IN FOCUS

IDEX Corporation announced record financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Sales were up 17 percent, orders increased 12 percent, and net income rose 34 percent from the first quarter of 2004. Diluted earnings per share were 45 cents versus 35 cents in the year-ago period.

A substantial reduction in transportation costs for a leading healthcare manufacturer are the key benefits of a recently installed in-line dilution system from Process Installations Ltd, an associate company of Pump Engineering Ltd.

The Annual General Meeting of Aktiebolaget SKF, parent company of the SKF Group, was held in under the chairmanship of Mr Anders Scharp.

Armstrong Pumps, a global supplier of fluid flow equipment for residential, commercial and industrial applications, is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Adamsz as Marketing Engineer within the Hydronics division and the appointment of Craig Toth as Purchasing Manager for Armstrong Pumps Inc.

Kjell Svensson is leaving his post as president and CEO of Cardo and at the same time vacating his seat on the board of Cardo AB.

The Simaris manager software from Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) provides a full range of energy management functions from the incoming supply, through distribution, right up to the loads. The software supplements the existing control systems and can be easily integrated into existing HMI systems in central control rooms.

Enwave Energy Corporation and the City of Toronto have created an innovative cooling system that brings an alternative to conventional air conditioning to cool Toronto’s downtown core – one that is clean, price competitive and energy efficient.

Parker Hannifin Corporation reported fiscal third-quarter income from continuing operations of $142.2 million, or $1.18 per diluted share on sales of $2.14 billion for the period ended March 31, 2005, compared to income from continuing operations of $105.7 million, or 88 cents per diluted share on sales of $1.88 billion in the same period last year.

SKF reports an increase in sales of 14.2% for the first quarter 2005, measured in local currencies and compared to last year. Profit before taxes increased by 38%. The operating margin was 10% for the first quarter.

ABB said it has made a voluntary disclosure to the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of certain suspect payments amounting to some $560,000 made by employees of ABB network management, a specialized US-based subsidiary.