LAPLACE — Founder Ricky Chiasson said IWS Gas and Supply was started with a drive to be successful, and he hopes that continues in St. John the Baptist Parish.

Chiasson and managers Mike Mariana, Jeff McKeithen and Chris Savoie, as well as a host of leaders and supporters, recently celebrated the grand opening of IWS Gas and Supply with a ribbon cutting ceremony in LaPlace.

Gas and Supply provides welding supplies, tools, equipment and fire retardant clothing, as well as industrial and safety supplies to a large variety of markets, ranging from the individual back-yard welders to local industries and international organizations.

Parish President Natalie Robottom, State Sen. Gary Smith, State Rep. Greg Miller and Council Member at Large Division A Lucien Gauff joined numerous IWS staff at last week’s local ceremony, which took place at their new location at 133 East Airline Highway in LaPlace.

“St. John is very important to us, and we decided that we needed a store presence here to further accommodate our valued customers,” Mariana said.

The company has serviced mechanical, plumbing, instrumentation, dredging, shipbuilding, fabricating, chemical, government and construction entities for more than 30 years. As the largest independent welding supply distributor in the region, employees pride themselves on delivering prompt reliable service with a high fill rate on all orders. The store also carries a wide variety of brand names from hundreds of suppliers.

In addition, delivery, financial, rental, repair, safety and training services are available. Customers also have the ability to special order a product if it is not found in inventory.

IWS Gas & Supply is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 133 East Airline Highway in LaPlace. Call 985-652-7225 or visit gasandsupply.com.