September 2013 - The Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA) is recognizing Hypertherm founder and CEO Dick Couch with its Presidential Award of Excellence. The award, presented to only seven other individuals in GAWDA history, recognizes outstanding contributions to the industry.
In bestowing the award this morning at the organization’s annual convention, GAWDA president Craig Wood cited Mr. Couch’s passion and dedication to improving the gas and welding industry, calling it an honor to have worked with Mr. Couch over the course of his career. “The progress we make as an organization is a result of volunteers and members like Mr. Couch who work hard every day to advance our mission.”
“Under his leadership over the last 45 years, the company has become as well known for its progressive associate relations as for its excellent products and service.” Mr. Wood continued. He went on to mention Hypertherm’s 111 patents related to metal cutting technology, noting that Mr. Couch is a named-inventor or co-inventor on 42 of those patents. He also highlighted the numerous awards Hypertherm has received for its dedication to the well-being of its associates, the fostering of new technology, as well as the company’s focus on sustainability and the environment, and of creating a culture of continuous improvement.
Dick Couch founded Hypertherm in 1968 on a patent of water injection cutting, a process that involves radially injecting water into the plasma cutting nozzle. Since that time, and under his leadership, Hypertherm has introduced a number of technological advances that have helped to improve the cut quality, consumable life, reliability, and overall performance of Hypertherm metal cutting systems. Those breakthroughs include the introduction of high definition plasma cutting, long life oxygen cutting, coaxial assisted jet technology, long life consumables, True Hole, True Bevel, and Rapid Part technologies and more.
Nominees for the Presidential Award of Excellence are reviewed by GAWDA’s president, president-elect, and first vice-president. Finalists are then forwarded to representatives from the organization’s executive committee and board of directors who make a final decision.
