Posts Tagged ‘Fishers’

Taken about 30 seconds after the blast

Today was quite the day here in Indianapolis. At about 10:45 this morning, a tanker containing between 500 and 1,000 gallons of liquid propane exploded at the I-69 and I-465 interchange on the city’s northeast side.

Brian Coles and I were on I-465 driving back from a meeting with our Bank on Indy clients at Mayor Greg Ballard’s office when we saw the 300-foot-high fireball directly ahead of us at about a quarter-mile. Though it only lasted about 10 seconds, it felt like a lot longer. It just kept blooming and climbing, blooming and climbing; so much so that we weren’t sure for a second whether we were actually out of harm’s way. Luckily, we were at an exit and pulled off.

Once we gathered our wits about 30 seconds later, I snapped the above picture. Imagine fire in place of that smoke and you start to get the idea. It was massive. We felt the heat of the blast on our faces through the windshield and just sat on the highway, dumbfounded, much like everyone else.

News from the blast didn’t trickle in until about 15 minutes later. We kept refreshing the Indy Star and local TV affiliates’ Web sites for information. I was surprised but relieved to hear that no one had died. Local news was reporting that before the blast, two very brave construction workers working at a site just off the highway pulled the driver from his cab and moved him to a safer place.

From a quarter-mile away, we were plenty scared. Imagine what they must have felt — but they saved the driver’s life, which I’m sure he’s thankful for.

Like many of my fellow Hoosiers, I’m also thankful today. It’s been a long week with not enough time to do everything that needs to be done — every week is like that, right? — and not enough sleep to go around (teething nine-month-old twin boys will do that to you). But there is enough time, and yeah, I’m a little tired today, but so what? I know what’s most important, and it’s not sleep.

Have a safe weekend and take a minute to count your blessings. You’ll have plenty of time to do so as you creatively make your way home tonight without the use of a whole interstate!

We recently created a series of print and online ads featuring some of the adorable dogs and cats available for adoption at the desperately overcrowded Humane Society for Hamilton County. Read the rest of this entry »

A Fishers, Ind.-based company that has designed vision inspection and automation systems for companies including Lilly, Roche Diagnostics and Nestlé has expanded its employee base as it focuses on becoming the leading vision solutions provider in North America.

Acquire Automation specializes in full-service vision inspection system fabrication and integration, automation solutions and custom equipment design, production and assembly. The company focuses on improving manufacturing quality, productivity, efficiency and safety for clients primarily in the life sciences, consumer goods, packaging, semi-conductor, automotive and aerospace industries. Spun off from Clarke Engineering Services, which has been in business since 1997, the company has an extensive lab within its headquarters that includes an array of inspection and part-handling hardware. The company today operates from a 13,000-square-foot facility at 9114 Technology Lane in Fishers. Call Acquire Automation at (317) 849-3350.

The company’s new Web site showcases high-resolution imagery of many of its vision inspection systems at work, including the Prism Inspection System, a single, standard vision solution to meet all inspection needs.

Coles Marketing Communications has launched a new Web site for client Acquire Automation.

Headquartered in Fishers, Ind., Acquire Automation is an automation solutions and services provider that specializes in full-service vision inspection system fabrication and integration, automation solutions and services, custom equipment design, production and assembly. The company’s clients are primarily from the life sciences, consumer goods, packaging, semi-conductor, automotive and aerospace industries.

Before launching its new Web site, Coles Marketing Communication delivered a complete brand package for Acquire Automation. A new logo was debuted, followed by collateral materials including a company brochure and presentation folder, product slicks, trade show displays and more.