Posts in category: Americas – Projects

MSA Safety Incorporated, the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures, have announced that Kenneth Krause, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer will present at the CJS Virtual Investor Conference. The event will be the 21^st Annual New Ideas for the New Year conference, and will run on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 from 3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. E.T.

This event will be webcast live and can be accessed at http://investors.MSASafety.com.  Following the presentation, a replay will be available for 90 days via the MSA website

Clarience Technologies have announced the acquisition of ECCO Safety Group (ESG), a supplier of audible warning equipment and emergency lighting for commercial and emergency vehicles.

Brian Kupchella, Chief Executive Officer of Clarience Technologies, said, “We are thrilled to welcome ESG to Clarience Technologies. The addition of ESG’s leading safety and emergency lighting solutions expands and complements our existing offering of lighting technologies and advanced telematics.

“With this enhanced product lineup, we will deepen and broaden visibility solutions for new and existing customers. ESG has built a strong reputation as an industry leader known for innovation and customer service and we look forward to welcoming ESG associates to the Clarience Technologies family”.

Doug Phillips, President & CEO of Ecco Safety Group, said, “I am confident that Clarience Technologies is the right partner to take ESG to the next level. We share a commitment to customer service, transparency, performance, and most of all safety. As part of Clarience Technologies, we will be able to leverage their resources and R&D expertise to grow our business and ensure unparalleled safety for our customers and those on the road around them.”

With nearly 50 years of operating experience, Ecco Safety Group carry out research, design, development, manufacturing and distribution of audible warning equipment and emergency lighting for commercial and emergency vehicles. The company have a track record of innovation having developed the first backup alarm and today holds over 200 patents, including the newly launched Matrix system which simplifies the systems integration of the siren and lights in a police vehicle.

Global fire and rescue convention FDIC International has been postponed until August 2021 in response to the ongoing impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.

The show was scheduled to take place between April 19-24, but due to the advice given by the State of Indiana’s Government, as well as public health advisory and possible travel restrictions, it will now be held on August 19-24.

“This was a difficult decision but the safety and wellbeing of our attendees, exhibitors, partners, and staff remain the most important priority for us.  We have put thoughtful consideration into our next steps, including open and honest discussions with our partners, exhibitors and the firefighter community. With the rollout of the new vaccines there is more confidence that it will be safer to come together in August,” said Eric Schlett, Senior Vice President, Clarion Fire & Rescue. 

FDIC International’s 2021 schedule will include:

• Hands-on Training (H.O.T.) Evolutions & Pre-Conference Workshops: Thursday, August 19 and Friday, August 20.
• Conference Classroom Sessions: Saturday, August 21 – Monday, August 23
• Exhibition Halls and Outdoor Demonstration Areas: Sunday, August 22 – Tuesday, August 24.

In response to rising demand from the fire community to continue to learn and source solutions for ongoing needs FDIC International has launched two year-round virtual platforms.

• FDIC Product Network a year round virtual product showcase & innovation hub. Dedicated to delivering innovative products and services and meaningful connections through live demos and categorised product listings. Find out more information and join for free at: www.fdicproductnetwork.com.
     
• The Fire Academy is an all NEW interactive training platform, allowing firefighters and industry professional to expand their knowledge and learn from top instructors year-round.  Access includes 250+ on-demand courses in additional to 50 NEW courses releases throughout the year. The Fire Academy will launch on January 14, 2021, learn more at www.fdic.com/the-fire-academy.

Further information for exhibitors, sponsors and attendees will be released in the coming weeks as FDIC turn their attention to facilitate a smooth transition to the August date. Additional information and frequently asked questions can be found on the FDIC website.

FDIC is the latest show that has been forced to postpone due to the pandemic. In December, global convention INTERSCHUTZ announced that it has been delayed until June 2022.

Protos Security have announced the acqusition of Mulligan Security, a fire and life safety services specialist.

“Mulligan Security is an iconic trade brand in the security services industry. This acquisition greatly accelerates the growth of our self-perform direct guard capabilities,” said Nathaniel Shaw, Protos Security CEO. “With an impressive roster of blue-chip customers across many industries, the addition of Mulligan further diversifies Protos and makes us an attractive security services partner to customers such as real estate firms, schools, and corporate institutions. Kevin Mulligan and his talented team are a great fit with our service-first culture.”

“I’m thrilled to partner with Protos and Southfield Capital to ensure the continuation of the Mulligan service commitment and growth track record. We look forward to working with Nathaniel and the Protos team to further tech-enable our business and continue to delight customers as we have for decades,” said Kevin Mulligan, Founder and President of Mulligan Security. “I know that our leadership position as the premier security services and fire and life safety provider in NYC and the Tri-state area will only expand in partnership with Protos.”

Andy Cook, Partner at Southfield Capital, stated, “We have been working to expand the self-perform direct guard and fire safety capabilities for the Protos platform since our investment almost two years ago. The combination creates a formidable national player, establishing us as one of the largest security firms in the country, and reinforces our commitment to our clients to provide greater program flexibility and intelligence and high-quality services driven by our technology platform and breadth of experience.”

The U.S Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are to begin construction of housing for qualified families affected by the Linn and Marion Wildfires. Once completed, the new site in Mill City is expected to hold up to 16 temporary housing units.

In addition to Linn and Marion counties, the Agencys Direct Housing mission is in the process of providing transportable temporary housing to qualified disaster survivors in Jackson and Lincoln counties. To date, 47 Jackson County families have been placed in temporary housing units in commercial parks and at one group site – similar to the one now under construction in Mill City in Linn and Marion counties.

Currently, 250 survivor families are approved to receive FEMA Direct Temporary Housing in the four counties. The number of qualified families has decreased over time as many households have located alternate temporary or permanent housing on their own.

To the degree possible, FEMA works to keep survivors as close as possible to their communities, schools and places of worship. Direct Temporary Housing is provided to survivors for up to 18 months from the date of the disaster declaration (until March 2022).

Disaster survivors affected by the Oregon wildfires and straight-line winds can also get personalised mitigation advice to repair and rebuild safer and stronger from a FEMA Mitigation Specialist.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), in partnership with the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, have launched the Psychologically Healthy Fire Departments (PHFD) initiative to support firefighters and EMS providers and create healthy, successful departments.

The Psychologically Healthy Fire Departments: Implementation Toolkit delves into six categories leaders should focus on to support well-being and high performance: member involvement, health and safety, member growth and development, work-life balance, member recognition, and effective communication. The toolkit examines each category along with specific actions that can be taken, special issues to consider, case studies from successful departments, and additional resources.

“A department that supports its members and is committed to fostering a positive work environment has a healthier, engaged, and more successful workforce,” said NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch. “This implementation toolkit will walk fire department leaders through the steps and considerations necessary to make sure they have a psychologically healthy fire department that benefits the individual, the organisation, and the community.”

The PHFD: Implementation Toolkit is based on APA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace model and was adapted to fit the unique characteristics of the fire service. Fire service leaders who understand the link between the well-being of their members and the performance and success of the department take comprehensive steps to create a positive environment that supports and promotes good health and optimal functioning.

“Psychological research shows workplaces that promote good mental health and work-life balance are associated with increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and higher job satisfaction,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD. “We commend the National Volunteer Fire Council for creating this toolkit and distributing it to its members.”

The PHFD initiative is supported by a Fire Prevention & Safety Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In addition to the implementation toolkit, resources include a Directory of Behavioral Health Professionals that lists local mental health providers equipped and ready to help firefighters, EMS providers, dispatchers, rescue workers, and their families. The directory is updated monthly as new providers are added and can be viewed or downloaded on the PHFD webpage. A training course to supplement the PHFD: Implementation Toolkit is also being developed.

Download the PHFD: Implementation Toolkit and learn more about the PHFD initiative at www.nvfc.org/phfd.

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated and FLIR Systems, Inc. have jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Teledyne will acquire FLIR in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $8.0 billion.

Under the terms of the agreement, FLIR stockholders will receive $28.00 per share in cash and 0.0718 shares of Teledyne common stock for each FLIR share, which implies a total purchase price of $56.00 per FLIR share based on Teledyne’s 5-day volume weighted average price as of December 31, 2020.  

As part of the transaction, Teledyne has arranged a $4.5 billion 364-day credit commitment to fund the transaction and refinance certain existing debt.  Teledyne expects to fund the transaction with permanent financing prior to closing. 

Teledyne expects the acquisition to be immediately accretive to earnings, excluding transaction costs and intangible asset amortization, and accretive to GAAP earnings in the first full calendar year following the acquisition.

Teledyne and FLIR run ‘similar business models’

“At the core of both our companies is proprietary sensor technologies.  Our business models are also similar: we each provide sensors, cameras and sensor systems to our customers.  However, our technologies and products are uniquely complementary with minimal overlap, having imaging sensors based on different semiconductor technologies for different wavelengths,” said Robert Mehrabian, Executive Chairman of Teledyne.  

“For two decades, we have demonstrated its ability to compound earnings and cash flow consistently and predictably.  Together with FLIR and an optimised capital structure, I am confident we shall continue delivering superior returns to our stockholders.”

“FLIR’s commitment to innovation spanning multiple sensing technologies has allowed our company to grow into the multi-billion-dollar company it is today,” said Earl Lewis, Chairman of FLIR.  “With our new partner’s platform of complementary technologies, we will be able to continue this trajectory, providing our employees, customers and stockholders even more exciting momentum for growth.  Our Board fully supports this transaction, which delivers immediate value and the opportunity to participate in the upside potential of the combined company.”

Jim Cannon, President and Chief Executive Officer of FLIR, said, “We could not be more excited to join forces with Teledyne through this value-creating transaction.  Together, we will offer a uniquely complementary end-to-end portfolio of sensory technologies for all key domains and applications across a well-balanced, global customer base.  

“We are pleased to be partnering with an organisation that shares our focus on continuous innovation and operational excellence, and we look forward to working closely with the Teledyne team as we bring our two companies together to capitalise on the important opportunities ahead.”

Approvals and Timing

The transaction, which has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies, is expected to close in the middle of 2021 subject to the receipt of required regulatory approvals, including expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, approvals of Teledyne and FLIR stockholders and other customary closing conditions.

Advisors

Evercore is acting as exclusive financial advisor and McGuireWoods LLP is acting as legal advisor in connection with the transaction.  Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Hogan Lovells US LLP is acting as legal advisor to FLIR in connection with the transaction.  Teledyne has entered into a 364-day senior unsecured bridge facility credit agreement with Bank of America as sole lead arranger and administrative agent.

Conference Call and Webcast

At 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Pacific Time) today, both companies will host a conference call to discuss the acquisition.  A live webcast of the call can be accessed at Teledyne’s website at www.teledyne.com/investors/presentations.  Please connect to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to allow adequate time for any software download that may be required.  

Oshkosh Corporation announced today that it has been named one of the America’s Most Responsible Employers 2021 by Newsweek. Oshkosh has earned this award for two consecutive years and is ranked #159 out of 399 companies on the list. America’s Most Responsible Companies were defined based on key performance indicators around environmental, social and corporate governance areas.

“We are proud of this award which is a result of our team members living our core values each day,” said Kevin Tubbs, Oshkosh Corporation Vice President, Chief Ethics, Compliance and Sustainability Officer. “At Oshkosh, we remain focused on caring for our communities, the environment and exercising strong corporate governance.”

To create the list, Newsweek partnered with Statista, a leading market research firm. First, a pool of candidates was created out of the 2,000 largest public companies in the United States by revenue. Banks and insurance companies were measured by total assets of more than $50 billion. Companies with a corporate sustainability or corporate citizen report were screened and analysed.

The analysis included reviewing publicly available performance data in the environmental, social and corporate governance categories. Additionally, a survey of 7,500 people was conducted asking perceptions about companies related to corporate social responsibility. All elements were weighted to produce a final score.

In addition to being named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies of 2021 by Newsweek, Oshkosh has also been named one of Forbes World’s Best Employers of 2020, was recently listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the second consecutive year, has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere™ for five consecutive years and one of Barron’s Top 100 Most Sustainable Companies for three consecutive years.  

To learn more about Oshkosh’s social, corporate governance and environmental efforts, please visit our impact.

First Due, known to fire and emergency response agencies across the US for developing a premier, next-generation suite of Fire & EMS software, have announced a partnership with BRYCER TCE (The Compliance Engine), the industry leader in system tracking and testing code compliance.

The partnership will enable agencies to access critical fire protection systems, backflows, and elevator inspection data recorded using The Compliance Engine, within First Due – before, during and after an incident.

“A major First Due feature is gathering information on every structure in a response area and empowering operations and prevention personnel with the data they need to make better decisions,” explains COO and Head of Product Rami El-Choufani. “The ability to know when critical fire protection systems are deficient or inoperable, helps agencies respond more effectively and reduce risk within the community.”

TCE information collected by service providers, will allow Inspectors to access system details, inventory information and statuses at the time of an inspection – driving compliance and allowing prioritisation of prevention activities. For Operations, crews with be able to easily drag-and-drop systems information onto the map within First Due’s pre-plan tool and more importantly, access critical system information alerts at the time of response.

“When crews are dispatched, knowing a fire pump is red-tagged and inoperable, will make a massive difference in how they approach the incident – reducing risk to first responders and the communities they serve” El-Choufani continues.

Users of Brycer TCE will be looking forward to adding a completely new dimension in the way they utilise system and compliance information. BRYCER TCE Vice President of Innovation Bryan Schultz elaborates, “Fire protection system reliability is a vital component of all fire department’s community risk reduction strategies. Putting the fire protection system compliance information into first responders’ hands is a giant step forward in BRYCER’s goal of ensuring safe communities by reducing fire risk. We are excited to partner with First Due on this project as our complimentary solutions will provide enormous benefits to any Fire Department.”

For more information about the First Due and TCE Partnership and to get-in-touch with both the First Due and BRYCER TCE teams about the project, please visit https://www.firstduesizeup.com/partnerships/tce.

ABOUT FIRST DUE

Backed by Collate Capital, NY Angels, Inc., Teamworthy Ventures  and Technexus Venture Collaborative, New York-based First Due has reimagined public-safety technology for agencies nationwide. The SaaS First Due Suite provides Fire & EMS agencies an end-to-end solution to consolidate all core components of their operation in a single platform.

Departments with First Due are transforming how they function, before, during and after an incident – ultimately leading to better decisions and a safer community.

ABOUT THE COMPLIANCE ENGINE

The Compliance Engine is a simple, Internet-based tool for Fire Prevention Bureaus to track and drive inspection and testing code compliance, reduce false alarm activity, ensure clean drinking water and provide a safer community.

TCE provides a secure cloud environment in which third-party contractors that inspect, test, and maintain fire protection systems, submit their reports via BRYCER’s web portal directly to the Authority Having Jurisdiction, facilitating a more efficient review, tracking, and follow-up process with occupants to correct deficiencies and maintain systems.

BRYCER TCE provides proactive services, in addition to the web-based technology, that includes; hard and soft copy notifications, call services, analytics, consultation, 24hr support and market education to help increase testing and maintenance activity in a given jurisdiction. The end result is a comprehensive and accurate aggregation of data around which buildings have what types of systems when they were last tested, and if there are any open deficiencies that could jeopardise their successful deployment in the event of an incident.

Oshkosh Corporation , a leading innovator of mission-critical vehicles and essential equipment, has announced that it has entered into a denitive agreement to acquire Pratt Miller.

The company specialise in advanced engineering, technology and innovation across the motorsport and multiple ground vehicle markets, for a cash-free, debt-free purchase price of $115 million. Additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Pratt Miller to maintain staff members

The company will maintain its name, team members, facilities and branding elements. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in New Hudson. They brings over 30 years of experience solving its customers’ most complex and technical challenges.

Led by its world-class engineering and motorsports heritage, they have made signicant advances in dynamic growth areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous and connected systems and electrication.

“We look forward to welcoming the Pratt Miller team to Oshkosh Corporation,” said John Pfeifer, Oshkosh Corporation President and Chief Operating Officer. “We believe combining Pratt Miller’s engineering expertise with Oshkosh’s innovation and operational strengths will enable us to better serve customers and position our Company for growth.”

“Pratt Miller’s motorsports heritage has created a culture of speed and agility that has dened our success. Oshkosh is an ideal partner for us to apply that mindset to some of the most signicant challenges facing
customers today,” said Matt Carroll, Pratt Miller Chief Executive Officer.

“Together, we expect to grow our decadelong partnership and expand our pipeline of new business opportunities. We look forward to learning from one another and continuing to innovate to bring market-leading products to our customers.”

The transaction is expected to close in the first calendar quarter of 2021 and is subject to customary closing conditions.