When Sylvester and Helen Smith initially took over accounts from AIRCO, and established S.J. Smith, they set up shop in their first of four locations in Davenport, Iowa.

​For more than 75 years, S.J. Smith has been a family-owned company. In 1950, Sylvester and Helen Smith got their start in business by providing gas and welding supplies to smaller customers, when they took over accounts from AIRCO.

In 1969, Sylvester and Helen’s son, Richard, joined the company and Sylvester retired shortly after. Richard led S.J. Smith to expand to its current 12 locations in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. He welcomed his three children into the business in the 1990s and early 2000s, and now all have leadership roles at S.J. Smith. Richelle Smith-Brecht serves as the President and CEO, Eric Smith is the Vice President of Operations, and Christopher Smith is in Purchasing.

Dry ice blasting is non-conductive, non-toxic and non-abrasive, creates no secondary waste and doesn't use water (so can be used in winter) -- making it superior to many other methods of super-powered cleaning.

Dry ice is a highly effective, safe cooling and cleaning tool when used and disposed of properly. Because it's so cold (-109.3°f/-78.5°c) and sublimates versus melting (which means it goes from a solid directly to a gaseous state), there are precautions to take when using it.

Having trouble finding a trusted place to handle your welding equipment repair? S.J. Smith can help. We repair welding, plasma and industrial oxy-acetylene equipment. Our repair staff members are certified for Lincoln Electric, Miller, Hypertherm and OTC Daihen machine warranty work. We can also repair cutting tables.

​From welding to safety training, S.J. Smith has the right program for the unique demands of your industry.

S.J. Smith’s unique Welder Training Program is premised on examining a customers' individual needs and designing a customized training program to meet those needs. S.J. Smith has individuals certified in inspections and welding education (CWI/CWE). The CWI/CWE are qualified to train in the following areas:

Do you wish you knew exactly how many cylinders you had in stock and out on job sites? Or, that you had a regular cylinder report to compare against your own records? S.J. Smith uses a web-based asset tracking system to make sure you know where your cylinders are at all times.

In a lab, there are so many things to monitor. Understanding what you have on hand, the liquid level, pressure and temperature can be a full-time job in itself. Telemetry, or a system of digital sensors designed to track weight, liquid levels, pressure and temperature, can be a lifesaver.

How do you know when you need a mode change in your gas supply? Whether it is from cylinders to liquid cans or cradles, or to micro-bulk or bulk gas, you need to think about a few factors.

Gas leaks in laboratories do much more than just cost money – they can lead to contamination by introducing atmosphere, or impacting gas purity or moisture levels. Even a minuscule leak can cause massive issues. For instance, a gas may be 99.999% pure but a leak can decrease that purity number exponentially, affecting any related work.

Do you have an audit coming up? S.J. Smith can help with that. We can make sure your cylinders are secured correctly, check to see if you are using the correct regulators, and confirm that you’re using the recommended gas storage methods.

​Working in the heat means preparing to prevent heat illness. Always make sure to hydrate before, during and after work – even if you are not thirsty. Consider electrolytes, rather than energy or caffeine liquids. Dress in loose-fitting breathable clothing with natural fibers, and take breaks as you’re able to let your body recover. Even though it’s tempting to remove gloves or hard hats during hotter temperatures, always wear PPE where required.

Nitrogen has all kinds of uses in the food and beverage industry, from removing oxygen in food packaging to keep things like nuts and potato chips crisp, to carbonating beer and soda, and oxidizing wine, to aeration in chocolate production. Handling Nitrogen safely is important to preserving its use, and your health.

The welding process can be potentially dangerous. To perform welding functions safely, welding operators need to be familiar with the seven major areas of welding safety.

Welding procedures are critical to the quality and repeatability of welds in a shop setting. Three documents make up the complete picture of a specific weld and its quality. As a fab or production shop, your reputation is vitally important and your weld quality is a major factor in your reputation.