Welder’s work symbolizes the important role of employees

December 2012 – In October, Camfil Farr APC unveiled the “Remembering Tree” at its Jonesboro, Ark. plant to celebrate its employees and the company’s global expansion. Kelly Stevens, a Gold Series production welder at the plant, used 14 and 16 gauge mild steel to fabricate the 30-ft.-tall structure. 

Stevens cut 3/8-in.-thick stainless steel into strips using a shear, then welded the pieces to an 8,000 psi, 1/2-in. wall, 22-in. diameter gas pipe. She used an OTC DP400 welding machine and a hammer, joking, “I used a lot of elbow grease.” After fabricating the tree inside Camfil Farr’s plant, Stevens finished welding on-site. 

She says, “I had to start welding things like the limbs to it. Some were removable so we could get it out the door.” Once the tree was installed on the lawn, Stevens used a Millermatic 140 Auto-Set to weld the limbs and other removable structures back onto the trunk.

Stevens says the globe was the most challenging part of the project. “It was really hard to get the continents on it and to get them rounded somewhat. The tree was a breeze, but the globe was pretty challenging.” The company’s logo on the globe is made of 3/8-in.-thick stainless steel.

Tree leaves were cut with an Amada laser then welded with the names of company workers, friends and family using the Millermatic 140. Stevens says, “One of my favorite things about the tree is there are names of people from the plant—some of their kids, babies that were born while I was building it, some people who had passed away during that time.”

After word got out, more people wanted their names to be part of Camfil Farr’s company history. “Other people who had loved ones who had died or just the names of their own children, they’d come and ask me to put their names on it too,” Stevens says. “So this thing is just full of leaves welded with people’s names on it, and those people really like that.” 

Company president Lee Morgan says, “This piece of art represents the rebirth of the air pollution control business of Camfil Farr and stands as a testament to our sustainability mission and future growth around the world.”

Stevens continues to weld names on leaves, acting like a company historian. She says, “I already have a few more names of people that want to be put in it or have loved ones that they want put in it. So that’s just great, I love getting to do that.” FFJ

Know a great custom fabricator? Tell us. Email Gretchen at gsalois@ffjournal.net.