Month: February 2022

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.