Essex Receives ETSO Authorization

Essex Industries has obtained European Technical Standard Order (ETSO) Authorization in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 748/2012. Part 21, Section A, Subpart O and ETSO C99, C116 which covers the PBE MR-100x series manufactured at Essex Industries.

The Essex PBE is designed to provide crewmembers with ocular, head and respiratory protection during emergency conditions in an aircraft cabin. A minimum of 15 minutes of protection is provided to the wearer, as aviator’s grade oxygen is released into the unit. Its unique design provides 270° of visibility and eliminates the need for an oral/nasal mask so that crewmembers can communicate while wearing the unit. The PBE holds FAA TSO-C116, TSO-C99 approvals as well as CAA, EASA, CAAC and ANAC approvals. Recognized for their safe design, Essex PBE units are installed in the majority of U.S. airlines and a number of carriers throughout the world.

OGL Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance

OGLEssex is pleased to announce that they have received FDA 510(k) Clearance on the Oxygen Generator and Liquefier (OGL).  This clearance covers the use of the OGL in military and commercial applications to produce and transfer liquid oxygen (LOX) into portable systems, such as the Essex BMOS (Backpack Medical Oxygen System), MMOS (Mounted Medical Oxygen System) and NPTLOX (Next Generation Portable Therapeutic Liquid Oxygen System). These portable systems are then used to provide supplemental oxygen for patients during transport.

The Essex OGL is designed to liquefy, store and fill LOX equipment. The system generates 1 liquid liter of 93% USP oxygen per hour, with an onboard LOX storage capacity of 40 liters. The OGL has a user-friendly operator interface and runs on standard 240 VAC. Designed for reliability in harsh conditions, the OGL is portable using a fork lift or pallet transport.

The FDA 510(k) Clearance Number for the Essex OGL is K131990.

Essex CEO Keith Guller Named Global Business Person of the Year

CEO Keith Guller has been named Global Business Person of the Year recently at the World Trade Center St. Louis’ Growing Global event; this event recognizes area companies who’ve succeeded on a global scale.

At the October 9th awards dinner, Essex was recognized for their support and commitment to CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) certifications and training for their employees.

Essex Industries Selected as Supplier for Bell 525 Relentless Program

Bell 525 Grip and Pedestal_(2x2)Essex is pleased to announce their selection as a supplier for the Bell 525 Relentless Program.

The New Bell 525 helicopter is due for first flight in 2014.  The aircraft is designed for markets that require larger helicopters with more range and a larger cargo/baggage hold.

This award provides Essex with a long-term contract for the design, development and manufacture of the pilot and copilot Cyclic and Collective Grip Assemblies as well as the complete Control Post Assemblies

Essex LOX Equipment Selected by Japanese Ministry of Defense

On March 11, 2011, the most powerful earthquake ever known to hit Japan occurred off their Pacific coast.  The earthquake triggered massive tsunami waves which travelled inland, causing three nuclear reactors to meltdown.

The aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami created a humanitarian crisis of epic proportion–a reported 15,867 dead, 6,109 injured and 2,909 missing.  Over 340,000 people were displaced from their homes and the area suffered shortages of food, water, shelter, medicine and fuel.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense (JMOD) immediately mobilized their Self Defense Forces (JSDF) to search for and aid survivors.  In their medical relief efforts, they dealt with widespread power outages and serious problems locating and deploying gaseous oxygen in the field to the victims.

To learn more about this story and how they have prepared for future disasters with the help of Essex, click here.

Essex LOX Converters Used in Space Jump

On October 14, 2012, Felix Baumgartner jumped to Earth from a balloon 24 Miles above New Mexico and made history.  The 43 year-old Austrian became the first skydiver to break the sound barrier, reaching a maximum velocity of 834 mph (Mach 1.24) and setting records for highest balloon ascent, highest parachute jump and fastest speed by a human through the atmosphere.

As he rose to record heights in the stratosphere for his jump, Baumgartner was protected in a specially-built pressurized capsule.  At his jump altitude, the air pressure is less than 2% of what it is at sea level, making it impossible to breathe without an oxygen supply.

Two Essex 10 liter LOX converters were installed on the capsule which provided Baumgartner with oxygen to breathe at the elevated altitude.  Additionally, an Essex 25 liter nitrogen converter and three heat exchangers were used for this record-breaking event.

Eight million YouTube viewers have watched Baumgartner’s achievement and National Geographic has released a documentary in conjunction with the BBC called “Space Dive”. Check it out to see if you can spot the Essex equipment.

Essex Industries Receives Silver Boeing Performance Excellence Award

Essex is proud to announce that it has received two 2012 Boeing Performance Excellence Awards.  The Boeing Company issues the award annually to recognize suppliers who have achieved superior performance.  Essex maintained a Silver composite performance rating each month of the 12-month performance period, from October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012.

This year, Boeing recognized 594 suppliers who achieved either a Gold or Silver level Boeing Performance Excellence Award.  Essex is one of only 441 suppliers to receive the Silver level of recognition.

Two facilities of Essex received a Silver Award: the Carr Lane Court facility supplies Protective Breathing Equipment (PBE) to Boeing for all of their commercial aircraft and the Chivvis Drive facility provides four different kinds of Heat Exchangers for the C-17 Globemaster III program as well as a variety of spare parts.

Essex Named One of the Top 50 Companies in Greater St. Louis Area

Essex was recently honored as a recipient of the 17th Annual Greater St. Louis Top 50 Award.  Presented by the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) in conjunction with Rubin Brown certified public accountants, this award recognizes fifty local companies that make significant contributions to the region and positively affect the future growth, acquisitions, green/sustainable efforts and expansion/development of facilities.

Essex Receives Major CDC Contract Award

Essex Industries recently was awarded the contract from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the Development of Components for Breathing Escape Apparatus.

This opportunity came as a result of an identified need by the Office of Mine Safety and Health Research for improvements to the current SCSRs (Self-Contained Self-Rescuers) used in the mining industry.

The product development will focus on two major components: (1) docking and switch-over valves and (2) hoods/masks with a passive communications element.

The docking and switch-over valve must allow seamless changeover from one escape device to another.  While still breathing from the first unit, a user should be able to connect and start a new SCSR or switch to an SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus).

The new hood/mask design has to provide face and head protection as well as allow communication between users in an emergency situation.

This opportunity will allow Essex to build experience with products such as the PBE (Protective Breathing Equipment) and VRU+ (Victim Rescue Unit) to reach new customers and expand into additional segments of the Safety market.

APICS Names Essex Industries Company of the Year

The St. Louis Chapter of APICS, the Association for Operations Management, presented Essex Industries with its 2011-2012 Company of the Year Award in appreciation of the company’s outstanding contributions to the chapter.