New Educational Center Opens for Automated Welding and Cutting Solutions

Airgas Great Lakes (Grand Rapids, MI) is marking the grand opening of its newest Automation Center with an educational event designed to help end users increase productivity and lower costs. The center, developed in partnership with Retro Systems, Hypertherm, Motoman, and Miller Electric, reflects Airgas' commitment to bringing automated welding and cutting solutions to its customers.

The new facility adjoins Airgas' 28th Street retail store and is stocked with the latest in automation equipment. That equipment includes a Retro Systems Hornet HD dual-side drive cutting machine equipped with a Hypertherm HyPerformance HPR260XD plasma system and a robotic welding cell with a Motoman Arc World II 100. The new space is designed with demonstrations in mind. It easily accommodates groups of varying sizes, making it useful for anything from one-on-one discussions with production engineers to technology education sessions with student groups.

"We developed this Automation Center based on our belief that the long-term health of American industrial production is going to require increased levels of automation," said David Clubb, an Airgas automation specialist. "The companies that we serve need to work smarter in order to compete in a global economy where low-cost production is the norm. Our goal is to educate our customers about the latest technology and help them increase their productivity and lower their costs.

"It really is about education," says Clubb. "Of course, we wouldn't have made this investment if we didn't think we could use it to help sell equipment. But any sale should start with education by helping the customer understand his options and make a decision that fits his needs."

Educating the market goes beyond simply showing off the latest technology. "In the past, adding automation to a manufacturing process did have a negative connotation. However, today I think we can all agree that our industries must use automation to ensure they are globally competitive," says Al Holst of Retro Systems. Reese Madden of Hypertherm agrees. "If you cannot be competitive in your market, you aren't going to survive. And that's when jobs really disappear. With the right automated equipment, we can help improve companies' cost structures, make them more profitable, and put them in a position to grow-and that means hiring more workers."

The new Airgas Automation Center will be used for educational events with increasing frequency. "This month's event was just the beginning," says Clubb. The center is also open by appointment for customer visits.

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