , Amplify™ MultiStrike™, SYLVANIA and Weldcraft® and all the popular blends like 2% Ceriated, 1.5% Lanthanated, 2% Thoriated, Pure Tungsten, Zirconiated Tungsten, Rare Earth blends and the new ArcTime Hybrid™ Electrodes.

We also stock (ready for immediate delivery) the most common diameters for welding from .040″ to 1/8″ Other diameters up to 1/4″ are usually available to ship in a couple of days.

But 1/2″ diameter tungsten electrodes– that’s a different story. For a request like that, we would need to quote a special run of 1/2″ diameter….

If you want to learn more about tungsten, check out the newest addition to the Arc-Zone.com family, TungstenElectrodesOnline.com, a comprehensive resource website for information about tungsten, tungsten production, the properties of tungsten and specifically the use of tungsten electrodes in TIG and Plasma Arc Welding. And if you have special need for tungsten electrodes, use the handy Request A Quote form.

Looking for the best MIG welder in its class and the ability to weld aluminum?
Are you NASCAR fan?

Our own Joe Welder may not be a NASCAR fan, but I’m not convinced he won’t be entering for a change to win a behind-the-scenes tour of the Las Vegas Speedway!

For a limited time, The Lincoln Electric Company is offering the Power MIG® 215XT and Power MIG® 255XT in promotional packages featuring Magnum® spool guns.

Customers will also have the chance to win a “once in a lifetime” NASCAR Fantasy Weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Power MIG 215XT with Magnum® 100SG spool gun for $99(Bundle Pack K2775-1)

Power MIG 255XT available with Magnum® 250LX at a discount of $199 (Bundle Pack K2776-1)

Enter to win at www.XTNASCARPROMO.com

NASCAR Fantasy Weekend

The opportunity for you and a friend to win this trip to Las Vegas is available exclusively beginning September 2nd– October 31st. The NASCAR Fantasy Weekend includes a behind-the-scenes experience during the races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, round-trip airfare and three-day hotel accommodations for two. For more information, and to enter the sweepstakes, visit www.xtnascarpromo.com.

Exclusive Power MIG and Magnum Packages

This limited promotion saves you hundreds of dollars by pairing the Power MIG 215XT with the popular Magnum 100SG spool gun or the Power MIG 255XT with the Magnum 250LX.
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