MERGERS, PARTNERSHIPS & ACQUISITIONS A M

Linde Gas & Equipment Acquires nexAir

Linde announced that it had acquired the remaining interests of nexAir, LLC. Linde’s wholly owned subsidiary Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. (LG&E) has held a minority interest in nexAir since 2012. LG&E has now purchased the remaining 77.2%. The acquisition complements Linde’s existing packaged gas business and expands its footprint in a core and fast-growing geography across the southeastern United States. nexAir continues to operate as a Linde Gas & Equipment region.

American Welding & Gas, Inc. Acquires Industrial Gas Assets of F&M Mafco, Inc.

AWG announced that it is pleased to welcome the team from the industrial gas portion of F&M Mafco, Inc. to American Welding & Gas, Inc.

“Today we are pleased to welcome the teammates and customers of F&M MAFCO’s industrial gas business in Harrison, OH to our AWG team," said AWG President and CEO Jason Kreiger. "Since 1945, F&M has provided an extensive array of products and services to a wide customer base across many states and countries. My thanks to Mr. Tim Fries for his faith in AWG and for the relationships our teams have developed. With this transaction, AWG will work closely with F&M MAFCO to provide gas products and services to this customer base while F&M Mafco continues to provide a wide range of rental and hardgoods offerings through their site services business model. AWG also looks forward to our partnership with F&M MAFCO as their preferred gas supplier in those areas where we do business together through their 'StrikeForce' management program. I look forward to a prosperous future together.”

VS Carbonics, Inc. Announces Acquisition of InCryo Systems

The Cryo Group, LLC was recently formed after the principles of VS Carbonics, Inc., Florida’s largest distributor of liquid nitrogen, acquired the assets of InCryo Systems, Inc creating InCryo LLC, and Cryo Asset Management, LLC. This monumental acquisition makes The Cryo Group, LLC, the first vertically integrated cryogenic solutions provider in the Southeastern United States.

Under The Cryo Group umbrella, InCryo, LLC, (cryogenic system design, fabrication, installation, maintenance, and repair), Cryo Asset Management, LLC, (cryogenic tank and equipment rental and sales), along with VS Carbonics, Inc., (gas distribution) can now provide a one-stop shop for cryogenic solutions.

ECI Software Solutions Acquires ES Tech Group, Expands its B2B eCommerce Solutions Portfolio

ECI Software Solutions announced that it has completed the acquisition of ES Tech Group.

ES Tech Group will continue to serve customers in the gas and welding space while aiming to strengthen its existing partnerships with industry influencers like GAWDA and Computers Unlimited. The eCommerce software provider plans to continue its rapid expansion by bringing gas and welding manufacturers and distributors a world-class B2B eCommerce experience along with connectivity to popular ERPs such as CU TIMS, Epicor, and more.

EspriGas Announces Strategic Alliance with Coca-Cola Consolidated

EspriGas announced its strategic alliance with Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc., the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. As part of this alliance, EspriGas partnered with CocaCola Consolidated to provide carbon dioxide (CO2) at their customer locations. EspriGas was selected due to their 30+ years of experience managing customer accounts through their nationwide network of gas suppliers. EspriGas is known for their reliable service, simple ordering, and dedicated account support.

In late 2021, Coke Consolidated exited the CO2 business. After an extensive pilot program, Coca-Cola Consolidated partnered with EspriGas to ensure its customers continued to have their beverage gas needs met. As part of the transition process, Coca-Cola Consolidated introduced EspriGas to more than 40,000 customer locations across 14 states. The customer base spans various subsegments of the beverage sector – restaurants, convenience and grocery stores, business cafes, dining halls, healthcare facilities, theme parks, hotels, and distributors.

Thunderbird Announces Major Rebranding of its Metal Impact Business

Thunderbird LLC has announced the rebranding of its Metal Impact business units located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, New Albany, Mississippi, and Graham, North Carolina. For more than 60 years Metal Impact has served the needs of global OEMs across diverse markets with impact extrusion contract manufacturing expertise while simultaneously growing into the industry leading compressed gas aluminum cylinder manufacturer. To bring clarity to the unique offerings provided, Metal Impact will now go to market as two distinct brands: Thunderbird Metals for its contract manufacturing business, and Thunderbird Cylinders for its broad line of compressed gas cylinders.

Lincoln Electric Completes Acquisition of Fori Automation, LLC

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has completed its acquisition of Fori Automation, LLC and closed on a $400 million senior secured term loan to partially fund the acquisition.

“We are excited to welcome Fori into Lincoln Electric and expand our leading portfolio of automation solutions and engineering expertise to advance customers’ productivity needs,” stated Christopher L. Mapes, Lincoln’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The transaction brings together two innovative organizations who are guided by similar values and follow a ‘customer-first’ approach.” Mapes continued, “The acquisition increases our annualized automation portfolio revenue to over $850 million as we advance towards our Higher Standard 2025 Strategy $1 billion target and our added scale allows us to better serve customers’ growing automation demands across different end markets.”

Central Welding Supply Opens in Anchorage to Expand Local Retail and Statewide Service to Alaska

Dale Wilton, CEO of Central Welding Supply, announced the opening of a new location at 2345 E 4th Avenue, Anchorage AK. Anchorage represents the third retail and distribution location in Alaska, after the Fairbanks, AK store opened in April 2022, and the Wasilla, AK branch, the first Alaska store for Central Welding Supply opened in February 2017.

Anchorage, AK represents Central Welding Supply’s 27th location in a 3-state territory that includes Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.

Airgas Celebrates Grand Opening of Distribution Center

in Henderson, Nevada

Airgas, an Air Liquide company, formally opened a new, state-of-the-art safety and welding hardgoods Distribution Center in Henderson, Nevada, bringing 55 new jobs to the area. The construction of the building was completed in August of 2022, major systems were in place by mid-September and shipping to customers from the Henderson Distribution Center began in mid-October.

This Airgas location near Las Vegas provides more room for expansion than the Whittier, CA location it replaces and joins five other geographically-optimized hardgoods distribution centers throughout the United States. With over 19,000 items in stock, shipments of safety, PPE and welding hardgoods from the Airgas Distribution Center network can reach 95% of the U.S. population within two days.

SureWerx Acquires Oberon Company

SureWerx announced that it has acquired Oberon Company. Terms were not disclosed.

Oberon is a global leader of critical-use arc flash personal protective equipment. Since 1978, the company has been recognized as a category leader and innovator of highly technical and functional safety products for diverse end markets. Oberon designs and manufactures a wide variety of Arc Flash safety products including suits, face shields, and gloves as well as other technical safety products including gas extraction suits, heat reflective shields and various safety accessories.

Morse Acquires UK Warehouse and Welding Center

The M. K. Morse Company has acquired longtime distribution partner and welding center, PJ Wiseman Ltd., based in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

Effective Jan. 3, 2023, PJ Wiseman became The M. K. Morse Company UK Ltd. Morse is a global manufacturer of industrial and commercial cutting tools and accessories with its headquarters in Canton, Ohio. In addition to Wiseman and the Canton facility, Morse has four other distribution centers worldwide.

A partner of Morse for more than 30 years, PJ Wiseman was founded by Paul Wiseman in 1988 and services customers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the EU. Wiseman, who is preparing for retirement, and his daughter, Gemma Harling, worked with the Morse team on the acquisition. Harling will continue to work with Morse as General/Office Manager after the ownership transition. The acquisition supports Morse’s strategic aspiration to be a recognized global leader in cutting solutions.