ARC-05P University ended its second session last week.  Three leading companies in the Welding Industry enrolled welders to advance their skillset with the hands-on, intensive training that only the ARC-05P's Operator Certification Course offers.

From left to right:  Jordan Smith (Project Manager/Instructor), Chris Halbrook (FMC), Brent Nichols (C&J Cladding), Steve Daughenbaugh (FMC Technologies/OKC), Steve Gardner (Cameron).

In the closing day, one newly certified ARC-05P Operator shared his experience at ARC Specialties to owner Dan Allford.  Steve Daughenbaugh said, "Let me take off my sunglasses so I can look you in the eye when I say this.  What you have done with welding automation is amazing, and I thank you."

ARC Specialties thanks the recent graduates for their dedication to excellence and for helping make ARC Specialties a leader in automated welding. 

ARC-05P Project Manager Randy Ellington (left) shares best practices with Halbrook (center) and Daughenbaugh (right).

ARC Specialties recently had the pleasure of training an enthusiastic team of European engineers.  The crew received training for weeks at ARC's world headquarters in Houston, TX.  The latest technologies and practices were shared, including clad welding, theory, and programming.  Each engineer returned to Europe with an ARC Clad Welder Certification.  Aside from all things welding, ARC shared their Texan hospitality and even gave them a few lessons in archery!

ARC Specialties sponsored Duchesne Academy and Bellaire High School in the 2008 Best Robotics Competition, which took place last Saturday.  The competition attracted a great turnout, as students, teachers, sponsors, and robot aficionados alike created a happening and loud scene.   

The competition's challenge was to use automated, team-built robots to assemble model planes.  The theme was "Just Plane Crazy", and the atmosphere was apropos.  Sporting bright team t-shirts, rival high schools bounced the decibel meter from one side of the arena to the next chanting "WE'VE GOT SPIRIT YES WE DO, WE GOT SPIRIT HOW 'BOUT YOU?!"  The Wave was evergoing in the bleachers.  DJs scratched hits inbetween matches, and spectators were often seen in full sprint to place a good view to root for their team.

Participating teams proved the ongoing trend that it's hip to be smart, and that a future job in robots is truly about as cool as it gets!

For questions about BEST Robotics and how to get involved, email
BEST Robotics or Dan Allford.

One of the major differences that sets ARC Specialties above the competition is ARC's excellence in manufacturing.  Every machine built by ARC Specialties is a testament to the ARC team's dedication as a world class manufacturing facility.

The first graduating class at ARC-05P University ended this week with overwhelming success.  Participants traveled from out of state and even from out of the country to gain certification.  Companies whose welders were in attendance included Schoeller-Beckman, Academy Petroleum, and National Oilwell Varco. 

All participants who attended successfully completed the course and final welding exam.  Certifications were awarded to the participants in recognition of their new status as Certified ARC-05P Operator. 

“I think we got more in depth with the all the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of the welding process than they have ever gotten into before.  There was one engineer in the group who had a genuine eye-opening realization of how precise the gas tungsten arc process is when applied with the ARC-05P,” said Instructor Jordan Smith.  Participants of the first class concurred.  “This was the most useful and informative certification course that I have ever attended,” said Johnel Smith of Cameron Berwick.

The course has received an extremely good response thus far.  The second session for the course has already filled up, and the third session only has a few more seats remaining.  Individuals wishing to enroll in the course and advance their careers to new heights should immediately contact 713-631-7575 ex. 117. 

From Left to Right:  Dan Allford (President of ARC Specialties), Joe Barker (Western Weld Tech), Mike Henson (Sales, ARC Specialties), Tona Henson, Trey Hoover (Sales, ARC Specialties), Candacy Hoover.

Once a member, always a member
Former Booker T. robotics member Kevin Sevcik now mentor, sponsor

By CARISSA D. LAMKAHOUAN
Chronicle Correspondent

From participation in his high school’s FIRST Robotics team to mentoring students throughout college and having led the current Booker T. Washington High School robotics team to a regional championship, Kevin Sevcik’s commitment to the FIRST Robotics program is unwavering.

Sevcik, project manager for the welding-automation company ARC Specialties, Inc., began his involvement with Booker T. Washington High School’s FIRST Robotics team, the Leopards, during his junior and senior years of high school in the late 1990s. He continued that involvement while attending Texas A&M University and now serves as the team’s mentor and sponsor.

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