Select-Arc Inc. (www.select-arc.com) completed a 2,000 sq ft. addition to its administrative and laboratory testing facilities at its Fort Loramie, Ohio, headquarters, and began construction of a 30,000 sq. ft. addition to its production area. Completion is expected by end-2006.

Verhoff Machine and Welding Inc. (www.verhoffmachine.com) of Continental, Ohio, acquired two sections of the former LG Philips Displays Components factory in Ottawa, Ohio, for use as a light manufacturing and assembling plant, reports Lima News. Verhoff said it will renovate the facility to suit its customers' needs.

Noble International Ltd. (www.nobleintl.com) will work with General Motors (www.gm.com) to design structural systems that improve vehicle performance, safety and manufacturability and reduce cost and weight. Noble produces the laser-welded flat blanks and tubular structures used to manufacture vehicles.

Business Standard in India reported that the government's failure to control rising prices and ensure an uninterrupted supply of raw materials has put the welding electrodes industry in the state of Punjab in further jeopardy. The price of the steel wire rod used in welding electrodes has risen from Rs25,000 ($534.93) per tonne (1 tonne = 2,240 lbs.) in March to Rs29,000 ($620.42) per tonne in July. In addition, the cost of materials such as rutile, ferromanganese and mineral powers have risen by 15 percent to 25 percent. Adding to the problem is the flow of materials. For example, Indian Rare Earths Ltd. is the only source of rutile in the country. Punjab has more than 24 welding electrode manufacturers, earning a total turnover of around Rs50 crore ($10.7 million) annually.

Tregaskiss Welding Products (www.tregaskiss.com), Windsor, Ont., and Browne Distribution International LLC (www.bdiltd.com) have jointly formed Tregaskiss International to support and grow the Tregaskiss welding products outside of North America. Tregaskiss and Browne have worked together for more than 14 years. Jan Browne, chief executive of Browne, views the joint venture as cementing the company's relationship and a means for leveraging each company's strengths.

Weiler Corp. (www.weilercorp.com), a manufacturer of power brushes for welding and metal fabrication, will expand its headquarters in Cresco, Penna., with a 25,000 sq. ft. addition to its offices and a 16,000 sq. ft. addition to its existing 55,000 sq. ft. distribution center.

Kuka Robotics Corp. (www.kukarobotics.com) will open a showroom testing and validation facility for robotic concepts at the Scott Technology Transfer & Incubation Center in Omaha, Neb. The center is an outgrowth of The Peter Kiewit Institute and provides facilities and infrastructure for large and small organizations directly partnered with The Peter Kiewit Institute. Kuka also announced it donated $1.5 million to the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. The gift endows the Kuka Chair of Robotics to be held by Henrik Christensen, a robotics expert. Kuka also donated a KR 15SL stainless steel robot.

Thermadyne Industries Inc. (www.thermadyne.com) announced that its TurboTorch unit is now a recertification provider for North American Technician Excellence Inc., an independent certification organization for technicians in the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration industry. Participants in TurboTorch's Safety, Product and Application course earn three hours of continuing education towards NATE recertification requirements. TurboTorch provides air fuel brazing and soldering products.

The Wyoming County (New York) Chamber of Commerce named Koike Aronson/Ransome Inc. (www.koike.com) Outstanding Manufacturer of the Year, citing the company's record sales and profits. The company is adding 20,000 sq. ft. to its manufacturing plant in the county.

Hobart Brothers Co. (www.hobartbrothers.com) opened a new training center at its plant in Troy, Ohio. The center provides training to distributors, end-users and employees on application and use of Hobart's filler metals and a three-day course that covers GMAW (MIG), GTAW (TIG) and SMAW (Stick) welding.

Metal thefts on the rise. The Tribune-Review in Greensburg, Penna., reports that thieves stole about 400 ft. of heavy-gauge welding wire and another 400 ft. of light-gauge cord, including extension cords, from a developer in Mercer County. Some of the wire was attached to welding equipment when stolen. The items were valued at approximately $1,000. A month earlier, three men were charged with stealing 800 lbs. of wire from a communications company. Media sources from Hawaii to Maine report the theft of copper is on the rise as prices for the non-precious metal continue to increase.