Category: Company News

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.

In its 2018 Annual Report , the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA), recognized the Micropump team in Vancouver, Washington, for their extensive volunteer efforts.

Micropump, which manufactures magnetic drive gear and low-flow gear pumps, has been supporting CCA since 2007 to aid children battling cancer. This year, Micropump employees volunteered at 12 different volunteer events totaling over 400 hours of volunteer work.

In addition to maintaining CCA’s Caring cabin — a retreat center for kids and their families to spend time away from the hospital during treatments – Micropump employees also assisted the Meals Program, LEAP Program, Hope for the Holidays and provided aid at the Annual Ball and Silent Auction.

“The recognition in CCA’s Annual Report is so appreciated by many on the Micropump team who have given their time and resources to support the CCA,” said Alan Ruth, General Manager of Micropump. “I am grateful to be a part of this great team, which really cares about giving back and strengthening our community.”

Knight LLC in Irvine, California, collected gifts last week and delivered an IDEX Foundation donation to support the nearby Eli Home for abused children.

Knight employees decorated a tree for a silent auction, and collected and wrapped 50 gifts to benefit the Eli home’s holiday toy drive. Adding to the cause, Knight and The IDEX Foundation also presented the organization with $2,500.

“I am happy to have my colleagues supporting the efforts”, said Laura Gnewuch, Knight Credit Manager and 5-year board member for The Eli Home. “They said it takes a village to raise a child. Also, it takes a village to care for a child. I believe we can all give back to our communities in small ways. We just have to do it. ”

The Eli Home has served victims of child abuse and violence for over 30 years. Providing support to over 1,000 abused children every year, the organization now operates two shelter homes with professional counseling and therapy staff.

With 90 percent employee participation during their second year, Knight – which manufactures chemical dispensing systems for commercial warewashing, laundry, and dairy farm applications – aims to continue growing its partnership with the Eli Home.

In appreciation of their ongoing support, students from The Vale of Evesham School surprised Matcon employees with handmade Christmas ornaments .

The school, located near Matcon’s headquarters in Worchester, England, specializes in cognition and learning for students between two and 19 years of age. Matcon, which provides Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) technology for powder, granule and tablet processing, began their partnership during the school’s Playground Project Appeal in 2016.

Since then, Matcon employees have supported the school through events, including bake-off competitions, quiz events and a static bike challenge fundraiser. In addition to these events, employees volunteered over 80 hours to lay foundation, relocate a summer home and paint playground equipment in the school’s sensory garden area.

To date, Matcon employees have raised over £4,500 to go along with a substantial donation from the IDEX Foundation. Matcon employees will continue to support the school’s efforts to improve their AAC technology (Alternative and Augmentative Communication), which offers non-verbal students better opportunities to communicate.

Trebor, an IDEX company that manufactures quartz heaters for deionized water and chemical applications, in addition to high purity, plastic pumps for chemical applications, forged a new charitable relationship with a local elementary school in Utah this month.

Riverside Elementary, a government-assisted school near West Jordan, received sponsorship of $12,500 from Trebor and The IDEX Foundation to form a Junior Achievement (JA) program at the school.

JA is a non-profit education organization dedicated to teaching work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Taught by Trebor employees, spouses, and volunteers, JA will reach all 750 students during their years at Riverside Elementary.

The sponsorship of the JA program will allow students to learn the skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures and make smart academic and economic choices.

In addition to partnering with Junior Achievement, Trebor employees assembled Thanksgiving dinner boxes for families at Riverside Elementary last month. Trebor departments competed against one another and provided 27 Thanksgiving dinner boxes containing turkey, potatoes, stuffing, vegetables and much more to families in need.

Employees from the Lake Forest and Downtown Corporate offices volunteered to serve Thanksgiving dinner at The Chicago Boys & Girls Club last week.

The Chicago Boys & Girls Club, located near North Side Chicago, hosts over 300 students and their families for a free meal every year. Twenty-three IDEX Employees from Finance, Human Resources and Legal departments helped set-up, serve, and clean up the event, while also providing desserts for attendees.

In addition to volunteering at the dinner, the IDEX Foundation donated $5,000 to support additional programming throughout the rest of the year. IDEX plans to continue working with the Chicago Boys & Girls Club, and has done so for the past five years.