Six New Vendors Introduced at Linde Distributor Association
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Pennsylvania's Direct Wire and Cable named Vendor of the Year for third time
Murray Hill & New Providence, New Jersey, U.S.- Six new vendors were introduced to the 35 industrial gas distributors who attended the 17th annual meeting of the Linde Distributor Association (LDA) held in Austin, Texas, in late October. The annual meeting provides the opportunity for LDA members to share ideas for business improvement and to network with preferred vendors.
During the two-day meeting, 25 vendors had plenty of opportunities to discuss their various services, product lines, promote rebate programs and introduce special sales available only to meeting attendees. This year's agenda included best practices seminars on social media, supply chain management and risk management, and well as a tour of LDA vendor Flame Tech corporate office and production facility in Cedar Park, Texas. Abydee Butler, GAWDA Membership Services Chairperson and vice president of Butler Gas Products Company, McKees Rock, Pennsylvania, spoke to the group about the benefits of GAWDA membership, which drew favorable comments from several LDA members.
"I was very impressed by the enthusiasm displayed by all meeting attendees," said Mark Falconer, LDA co-chairman and president of Minneapolis Oxygen Company, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. "Vigorous participation by distributors and vendors in the various meetings created an atmosphere that maximized the effectiveness of the meeting and enhanced the all-important networking activities."
Since its inception in 1993, LDA has enabled independent distributors to leverage the purchasing power of an association to achieve volume discounts and earn rebates. Linde North America, a member of The Linde Group, a world-leading gases and engineering company, provides administrative support to the LDA.
LDA has 70 member companies who have over 400 retail locations throughout the U.S. Combined, LDA members have made over $1 billion in annual purchases and have earned some $27 million in rebates since the group was established. Products purchased include welding and cutting equipment, consumables, and gas containment and handling equipment.
Vendor of the Year
Based on service, delivery and sales communication, Direct Wire and Cable, Inc., of Denver, Pennsylvania, was chosen vendor of the year for the third year in a row. The company manufactures welding cable, custom welding cable assemblies with connectors and power products. Eric Laubauch, president of Direct Wire and Cable, said, "I am truly thankful for this award. It takes a lot of effort on the part of everyone in our organization to maintain high standard of customer service. We have a great staff of people and I congratulate them on a job well done."
This year's LDA meeting was sponsored by preferred vendors Chart Industries, Cryovation, Direct Wire & Cable, Dynaflux, Flame Technologies, Gas Innovations, H & H Sales, Hypertherm, Metabo, Norris Cylinders, Norton Abrasives, ORS Nasco, Ratermann Manufacturing, Safe-T-Cart, Smith Equipment Company, John Tillman Company, Victor Technologies, Washington Alloys, Welcote Metals, Weldcraft, Worthington Industries, 3M Hornell, as well as the six new vendors: Torch Tip Company, ArcOne, ACE - Associated Equipment Corp., Supply Pro, United Abrasives/Sait and Welding Material Sales.
The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 62,000 employees in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2011 financial year, Linde generated revenue of EUR 13.787 bn (USD - bn). The strategy of the Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment - in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The Group is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com.
Contact:
Amy Ficon
Linde Corporate Communications
Phone 908-771-1491 Fax 908-771-1460
Amy.Ficon@linde.com
Vinita Abraham
Linde Corporate Communications
Ph: 908 - 771 - 1366
vinita.abraham@linde.com
