Astaras names international sales manager

Largo, Fla.-based Astaras Inc., a supplier of private label MIG guns and consumables, TIG torches and consumables, gouging torches, and tungsten electrodes for the welding industry, has hired Sam Thompson as international sales manager.

Before a brief retirement, he worked more than a decade at Southern Welding Systems Intl., where he served as president. Before that, he spent more than 20 years with Airgas, most recently as president of Airgas West.