In this issue, Mickey Waldman, Senior Vice-President of Essex Industries, shares his perspective on how the people and products of the Essex companies help overcome the world’s tragedies and challenges… Some closer to home than you may think.

Strangely enough, I knew others that were in New Orleans at the same time… Keith Guller, Essex’s CEO, and Tim Bannister, VP of Operations at Essex Cryogenics, were at the New Orleans Convention Center… at an EMS tradeshow of all things. We all escaped safely. But, we were among the fortunate ones to have the means to evacuate. Many were not as lucky. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

Despite those who took advantage of the tragedy to commit crimes against others, these natural disasters brought out the very best in others. I watched as complete strangers would reach out to donate time, money and respect. I witnessed a number of campaigns spearheaded by our employees, with matching funds from Essex, and other companies around the world raise funds for hurricane relief programs. In fact, while on business in the Pacific Rim there were many businesses collecting donations for the hurricanes that ravaged our country. And further still, I saw how Essex’s people and products answered the call for help in other ways.

Let me set the stage. As I was finding my way inland, and as the first of the deadly hurricanes made landfall, Essex Cryogenics (or Cryo, as they’re known) received an urgent call from MSgt. Dan Hoffart at the Air Force Medical Logistics Office (AFMLO) requesting multiple units of a very unique lifesaving Cryo device, the PTLOX. PTLOX is an acronym for Portable & Therapeutic Liquid Oxygen System. But the U.S. Air Force aeromedical evacuation personnel call it the “WORKHORSE” of their inventory for the tough role it plays in providing life support to patients in military aircraft transports or battlefield environments. Here’s a little background… The PTLOX, like many of Cryo’s liquid oxygen delivery systems, stores medical grade oxygen in a liquid form and then, upon demand, provides clean oxygen as a gas to a pilot, aircraft crew, or multiple patients in flight. The PTLOX stores the liquid oxygen in a “dewar” and then safely converts the LOX to a gas through a series of heat exchangers and valves. What’s great about this method is that a huge amount of oxygen can be stored in a smaller, safer, lower-pressure vessel.

This is a complex system to manufacture and would be a burden for most manufacturers to inventory. However, Cryo is no ordinary provider. With great foresight, Cryo maintains “ready to go” Government owned and paid for PTLOX units in a Rotary Pool as part of a Life Cycle Management (LCM) Contract for replacement of damaged units or for emergency purposes. See all about it on our website at: www.essexind.com/cryo_frame.htm and then click on “To Learn More” under “Capabilities and Services”.

So here I am, family in tow, making our way back home to Saint Louis. And as the disaster of Hurricane Katrina unfolded, four PTLOX units were being inspected, processed, prepared, and picked up at Cryo by Airmen Hues and Rees for immediate transport to Scott AFB to support a same day deployment by the 375th Aeromed Evacuation Squadron (AES). This quick turn around is a reflection of the dedication and expertise of the men and women of Cryo and proof that a rotary pool philosophy for critical products such as the PTLOX is a win-win for supporting emergency situations. And no better proof that this system is an ongoing success was the next day when another urgent call was received to pull five additional PTLOX units from the rotary pool and prepare them for immediate use. Again in less than an hour, these units were processed and loaded into a Government vehicle en route for immediate deployment to support the hurricane relief effort.

But there’s more. I knew that The Respiratory Group (TRG) worked well under pressure with their respiratory oxygen systems and home healthcare products… from respiratory liquid oxygen systems like their LOX base units to portables to their full line of gaseous medical oxygen cylinders and regulators to a superstore of home healthcare products! Check them out at: www.therespiratorygroup.com

I was amazed by how quickly TRG geared up to supply oxygen-related systems to patients afflicted by the hurricanes. Everyday, including weekends and evenings, TRG cranked out systems to support the hurricane relief efforts. There are many stories behind this story… I witnessed many sleepless, tireless nights that the employees of TRG spent producing this enormous product load and the logistics nightmare of making sure that it got where it belonged, WHEN it belonged there! Think about this: Producing the product to demand is one thing, but here is a succession of natural disasters that literally shut down the South. With power out everywhere, bedlam in the cities, fuel shortages, impassable streets, you name it, TRG didn’t rest until their products were delivered.

So you see, we are all lifesavers through the products we design, machine, assemble, pack, ship, sell, support, invoice or whatever other important role we provide on the Essex team! I’m proud to be a part of this group of talented associates and our products that save lives around the world everyday. My fellow employees inspire me and give me hope for a safer, more caring world.

From our families to yours, we wish you a healthy, prosperous and lifesaving 2006.

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