Pat Garten Wins IWDC’s Top Award

Bob Jackson played an integral part in the formation of the Independent Welding Distributors Cooperative (IWDC).  The honor is bestowed annually on a Member who has “gone above and beyond” in their support of the organization.  The Bob Jackson is considered the preeminent award of the IWDC.  Criteria for the award includes: strong volunteer spirit, supportive of independents, viewed internal and externally as a respected leader, community and family centric.   

Sutton-Garten, a fourth generation company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana is the oldest continuously owned independent gas & welding distributor in North America.  Pat Garten is President of Sutton-Garten and has been leading his company’s growth for over forty years. During his leadership the company installed a multi-gas cylinder filling station, expanded their welder repair and rental department and established a recognized welding training and certification center. Sutton-Garten also diversified into bulk liquid carbon dioxide distribution to beverage and industrial customers and production of dry ice for shipping perishables and dry ice blasting applications.     

The IWDC is a cooperative, formed in 1994, which leverages the strengths of its independent welding distributor members across North America. IWDC’s 135 Member companies collectively represent over $2.2B in sales, serving a wide range of industries. The common denominator is that these industries look to them for industrial, specialty, and medical gases as well as related equipment, hard goods, and consumables. End-use customers served by IWDC Members benefit from having the unparalleled expertise of a local Member distributor who has access to national-scale purchasing and marketing programs.