Category: Company News

The stadium where the National Football League’s Super Bowl is being played on Sunday is protected by a specialized fire suppression system that includes nozzles manufactured by an IDEX company.

Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta features a remote-controlled fire suppression system for the playing surface, which allows a command center employee to use a joystick control to focus massive streams of water on a fire. Known for their firefighting nozzles and valves, Akron Brass collaborated with a computing solutions manufacturer to create the custom fire suppression system.

While monster truck rallies hosted there may pose the greatest concern, a stadium fire could also start from pyrotechnics in a halftime show or concert.

In the past, stadium suppression systems had local controls, requiring a manual operator for every sprinkler in the stadium. Like a yard sprinkler, these systems sprayed back and forth over a defined range of the field, leaving several areas uncovered by the system.

Designed around StreamMaster II Electric Firefighting Monitor and Akromatic 2000 Nozzle products, this fire suppression system allows for a single operator to electronically control all monitors from a single control station in the security command center.

Since the development of this technology in 2017, Akron Brass installed a similar system in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

To view a video of the Atlanta system in action, click here

Firehouse Subs, a nationwide sandwich restaurant chain founded by former firefighters, features a HURST Jaws of Life eDRAULIC rescue tool in a current TV commercial . The sub sandwich chain, which has 1,100 locations across America, donates a portion of its sales to assist local fire and rescue departments.

Since 2017, the HURST team has partnered with Firehouse Subs on commercials and service projects. With similar interests in community outreach, the companies decided to activate their partnership further through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation in 2018.

Founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged New Orleans in 2005, the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation provides funding, lifesaving equipment and educational opportunities for first responders and public safety organizations. To date, the foundation has donated over $2 million worth of HURST Jaws of Life rescue tools to fire departments across the country!

Based in Shelby, North Carolina, HURST is an IDEX company, part of IDEX Fire & Rescue.

To view the advertisement featuring the HURST Jaws of Life, Click Here.

Students from the Boys & Girls Club near Rochester, New York, visited the IDEX Health & Science Semrock facility to learn about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) last month.

Several engineers and a product manager planned and hosted the event which included a tour of the robotic production floor and examining biological samples using Semrock filters and microscopes. Students also learned about career opportunities in the STEM disciplines and about team members’ professional backgrounds.

The Boys & Girls Club of Rochester provides youth development programs that allow young people to gain the skills and qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders. To continue supporting the youth development programs, the IDEX Foundation also donated $5,000 to the organization.

A landmark project to create massive flood gates to protect Venice from catastrophic floodwaters is being made possible by seals from Blackburn, U.K.-based Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE). PPE, an IDEX company which manufactures high performance elastomer seals and components, developed technologies to help complete the floodwater prevention project in Italy.

Located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, Venice has faced challenges in rising water levels since famous flooding in 1966. With Venice water levels reaching a record height of five feet in October 2018, concerns of flooding and severe damage to the historic city have inspired quicker completion of the MOSE project, which has been in the works for 15 years. The project has received worldwide media attention.

The MOSE Project, which alludes to Moses parting the Red Sea, is a flood prevention project designed to prevent the Adriatic Sea from flooding the Venetian lagoon. PPE developed two seal technologies using Z85L material for the more than 75 gates designed to maintain stable water levels

Z85L is a hydrogenated, oil-resistant rubber specifically used for long term durability in low temperature applications. The high grade of Z85L material provides resistance and strength to prevent chemical operating fluids and sea water from penetrating and deteriorating the high tide gates.

PPE not only supplies the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) with high performance sealing solutions, but will continue to support the MOSE project with its ongoing production.

To learn more, see this CBS 60 Minutes story on the project and visit the PPE website.

The YMCA in Mansfield, Ohio, named Warren Rupp as one of its local “Heroes” for the company’s overall fundraising commitment in 2018.

Since 2017, Warren Rupp has supported the Mansfield YMCA in several events including Healthy Kids Day, Splash Pad, Y on Wheels, Veterans Breakfast, trunk or treat, and planting and financing the community garden.

Additionally, Warren Rupp employees volunteered to facilitate and fund a nine-week program called Serving Up Summer to feed children during the summer. More than 150 children and their families from the Mansfield YMCA, were equipped with fresh produce and nonperishables for meals and healthy snacks.

“We really feel that time spent face-to-face is just as valuable as a financial contribution,” said Robyn Montgomery, a category buyer at Warren Rupp. “We enjoy showing Richland County kids that we care, and we [employees] really enjoy volunteering at the Y because of the high level of interaction we can have with the children,” Montgomery told the Richland Source newspaper

In 2018, Warren Rupp reached 75 percent employee participation and donated over 800 hours in total volunteer service. Donations from the IDEX Foundation and Warren Rupp Inc. supplemented the volunteer efforts. Warren Rupp plans to continue its partnership in 2019, planning to help with Literacy Month, Serving Up Summer, Y on Wheels, Healthy Kids Day and more.

Warren Rupp, an IDEX company, is a leading manufacturer of air-operated double diaphragm (AODD) pumps.

To read the full The Richland Source article, click here.

Banjo Corporation publicly unveiled a new electric valve line on Friday, after employees celebrated the launch at their Indiana headquarters last month.

Employees learned details about the EVX product line in small group meetings with the project team, who also demonstrated features of the new product.

“EVX expands the design possibilities for OEM engineers,” said John Hays, Banjo Global Marketing Manager. “Banjo engineered the EVX to be smaller, smarter, and tougher than current electric valves. Its much smaller size enables it to fit in space-constrained systems.”

On an agricultural sprayer, this involves a number of specific tasks including controlling the filling of liquid from an external source, controlling the distribution of liquid within the system, and controlling the application of liquid fertilizer and chemicals as they are sprayed on a field. Additionally, Banjo EVX electric valves can be used on trucks that apply brine solution for deicing applications.

EVX is up to 40 percent smaller than current available models, offers critical diagnostic capability and advanced communication protocols, and passes 52 separate durability torture tests to ensure reliability in strenuous applications.

To view a product video, click here.

To view product information on Banjo’s website, click here.

Banjo, which manufactures valves and pumps for agricultural and industrial applications, announced the release of the EVX product line to the public on Friday, January 11.

Liquid Controls, an IDEX company which manufactures precision fuel measurement systems in the aerospace and energy industries, launched their new LCR.iQ metering technology this week.

Central to the CENTRILOGiQ platform of products, the LCR.iQ is considered the new benchmark in electronic meter registration, reducing complexity, improving efficiency and safeguarding all fueling system data. These meters can be found on trucks that deliver jet fuel to aircraft and heating oil to homes.

It features a high-definition display for improved visibility, configurable screens to adapt to multiple use cases, and wireless accessibility for remote data management. The new technology helps OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) consolidate sensor and electronics integrations by providing adaptive sensor connectivity.

Along with the addition of WIFI and Bluetooth data access, several improvements were made to address challenges for end users in the industry. These improvements include:

o Smart Keys for Guided Operation and Ease of Use
o Full Screen Active Fueling mode for Improved Safety and Visibility
o On Screen, Real-Time Diagnostics and System Checks for increased up-time
o Software Developers Kit (SDK) to support 3rd Party Android App Ecosystem

Take a look at the following video to learn more details about the new product: https://youtu.be/oiQshwH7_Bc

Advanced Thin Films (ATF), an IDEX company which manufactures optical solutions for the aerospace and life sciences industries, teamed up with a local non-profit to build and deliver 25 new bicycles to children at a local YMCA last month.

Located in ATF’s hometown of Boulder, Colorado, Wish for Wheels partners with companies to build and deliver bikes to children in low-income schools. Through team building events, challenging activities and company sponsorship, Wish for Wheels has given more than 30,000 bikes to children across the country.

With more than 150 miles of bike path in Boulder, ATF aims to help children understand the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle.

Hale Products, which produces firefighting pumps and equipment, collaborated with IDEX Fire & Safety sister company Godiva to create a new line of Hale “FLEX Series” pumps, which were launched in November.

Adding to the non-manifold pump portfolio, this new line provides OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and fire departments with much more “FLEXibility.”

The team demonstrated all aspects of the IDEX Difference, starting with “Great Teams” that collaborated across time zones. Through “Customer Obsession,” they understood the difficulties fire departments had in configuring and maintaining Hale’s current pumps. And using 8020, they sought to take complexity out of the product line, resulting in a more focused offering.

Prior to the development of the Flex Series, Hale’s “Booster Series” offered nine gearboxes with 24 gear sets, making it difficult for users to configure brackets to their ratio needs. With the development of the “FLEX Series,” Hale and Godiva engineering teams developed standardized installation practices, reducing their offering to just one Gearbox with eight gear sets.

“Our engineering efforts focused on enhancing the overall durability of the pump and seal designs to add increased efficiency, while making them easier to perform routine maintenance and service when in the field,” said Jeff Van Meter, Product Manager for pumps at Hale.

Along with standardized installation, Hale team members made several improvements to address “pain points” for fire truck manufacturers and fire departments. These improvements include:

o More gearbox orientations and mounting surfaces;
o Stainless Steel Pump Shafts for corrosion resistance;
o Sight glass for oil level management;
o Secondary seals for redundancy and safety;
o Aluminum Gearboxes for reduced weight; and
o Helical gears for quieter pumps.

Hale has already started to accept orders and began shipping on January 7, 2019

Akron Brass, celebrated its 100th Anniversary by hosting a dinner for employees and their guests at the Shisler Conference Center in Wooster, Ohio last month.

With over 250 people in attendance, several stories of product innovation, excellent leadership and reinvestment practices were shared throughout the evening. Past presidents and current customers extended their congratulations through video messages shared at the event.

As the night came to a close, President of Fire Suppression Bill Simmons and Vice President of Akron Brass Danny Teixeira presented the company’s achievements and goals for the future.

“To reach 100 years in business requires a strong sense of purpose, balanced conservatism with risk, careful innovation,” Teixeira said. “Most importantly, however, are the people within the company that make all of these things possible. Each of you have been a part of the Akron Brass family and have forged this company into what it is today through your hard work and dedication.

By continuing to build upon the history and legacy of what has made Akron Brass the great company that it is today and leveraging the additional strength of IDEX and the people in this room, we will undoubtedly see another 100 years as a company,” he said.