Stoody® Celebrates 90 Years of Hardfacing Tradition and Leadership
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St. Louis, Mo. (March 16, 2011) - Ninety years ago, no one had even heard of the concept. But, in a small shop in Whittier, CA, two brothers were experimenting with a new weld overlay process. The result was Stoody® Rod, and hardfacing history began.
In 1921, brothers Winston F. and Shelley M. Stoody opened up the Stoody Welding Co. to service the growing farm implement and tractor repair business. Right after opening their storefront, oil was discovered nearby, and a whole new business was born: repairing drill bits from the oil rigs.
The Stoody brothers were convinced there could be a way to make the drill bits more durable and to stay sharper longer. They developed a technique, called hardfacing that would stay with the industry for many decades. Hardfacing is the overlaying of metal with a coating of abrasion-resistant alloys via a welding process. This overlay greatly extends the life of the equipment.
Over the years, most of the major firsts in hardfacing technology would originate in one place - the Stoody laboratory. Impressive advances included Stoodite®, the first cast hardfacing rod and Borium®, Stoody's trademark for the world's first tungsten carbide material for hardfacing. And, credit Stoody for the industry's first application of the submerged arc welding process.
Other Stoody hardfacing innovations include the world's most wear-resistant all position wire, non-chromium bearing consumables, and crack-free corrosion/erosion resistant overlays.
Since 1988, Stoody has been a member of the Thermadyne Industries family, working with other brands that are leaders in metal cutting and welding. Its welding wire and electrode products support the steel, power generation, petroleum oil and gas drilling, recycling, cement, pulp and paper, agricultural, metal casting, construction and other industries. Built in Bowling Green, KY in 1991, the Stoody division employs 90 people at its on-site facilities and proudly states that its U.S. manufactured products are focused on helping U.S. businesses to continue to grow.
"Through imagination, dedication and revolutionary spirit, Stoody earned its reputation for innovation and industry leadership," said Stoody Marketing Manager Tom Penko. "Our customers can count on that same spirit today, as we deliver the finest and most cost-effective solutions to the toughest wear problems."
Stoody® is a leader in hardfacing technology and high alloy filler metals used to combat various types of wear and corrosion. Its extensive family of products includes iron, nickel, stainless, cobalt, tungsten carbide and vanadium carbide based alloys. Stoody serves a variety of industries, including power generation, mining, construction, railroad, steel, foundry, oil and gas production and exploration, as well as the pulp and paper industry.
Thermadyne Holdings is headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. Thermadyne Industries is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of metal cutting and welding products and accessories under a variety of leading premium brand names including Victor®, Tweco®, Arcair®, Thermal Dynamics®, Thermal Arc®, Stoody®, TurboTorch®, Firepower® and CIGWELD®. For more information about Thermadyne, its products and services, visit the company's web site at www.thermadyne.com.
