Northbrook firm expands in Australia

Idex Corp., the maker of Jaws of Life rescue equipment and portable fire pumps, bought Austria's IPek Spezial-TV for $43 million to expand its fluid and metering operations.

The purchase is expected to add to earnings in 2009, Northbrook-based Idex said today in a statement.

IPek Spezial-TV makes cameras and miniature remote-control vehicles used to inspect wastewater pipes. The Hirschegg-based company has annual revenue of 18 million euros. The acquisition will become part of the Fluid and Metering Technologies unit, Idex's largest with about 42 percent of last year's total sales of $1.36 billion.