By pairing a PipePro 304 and an XMT 304 on a skid of his own design, he was now able to use one welder generator to power two superior-quality welding arcs.

The skids were easy to transport, cut in half the number of welder generators needed, and greatly simplified inventory. On one nine-month job, using nine of the combinations, AZCO saved more than $46,000 in inter-company rental costs, not counting the decreased fuel, transportation and maintenance costs. It's easy to see how Mike could justify buying new equipment.

AZCO isn't an isolated case. When Apex Steel, Inc., upgraded its wire feeders to Miller Suitcase X-TREME 12 VS wire feeders, it maintained its competitive edge and experienced a new level of job site reliability.

"Time is a huge factor….On a job like this [erecting a 29-story building in Seattle], the labor costs alone are about $85 to $90 per man, per hour," says Kevin Koester, Apex president. "That's why we need to use reliable equipment like the SuitCase X-TREME. They've been used and abused, as have the Miller Trailblazer gas drives. Both are holding up well."

While these are both large operations, it isn't necessary to have hundreds of welders working to concern yourself with addressing KBIs.