Valley National Gases chief steps down

WHEELING, W. Va.-The head of Valley National Gases, an industrial gas distributor with a line of fire protection equipment, will step down from his post to pursue other interests, company officials announced in early February. Lawrence Bandi, who has served as president and chief executive officer of Valley National Gases for 28 years, will retire on April 1. The company, along with its packaging and distribution of industrial, medical and specialty gases and welding supplies, distributes portable fire extinguishers, wet chemical and dry powder fire suppression systems as well as industrial fire systems. Kerik to speak at NFPA show QUINCY, Mass.-Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik will deliver the keynote address at the opening general session of the National Fire Protection Association's World Safety Conference and Exposition. Kerik, who was a key member of the team that coordinated rescue efforts following the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, will speak about crisis management and leadership. The conference will be held May 19-23 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis. More than 100 educational seminars will be featured at the event, along with a trade show of fire protection and life safety products. Bank gives AFR $30 million financing SAN DIEGO -Fire protection equipment manufacturer American Fire Retardant announced in February it had secured $30 million in financing with a New York based investment bank. The company, which designs and manufactures fire retardant chemicals and fire resistive applications, will use the additional capital to begin manufacturing an aerosol can version of Fyberix 2000-V, a product applied to fabrics that is a flame-retardant agent.