With acting credits that range from Toy Story to Gandhi to Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, John Ratzenberger is an extremely versatile actor.  What you may not know: he’s also a passionate supporter of the manufacturing industry.  In conjunction with the FMA (Fabricators and Manufacturers Association), Ratzenberger has founded the Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation (NBTF) whose goal will be to reach out and inspire young people to pursue careers in the manufacturing sector.

John Ratzenberger’s Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation to Join Forces with Fabricators & Manufacturers Association to Reach America’s Future ‘Tinkerers’  

Foundations Encourage America’s Youth to Enter Careers in Manufacturing.  

Rockford, IL (PRWEB) February 23, 2009 -– A new entity dedicated to inspiring America’s youth to consider careers in manufacturing and respond to a growing need in this country has been created through the partnership of two leading foundations.

Founded by actor, director and producer John Ratzenberger, the Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation (NBTF) is joining forces with the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA) Foundation to create one charitable organization called Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs, The Foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (NBT). The foundation will be based in Rockford, Ill., the headquarters for FMA.

The dynamic initiative allows NBT to broaden operations and increase charitable activities that include providing grants to educational institutions offering manufacturing camps and awarding scholarships to students pursuing manufacturing careers.

Former FMA Foundation executives Gerald Shankel and Terrence Egan will direct the new organization, serving as president and director, respectively, and John Ratzenberger will continue to serve on the governing board and lead the Foundation’s national public policy and media campaigns.

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Check out the new PipeWorx™ Welding System or a Dynasty 200® AC/DC TIG/Stick inverter– now available in a complete water-cooled TIG Runner package.

And if you want to upgrade from Miller’s basic package, consider adding a WP-18 TIG torch for high-amperage, continuous duty welding applications, or WP-24W, Low-Profile, Front Loading TIG Torch For Tight Jobs. And be sure to make it an Arc-Zone.com PRO Torch complete with all the accessories, including gas lens and a pack of Arc-Time(TM) Hybrid Tungsten Electrodes– the only tungsten you’ll need, it’s good for all metals, all welding applications.

Miller to Introduce New Pipe Welding System, Improved TIG Welder and More at WESTEC 2009

• Visit Miller at Booth #4013
• On display: PipeWorx™ Welding System, designed to streamline pipe fabrication.
• Also on display: Miller’s Dynasty 200® AC/DC TIG/Stick inverter now available in a complete water-cooled TIGRunner package.

APPLETON, Wis., February 2009—Miller Electric Mfg. Co. will be presenting several new welding and plasma cutting solutions in booth #4013 at the WESTEC 2009 Exposition taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, March 30 through April 2. Products on display include the new PipeWorx™ Welding System, a multi-process welding system designed for pipe fabrication shops, and the Dynasty 200 AC/DC TIG/Stick welder, which is now available in a complete water-cooled package for increased operator comfort and ordering convenience. New Spectrum® portable plasma cutting units and Millermatic® all-in-one MIG welders will also debut at this year’s show.

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How many of you watched last night’s Celebrity Apprentice– featuring the metal fab industry’s own Jesse James as a strong contender?

You can bet that none of the tasks will involve welding (too much to learn for a short week long business challenge). But if you want to voice your opinion on how well Jesse will do over all (we think he can go all the way), then take the poll at here at JoeWelder.com and tell us what YOU think. AND if you leave a comment, you’ll be registered to win one of the hot Arc-Zone.com Roxy Posters (or a sleek One Torch No Limits Poster) from Arc-Zone.com