Category: Company News

Offering unparalleled milling flexibility and improved powder processing efficiency, The Fitzpatrick Company and Quadro Engineering Corp. recently developedthe SDx Series™ – Smart Drive Exchangeable Platform, the world’s first production-scale milling and screening platform offering three distinct powder processing solutions on a single, common drive.

 

Launched earlier this year, the IDEX MPT team previously received an increase in URSs (Customer User Specifications), demonstrating a need for powder processing solutions that offered the ability to interchange heads utilizing the same drive unit.

 

With the added benefit of reduced capital investment and cost of ownership by up to 75%, the new platform is designed to simplify IDEX’s core portfolio, and affords operators the ability to quickly and easily interchange the three heads to fulfill specific processing requirements, improve production efficiencies and reduce bottlenecks.

 

Formulators, Scientists, Researchers & Developers, and Technical Transfer Specialists can opt for a single platform and select the most appropriate powder processing technology to suit the application, thereby affording total flexibility and reducing overall space requirements. They include Fitzpatrick’s FitzMill^™, Quadro’s Comil^®, and FlexSift Security Screening technologies.

 

Like the SLS-Scalable Lab System^™, the SDx Series^™ utilizes SMART-detect^™, a unique equipment feature that automatically recognizes the head being installed and adjusts RPM to the appropriate level for optimum material processing, thereby reducing the potential for Operator error.

 

Wilf Sanguesa, Product Manager, Pharma Processing at Quadro Engineering / The Fitzpatrick Company, commented: “Quadro and Fitzpatrick have pioneered the flexibility of interchangeable milling heads in their respective fields. Since 2002, Fitzpatrick’s L1A lab model has afforded users the flexibility to interchange FitzMill and conical mill heads; and Quadro introduced the ComilSift in 2009, the first production-scale, single platform, dual-head interchangeable system for milling and/or security screening. With this heritage and our technical focus on delivering scalable and predictable material processing/milling results, we believe the new platform offers a standout, disruptive solution to the market.”

 

The Fitzpatrick Company and Quadro Engineering Corp. are Units of IDEX Material Processing Technologies and have been trusted partners of the majority of the world’s top pharmaceutical, chemical and food ingredient processing customers.

 

 

As part of their activities during Wellbeing Week, Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE) worked with the Canal & River Trust last week, to clean a stretch of the historic Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

Two teams of PPE employees volunteered for three-hour shifts to cut hedges, remove graffiti, and pick up litter to make the canal towpath more presentable and navigable for users.

To view a video, click here

In addition to volunteering in the local community, Precision Polymer Engineering participated in yoga sessions, mental health seminars and a bake sale fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer Support during Wellbeing Week.

 

 

When a fire broke out at a local mini-storage facility, College Station (Texas) Fire Department Chief, Jonathan McMahan knew to grab the HURST Jaws of Life® StrongArm tool.

It wasn’t just training and innate reaction that led him to that tool choice. It was also experience. Fire had hit that same storage facility a few months before, and the response team used the StrongArm tool to cut the locks off 30 doors in less than five minutes.

The HURST team recently talked with Chief McMahan about the importance of getting the doors open so quickly and why he chose StrongArm.

Q: Tell us about the first time you were called to a fire at the mini-storage unit last fall.

A: When we arrived, we saw there were a couple of units on fire on each side of the drive, so we knew we needed to quickly cover a scene that was spread out. The ladder company got there, and the ladder captain and I immediately began forcing entry on the units using the StrongArm. There were 15 units per side, 30 total, and we had all the locks cut off the whole building in less than five minutes.

 

Q: You received a similar call this spring. Why was the second call different?

A: When we got on scene, we could see fire coming from the storage units. The fire was more advanced, and we had reports that people could be inside some of the storage units. Based on experience with a similar fire at the same facility, we got the StrongArm and went to work because it had proved itself. I had all the locks off in less than five minutes, giving the engine companies access to put the fire out while freeing up the ladder company to do ventilation.

 

Q: You said there could have been people inside the storage units?

A: Yes. We had credible information that people were working in some of the units. The battalion chief yelled, “There could be people inside of these! Get the doors open.” I immediately knew which tool to get.

 

Q: Why did you choose StrongArm as your door breaching tool?

A: Ordinarily, we would have used a K Saw, which is an abrasive, metal-cutting saw. It would have taken a lot longer to get through these locks on these storage units. Not only that, but there’s no way to cut the lock off without damaging the doors; the saw is heavy, and you’d bump into the door latching mechanisms.

For me, this was a no-brainer. StrongArm was the tool for it because of the power versus weight ratio and the minimal chance of destroying the door latching mechanisms. The removable tips of the StrongArm let us easily get just the lock, so the owner could shut the door, put a new lock on it and it’s fixed.

 

Q: So StrongArm helped protect the property?

A: StrongArm helped us live our mantra that night: Life safety, incident stabilization and property conservation.

 

Q: Do you have any advice for other first responders considering StrongArm and HURST Jaws of Life?

A: We’ve had StrongArm tools for a year, maybe a year and a half, and we’ve used it for forcible entry into buildings and even popped a car door in a minor incident. But I’d tell them to judge for yourself. Get a sales rep to get StrongArm and eDRAULIC® tools out there and put them to the test. I’m not buying based on specifications; specs are outputs and are easily manipulated. I’m buying based on outcomes, and the outcome in these two incidents speaks for itself: StrongArm took care of business quickly and easily and with the least amount of property destruction.

 

 

 

SAMPI, which produces positive displacement flow-meters and terminal automation systems, collaborated with it’s Fluid & Metering Technologies (FMT) group sister company Liquid Controls to create a new flow computer for petroleum and chemical liquids.

Joining Liquid Controls’ LCR.iQ® and MASTERLOAD.iQ™ products on the CENTRILOGiQ® platform, the TEX flow computer is easy to setup, simple and smooth to operate, and is widely compatible with all fleet management solutions.

While sharing similar design elements as its LC counterparts (display, keypad, multi-language, wireless capability, and more), the TEX also boasts unique hardware and software features designed specifically to meet refined fuels and LPG regulatory requirements throughout Europe, and other regions of the world.

Given vastly different market requirements in the two regions of the world, the teams worked closely together to design their respective new registers with common disciplinary elements and unique features required to properly serve their respective markets.

Introduced at the World LPG Forum in Amsterdam last month, TEX is being manufactured by SAMPI in Italy and will ultimately replace the Sampi TE550 / Truck III electronic register in their markets.

SAMPI and Liquid Controls continue to work together as they develop complimentary products and services across the platform to provide IDEX a competitive advantage.

 

New machine learning technology from ADS Environmental Services (ADS) is making it easier to anticipate sewer overflows and blockages before they happen, protecting property and the environment.

ADS, which provides integrated hardware, software, and Data as a Service (DaaS) solutions, unveiled its newest installment of the PRISM software platform at the WEFTEC (Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference) tradeshow in Chicago, Illinois last week.

PRISM (PRoactive Insight for System Management) is a cloud-based web application that allows end users to view a map of flow rates, water levels, and rainfall monitors throughout a wastewater collection system. The software enables municipal engineers, managers, and operations users to transform data into actionable insights through an easy and transformative user interface.

Unlike competitor products, the PRISM platform empowers customers to “See what you normally cannot see, to prevent what you normally cannot anticipate.”

Unique to ADS Environmental Services, PRISM includes the addition of the blockage PREDICT™ machine learning application.

Blockage PREDICT™ provides a new early warning system for potential overflow-causing blockages in the collection system, with up to a 2-week advance warning before serious problems arise! With additional “learning” and enhancements, these algorithms soon will have the potential to identify the actual causes of the potential problems and allow our customers to respond quickly and correctly without having to guess what the problem may be.

PRISM also includes the SLiiCER™ application, giving users the ability to quickly evaluate their full collection system response to storm events. Users can quickly evaluate their entire network for the negative impacts of rainwater infiltration and inflow into their systems due to any type of rain event, and then plan their reactive response to these events to better focus their operational and capital spending.

Expanding upon the first software installment, which was launched in late 2018, this latest installment of PRISM features significant improvements to support management, engineering, and operational decisions in their wastewater collection systems.

To learn more about the PRISM 2.0 software, click here

 

IDEX’s commitment to women in leadership most recently included a three-day intensive program on Gender Balanced Leadership at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM). Twenty-three women from IDEX businesses across Europe participated earlier this month.

Part of our ongoing Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) strategy, the program supports the IDEX commitment to reach gender equity in leadership roles by 2030. The participants spanned a variety of disciplines, including Finance, HR, Engineering, Operations and Sales & Marketing.

Participants emerged energized by what they learned in the sessions and how they could return to their everyday roles more effective than ever.

“‘What you see is what you get,” said Isabel Belderbos, Finance Director, Fast and Fluid Management “If society doesn’t see women in certain roles, we won’t see them in the future.  Yet the more we find women in various positions, the more we will see them in the future. It’s about changing the norm.”

The topic that resulted in the liveliest discussion was Using Emotions Effectively in the Workplace. Many participants recognized some differences between how men and women leverage emotions, which can lead to misinterpretation of actions and incorrect assumptions.

Other topics covered in the program included Self-Awareness, Understanding Gender-Balanced Leadership, Communicating with Impact, Unconscious Bias, and Navigating the Political Playing Field.

HST Group VP of HR Eric Streets, who is based in the Netherlands, introduced IDEX to this program as he witnessed the transformational impact it had on the attendees and work culture of his former employer.

Several participants are also members of our “In-Balance” inclusion network in Europe, a regional network designed to look at inclusion efforts across the region. We hope all members of the RSM cohort join the network and have an even bigger impact in the region.

Attracting, retaining, and developing the efforts of women at IDEX is something we want and need everyone at IDEX to be thinking about, including our male leaders, who currently make most of the hiring, development, and promotion decisions internally. It is difficult for some in positions of power to understand that this isn’t a special effort offered to women and excluding men, but an effort to extend a hand to a group that may have been previously overlooked.

IDEX VP of I&D Christal Morris opened the IDEX program, saying “The program wasn’t designed to “fix” you. You are not broken. There isn’t anything wrong with any of you. IDEX has chosen to make an investment in you.”

“Women at IDEX can and should look forward to playing a more active role in the promotion of equality in the workplace,” said Clare McNelis, Production Manager, Viking Pumps]. “With the support of the leadership team, clearly evidenced by the investment made in the cohort of intelligent, capable SUPER women I had the pleasure of spending time with last week, I believe this is not just possible, it is inevitable.”

MPT Marketing Director Kathryn Perry said, “I see that if we don’t include women at the table we are missing out on so much talent, energy and creativity within our organisation. We need to support our women to focus on the right things so that they can lead the change of the future.”

The sessions were held at the Erasmus Centre for Women and Organisations (ECWO) at the Rotterdam School of Management, Netherlands.  The Centre’s mission is to make a meaningful contribution to management education, the gender debate, and to further gender-based equality throughout the workplace. The global challenges facing society require that everyone who has the necessary talent and aspiration are equally able to reach the highest levels of organizations and contribute to the maximum of their ability.

Countless studies show that inclusive and diverse organizations are more successful than those that are not.

Akron Brass, which manufactures fire nozzles, valves and monitors and Banjo, an agriculturally-focused unit of IDEX Fluid & Metering Technologies (FMT), recently collaborated to create a new portable flow meter for the firefighting industry.

Launched in August, The AkroFlow Portable Flow Meter is designed to measure water flow when demonstrating and servicing handline nozzles and portable monitors, making it the most accurate flow meter in the firefighting market.

The flow meter is used by customers to test handline nozzles and portable monitors, making sure they flow at the rate at the products’ specifications (rated flow(s) and pressure) and what’s required by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.

Developed in just five months, the Great Teams at Banjo & Akron Brass created the Akroflow meter.

“Our collaboration with Banjo in developing the AkroFlow portable flow meter has been excellent,” said Andrea Russell, Global Product Line Manager at Akron Brass. “The fact that we were able to utilize technology from another IDEX business unit helped make the product not only technically superior and allowed us to go to market very quickly.”

The flow meter solves the problem of understanding exactly what flow the firefighter has coming out of their handline nozzles and portable monitors. If the fire department doesn’t understand this, they could be flowing more or less water than they expect, and this could lead to unfavorable consequences.

Focusing intensely on the Customer, the compact, battery-powered unit weighs five pounds (2.3 kg), is just under 12 inches (30.5 cm) long and does not require calibrating or charging, offering several advantages over competitors’ products.

To learn more about the Akroflow meter, click here

Claudia Hombach, a Technical Product Design Manager at Richter, defended her World Champion title in the javelin throw at the 2019 Summer World Transplant Games in Newcastle, England last month.

After an unfortunate start on her first attempt in the track and field event, Claudia steadily improved with every throw, claiming the title in her last attempt.

With a final distance of 21.67m (71.1 feet), she moved the Italian and Iraqi rivals to second and third place and won the gold medal for the 2^nd year in a row.

Claudia also participated as a substitute in the darts competition, winning the bronze medal with her German teammates after an exhausting 11-hour competition.

She had only one day of rest after darts before competing in her favorite discipline, the javelin throw.

In 1999, Claudia was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a chronic liver disease that slowly damages the bile ducts. In 2013, she received a partial liver donation from her twin sister, saving her life.

“Before the operation took place, my sister and I set the goal to take part at an athletic competition a year after the donation,” Claudia said. “This goal helped me to come back to life. Still setting new athletic goals year after year give me the power and strength to manage my life, while also meeting others with similar experiences”

Around 2,400 participants from 60 nations registered for the one-week event from August 17^th – 23^rd. The world championship titles were awarded in 14 different sport categories including Track & Field events, Cycling, Road Races, Swimming, Golf, Tennis, Table-tennis, Badminton, Squash, Volleyball, Bowling and more. Participants ranged in age from 4 to 80 years old.

All participants share a common experience. They all got the chance for a second life by a heart, liver, kidney, lung, pancreas, stem cell or small intestine transplant. Sport gives them the power and self-confidence to master their everyday life with the new organ.

Claudia is eager to defend her title again at the 2021 World Championships in Houston, Texas.

 

 

IDEX Labor and Employment Counsel Veronica Couzo takes pride in her Hispanic heritage and the sacrifices her family made to create a new life in America. She’s worked with IDEX for a year-and-a-half, and advises business partners on legal risks in employee related matters.

She recently had the opportunity to share her gratitude by teaching 45 summer Legal Institute Scholars about labor and employment law as well as her duties as an IDEX in-house attorney. Hosted by Just the Beginning (JTB) – A Pipeline Organization, the group is dedicated to developing and nurturing interest in the law among young people from various socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds who are largely underrepresented in the legal profession.

With Hispanic Heritage Month running September 15 through October 15, 2019, we asked Veronica a couple of questions about her experience as a Hispanic woman.

 

Q: Who is your Favorite Latino/a Icon?

A: Although there are so many Latino/a icons that I love (Justice Sotomayor, Jose Marti, and Lin-Manuel Miranda to name a few), following my recent visit to Mexico City and the Frida Kahlo museum –Frida Kahlo is currently my favorite Latina icon. Her tenacity was inspiring. Despite suffering from polio at the age of 8 and breaking her spinal column in a tragic accident at 18, she embraced life to the fullest. In the face of great adversity, she painted and photographed her family, her heritage, and her experiences, which led her to become a globally renowned artist. To this day, she is still the most famous Latina artist in the world.  Additionally, she bucked the trends by wearing clothes representative of her heritage, including full skirts, embroidered blouses and regal coiffure. In doing so, she became a fashion icon, and numerous designers, including Jean Paul Gautier, designed dresses inspired by her style. Lastly, born to a Mexican mother and German father, she straddled two distinct cultures, a feeling to which I can relate since my father is Cuban and my mother is Polish.

 

 

Q: What does Hispanic Heritage mean to you?

A: Honoring Hispanic heritage means remembering those who paved the way. In my case, it means paying tribute to my grandfather. My grandfather left Cuba in the early 1960s, after he had been imprisoned by the Castro regime, along with many others, for being a member of the press. Although he didn’t speak English and had a successful career in Cuba, he came to the United States and worked as a high school janitor.

He sacrificed his career and left the country he loved in order to provide his family with better opportunities, and for that I will be forever grateful. Hispanic Heritage month also means celebrating our colorful culture filled with delicious food, salsa, merengue, and larger than life personalities.

On Monday, September 10, 2001, Akron Brass employees celebrated the Grand Opening of their new facility in Wooster, Ohio. Cutting a ribbon to signify a new beginning, team members were eager to begin working in the facility, not knowing that the next day would be one of the most important in American history.

It was a calm, clear morning the following day when tragedy struck the United States of America.

Akron Brass, which manufactures firefighting nozzles, valves, monitors and vehicle electronics, had worked alongside the New York Fire Department (FDNY) for years. The FDNY placed a fateful call to Akron Brass for equipment on September13, 2001, as rescue workers were only beginning the long task of uncovering what had buried at what was being dubbed “Ground Zero.”

With fire engines buried under the fallen World Trade Center towers, the FDNY needed several valves, foam products, decontamination tents and more. Heeding the call, Akron Brass employees quickly banded together and focused intensely on the needs of the FDNY.

“It felt like we had all been sucker punched (by the attacks). But being able to make products for those at Ground Zero, gave us an outlet (to fight back),” said Al Schmale, Customer Repair Specialist.

Any order of 200 units requested in a short period of time can be a challenge, but product for FDNY is much more complicated due to the special requirements of the department.

Despite difficulties, the Great Teams at Akron Brass worked alongside other businesses to get the supplies they needed and worked extra hours to see the emergency project through.

“The day after (the event), was amazing,” said Bill Cottrill, Machine Operator at Akron Brass.

“It was incredible to see how many people pulled together to complete the common goal,” said Jeff Rose, Maintenance Technician at Akron Brass.

 

From team members working extra shifts and taking naps in their vehicles, to team members traveling to other businesses for aluminum slugs and spare parts, the Manufacturing, Assembly, Logistics & Operations teams were Obsessed with getting their products into the hands of first responders working at Ground Zero

 

After a day of tireless effort and focus on the customer, all the Akron Brass equipment was quickly approved by the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) – which had otherwise closed American airspace –and transported the shipment to a local airport in Ohio.

Surrounded by fighter jets as the only plane in the sky, the private jet full of Akron Brass products headed east with its patriotic cargo.

In the week following the tragic event, David Gindlesperger, Senior District Sales Manager of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia, and Bill Ballantyne, Senior OEM Account Manager, visited every attack site, further indicating how important it was to help firefighters on the ground.