Category: Company News

IDEX Corporation (NYSE: IEX) today announced that Roopa Unnikrishnan has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development. Roopa is responsible for leading the company’s enterprise strategy and corporate development (M&A) function, helping build strategy and business development capabilities for IDEX.

In partnership with the IDEX Senior Leadership Team, strategy & business development resources and business unit general managers, Ms. Unnikrishnan will help identify, evaluate and pursue growth opportunities and prioritize investments. With her experienced leadership, she will bring fresh perspectives and work together to identify and build growth funnels organically and inorganically.

She reports directly to IDEX CEO and President Eric Ashleman and joins the IDEX Senior Leadership Team.

Ms. Unnikrishnan has more than 20 years of corporate strategy experience across a variety of industries, through a mix of consulting roles and corporate leadership positions. Most recently, she served as Chief Strategy Officer for Vontier, a global industrial manufacturing company focused on smarter transportation and mobility. Previous strategy positions have included roles with Harman International, Citi, BlackRock, and Katzenbach Partners – which was formed by past members of McKinsey & Co. consulting. At Pfizer she also stepped outside her traditional strategy and innovation roles to lead the Talent and Organization capability for the pharmaceutical division. She often serves as a professional coach and is the author of the book, “The Career Catapult.”

She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in India, where she was born and raised, before becoming the country’s 100^th Rhodes Scholar, earning her the opportunity to study at the University of Oxford in England. There she earned a master’s degree in Economic and Social History. She followed that with a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and International Business Strategy, also from University of Oxford.

In response to hundreds of thousands of refugees escaping war in Ukraine, the IDEX Foundation is donating $100,000 USD, splitting the funds between two charities offering on-the-ground assistance to those displaced.

The IDEX Foundation is donating $50,000 USD each to the Bank Zywnosci w Krakowie (the Food Bank of Krakow) and the Polish Red Cross. The donations will be used to purchase food, hygienic products, and to help with humanitarian aid transports. Additionally, the funds will be used to prepare beds, mattresses and sleeping bags for incoming refugees.

“The situation in Ukraine is devastating and only getting worse for the civilians trying to escape, ” said Derrick Goddard, President of the IDEX Foundation. “The IDEX Foundation board unanimously decided to support refugees that have crossed the border into Poland by funding these two non-profits that are providing support on the ground.”

The Krakow Food bank partners with more than 100 organizations to collect, organize, and deliver food. In 2021, the team at Krakow delivered food to 62,000 people. The Polish Red Cross , which is partnering closely with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Ukranian Red Cross, are prepared to provide assistance and additional support to refugees.

IDEX Corporation has promoted Lisa Anderson to the role of Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary effective today. Lisa succeeds Denise Cade, who has accepted a new general counsel position in a different manufacturing sector.

“When joining IDEX six years ago, Denise set out to build an exceptionally strong team, cultivating present and future leaders. That part of her legacy is leading to a smooth succession to our next General Counsel,” IDEX CEO and President Eric Ashleman said. “With varied legal experience, combined with her foundations in business, Lisa is already a trusted adviser to colleagues across IDEX. Lisa’s ability to partner with others to solve complex legal and business issues is well known and appreciated all around our global company. She is well suited for this new role.”

Anderson now leads the Legal Department and joins the IDEX Senior Leadership Team. She joined IDEX five years ago as Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary. On the commercial side, she has negotiated and enforced agreements to support strategic goals. She has enhanced the protection of IDEX intellectual property, supported mergers and acquisitions, and effectively managed risk related to other strategic initiatives.

After graduating from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, German Languages and Literature, Anderson began building her business foundation in purchasing and supply chain management for industrial supply company McMaster-Carr. After earning a law degree from Loyola University of Chicago, she practiced commercial litigation at the Chicago-based law firm Schiff Hardin LLP. She then joined SunCoke Energy, where she gained significant in-house experience in roles of increasing responsibility, including as commercial and litigation counsel and Deputy Chief Compliance Officer.

“I congratulate Lisa on her promotion to General Counsel and look forward to receiving her sound counsel as we continue growing IDEX. I also extend sincere thanks to Denise for her contributions and wish her well in her new adventures,” Ashleman said.

HURST Jaws of Life in Shelby, North Carolina, recently began partnering with the Cleveland County Rescue Mission and built a new playground to benefit children impacted by homelessness.

Working together outside, a group of eight HURST team members sorted parts of equipment, pre-assembled pieces of the foundation, and drilled holes to help provide a safe playground for children in the community.

“It was so great to see the team give back to our community and bring our different skills together to help build this playground,” I-Amp Mechanical Engineer, Jennifer Hernandez said.

In collaboration with the IDEX Foundation, HURST Jaws of Life donated $10,000 USD to purchase supplies for Cleveland County Rescue Mission’s new playground.

By providing access to basic needs as well as opportunities for recovery, personal growth and development, Cleveland County Rescue Mission (CCRM) enables people to begin their journey out of crisis and into self-sufficiency. Services provided include emergency overnight shelter, food, addiction recovery services, and workforce development and adult basic education courses.

Novotema’s facility in Villongo, Italy, recently replaced their existing gas extraction and fume abatement systems, significantly improving the company’s environmental, health and safety practices.

When team members manufacture molded O-rings, gaskets, rubber seals and elastomer components, small amounts of fumes and gasses are generated and must be collected and treated before they can be released into the atmosphere.

Novotema team members worked with a vendor to design and install extraction hoods over each molding press and the vulcanization oven, and used a special ducting system to take harmful fumes and gases into the abatement systems. The abatement devices use basic physics to force small gas and fume particles into larger particles that then fall out of the air stream (called “coalescing”). The beauty of this system is that can be done without using extra energy or chemicals. In addition, they added sound-absorbing panels to the system in order to reduce the sound impact of the system while operating.

This method of controlling emissions has been classified by Regione Lombardia as one of the ‘Best Available Technologies’ for the reduction of atmospheric emissions,” Novotema Operations Director Stefano Consonni said. “With this system, we can achieve optimal performance that leads to a proven and substantial reduction of the release of pollutants and olfactory nuisances in the atmosphere.”

The systems help safeguard the health of team members, residents of the community, and demonstrates the company’s sensitivity towards protecting the environment.

Team members at HURST Jaws of Life®, a business unit of IDEX Fire & Safety, began celebrating the 50th anniversary of the revolutionary brand in Shelby, North Carolina this week. The company, whose hero tool set the standard in the rescue industry, is marking its half-century milestone with a celebratory logo, and will distribute challenge coins, patches and more to first responders throughout 2022.

“HURST Jaws of Life has been an icon for the rescue tool industry for 50 years, and we’re proud to celebrate this incredible anniversary along with our dealers who serve as ambassadors for the brand and the first responders who rely on the tools to save lives,” said Britt Hawkins, manager, marketing services, HURST Jaws of Life.

The history of HURST Jaws of Life rescue tools began when innovator George Hurst, a racing enthusiast and the manufacturer of Hurst shifters , devised a prototype tool to extricate auto racers from high-speed wrecks. In 1972, less than a year later, the HURST Power Tool made its public debut with production of the model JL-32, which soon began helping first responders extricate everyday drivers from roadside accidents. It gained popularity among firefighters, emergency technicians and law enforcement, and it was soon monikered and then trademarked as the “Jaws of Life.”

Since the original spreaders debuted, HURST Jaws of Life has expanded the rescue tool portfolio to also include cutters, combination tools, rescue rams and accessories to help first responders stay safe at the scene. Today’s tools are smaller and lightweight, and they can cut, spread, lift and breach metal, wood and rebar on vehicles and structures to allow first responders to get to entrapped people and save their lives.

Over the years, the company has continually raised the bar on rescue tool power and performance. It introduced the industry’s first battery-powered extrication tool line, eDRAULIC^®, in 2010, allowing first responders tool operation unencumbered by hoses and generators. It next invented StrongArm^®, a battery-powered multitool that fits easily in the trunk of a law enforcement vehicle and operates quietly enough for SWAT team use.  In 2019, HURST Jaws of Life launched eDRAULIC Watertight Extrication Tool (EWXT), the first battery-operated tool line to operate completely submerged in fresh water. In 2021, HURST Jaws of Life debuted eDRAULIC 3.0, a revolutionary extrication tool line offering turbo power, a smart dashboard and fresh and saltwater compatibility.

“HURST Jaws of Life has been equipping heroes for 50 years, and we look forward to bringing continued innovation and first-to-market solutions to the rescue industry for years to come,” Hawkins said.

Banjo Corporation in Crawfordsville, Indiana, recently began a partnership with the Montgomery Boys & Girls Club, partnering with the club on activities last quarter. In collaboration with the IDEX foundation, the club received $15,000 USD to help fund the hiring of additional teachers, and help purchase supplies for STEM activities. The donation will also be used to buy new Chromebooks for students to use.

Additionally, Banjo team members funded an end of the semester holiday party for the after-school students, providing a safe bounce house, snacks and more.  A small group of team members also volunteered to paint two large rooms at the club facility while the kids were on holiday break.

Lukas in Erlangen, Germany, also supported the local community during the holidays last month. To further fight hunger insecurity in the community, the team partnered with the IDEX Foundation to donate $5,000 USD to Tafel Erlangen. ​​​​​​​

Tafel Erlangen, an initiative of the Diakonisches Werk Erlangen, is a German-based food bank that takes high quality surplus foods  and distributes it to people in Erlangen and surrounding areas. Every year, the organization saves around 265,000 tons of food, which they pass on to over 1.6 million people.

IDEX corporate employees from the Northbrook and downtown Chicago offices, competed against each other this month to purchase holiday gifts online for local children who have experienced trauma.

Again supporting the charity “Kids Above All,” the Virtual Holiday Drive included a friendly competition, with IDEX corporate team members split into teams to see which group could donate the most gifts.

In less than three weeks, more than 150 corporate team members and their family members donated more than 500 gifts, which were delivered straight from retailers to Kids Above All for distribution. With 139 total gifts donated, the team led by Rula Marziani claimed victory.

“We are blown away by the generosity of our great corporate partner, IDEX Corporation, who generously donated toys, books and other items so our young people have a special holiday season and achieve their potential,” the KAA team said on LinkedIn.

‘Kids Above All,’, protects, heals and educates children and families who have experienced trauma – including abuse, neglect, poverty, toxic stress, and violence.

IDEX Corporate began partnering with the Kids Above All in 2020. With support from the IDEX Foundation, the team donated $55,000 USD for Technology, Housing, and Group Therapy for at-risk youth in the Chicago area. To learn about the history of the partnership, click here.