IDEX Energy Volunteers Assign Students Their First Engineering Task

Company News
June 25, 2024

With the help of the IDEX Energy group, students in elementary through high school learned to build their own miniature battery-powered vehicles. 

Thanks to a group of leaders from Advanced Flow Services (AFS), Energy Asia, FlowMD, Marketing & Engineering India, Toptech Systems, and Sampi, students at the Oviedo Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida (BGCCF) were introduced to engineering in a fun and engaging way.

Everyone was divided into six groups and IDEX leaders in each of those groups guided students through the assembly of their wooden building kit using the written and graphic instructions. After some trial and error, the students were able to enjoy their vehicles. Some even asked their parents to stay longer to continue the fun. Following the activity, IDEX volunteers served the students dinner and got to learn more about their interests.

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In 2021, Toptech Systems, with the help of the IDEX Foundation, participated in opening the Oviedo Boys & Girls Club with the donation and installation of all their computers and TVs. Since then, Toptech has participated in projects like building a raised garden and revamping their teen area.

New Community Garden has PPE Employees Buzzing with Excitement

Company News
June 24, 2024

The Community Champions team at Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE) has been hard at work building beehives and planting flowers and vegetables as part of their Community Garden project for 2024.

The beehive installation involved the construction of two hives and the re-location of a bee colony to a new home at their manufacturing facility in Blackburn, England. The wider community garden project required building three raised beds, planting nectar-rich cottage garden flowers and native wildflowers, to ensure their new residents have plenty to keep them occupied! 

There is also the prospect of delicious PPE honey later on in the year, the sale of which will be rolled into supporting their ongoing relationship with Blackburn Foodbank.

“It’s been a fascinating project to be involved with,” said Donna, Marketing Communications Manager and member of the Community Champions team. “I’m pretty sure none of us had any prior experience going into this challenge, but having the opportunity to learn about beekeeping and get stuck into the build process has been fantastic. We can’t wait until our new friends are settled in their new homes, and hope they’re buzzing with excitement at the habitat we’ve all helped to create!”

The creation of this Community Garden is part of a wider initiative across all IDEX Corporation businesses to enrich our local working environments and do what we can to support and improve our local ecosystems. IDEX Health & Science in Rochester, New York, first planted their community garden in 2021 and they are now entering their fourth growing season, with employee volunteers sharing the harvest with their colleagues.

Earlier this year, employees at PPE in Blackburn spent a sunny day vegetable planting and expanding their communal space. So far, they’ve planted peas, potatoes, strawberries, onions, beetroot, radishes and tomatoes. They’ve also added picnic benches and a compost bin on-site. They are now working on adding organic nourishment to their soil. (They are currently in the market for alpaca poop.)

This endeavor comes following the installation of solar panels across the entirety of the facility, cutting PPE’s carbon footprint significantly. Keep a look out on PPE’s LinkedIn page for the latest from all of their Community Champions projects. We hope you feel inspired to initiate your own community garden at your location business.

PPE is part of IDEX Sealing Solutions, which engineers and manufactures seals for some of the world’s most demanding and critical applications. They are one of a handful of IDEX businesses who have created a community garden.

SFC KOENIG China Designs and Launches Pull Expander Production

Company News
June 24, 2024

After three years of determination and innovation, SFC KOENIG China celebrated the launch of their Local Pull Expander Assembly Line in April.

The long-term project demanded testing over 30 different local supplier parts and equipment for quality assurance, producing ten different versions of the assembly line layout. Now, SFC KOENIG China has locally produced a high-quality sealing solution that enhances service and agility for a dynamic Chinese market.

Previously, SFC China had no production line for pull type expanders. They were only produced in United States and Switzerland. By producing the majority of product in their same region, SFC reduces reliance on any single production site while improving the ability to react rapidly to regional volume fluctuations. This strategy also offers an additional layer of risk mitigation from supply interruptions caused by natural disasters or other unforeseen occurrences.

SFC KOENIG & BAND-IT President Anton delivered an opening speech at the facility in Xiang Cheng District, Suzhou, China to mark this exciting moment for all employees. Project leader Juha introduced the new assembly line in detail and led tours for all attendees.

Despite facing various obstacles, such as COVID-19 restrictions, market fluctuations and global logistics interruptions, the production team never gave up and insisted on finding solutions with guidance from leadership.

Today, SFC KOENIG China uses their new assembly line for all production and quality processes. They’ve also passed the first official customer audit with high score and received their first official customer order as well.

Pull type expanders are used in a wide range of industries applications and markets, including fluid power and hydraulic segments, automotive, commercial vehicle and off-road applications.

SFC KOENIG produces engineered, high-performance metal-to-metal sealing and flow control solutions for applications with high quality and performance standards. Their expanders, flow restrictors, check values and other products are used in automotive, aerospace, medical and other applications. 

IDEX Fire & Safety Documents Eye-Opening Technology Demonstration

Company News
June 24, 2024

At IDEX, we’re not just about creating trusted solutions that improve lives. We’re about igniting progress that resonates within our communities, safeguarding the heroes who protect us.

This goal was brought to life last month at FDIC International, one of the largest gatherings for firefighting professionals, held each spring in Indianapolis. There, IDEX Fire & Safety didn’t just participate, we led the charge in Fire and Safety innovation.

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On spotlight this year was our SAM™ Integrated Total Water Control System. SAM is an automated flow control system that manages the truck’s pump, tank, intakes and discharges.  With its touch screen display and speed of use, this technology has been setting new benchmarks in firefighting for over half a decade.

At our outside booth, we kicked things off with a live face-off. It was old vs. new – a traditional mechanical truck pitted against one armed with the newer SAM system. It was here that attendees had an eye-opening glimpse into how technology could change their pumping operations.

The crowd was all buzz at the SAM Challenge, and our very own Gurmeet Kharbanda from Corporate IT – Digital Transformation & IoT Enablement (with no firefighting experience) decided to step up to the challenge.

Despite Gurmeet being a newcomer to fire trucks, his attempt operating the old mechanical truck was impressive. But, when he switched to the SAM system, it was like witnessing a revolution in real-time. He began flowing water at 1 minute and 28 seconds—compared to 3 minutes and 25 seconds on the mechanical.

Gurmeet’s trial with the SAM wasn’t just faster. It was a stark revelation. It underscored our promise of efficiency demonstrating how intuitive and impactful our solutions can be, especially when every second counts.

Seeing Gurmeet, with no prior experience in commanding fire trucks, take to the SAM system with such ease was a testament to its user-friendly design. It was so powerful, in fact, that it had Gurmeet joking about a switch in careers!

While the SAM system caught most of the limelight, it wasn’t the lone hero of the show. Every initiative showcased our unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries with tech that’s not just advanced, but also approachable and profoundly effective. The challenge wasn’t just about beating the clock, it was a tribute to our continuous innovations, integrated solutions, and simple design.

IDEX Fire & Safety’s trusted brands in North America include Akron Brass, Hale, and HURST Jaws of Life, all of which serve first responders with equipment for the rescue scene.

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