HR0981 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0981 LRB104 22358 ECR 38801 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Associated Research on the occasion of the company's 90th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Associated Research is celebrating nine decades years of electrical safety testing, engineering excellence, innovation, and family leadership; and

WHEREAS, Associated Research traces its origins to engineer James Inman founding the Chicago Meter & Repair Laboratory in 1934 to focus on the calibration, repair, and modification of analog panel meters; and

WHEREAS, Chicago Meter & Repair Laboratory was renamed Associated Research in 1936, setting the stage for a legacy rooted in engineering precision and customer service; and

WHEREAS, James Inman patented the Vibrotest, a battery-operated insulation resistance tester, in 1939, and the device's reliability led to its adoption as standard equipment on United States Navy vessels during World War II; and

WHEREAS, Following World War II, Associated Research expanded into the hipot testing and power utility markets during a period of American postwar industrial growth; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Michael Braverman, Associated Research made the consequential, strategic decision to position itself to exit the utility business and to focus exclusively on electrical safety compliance testing at the forefront of a growing global market; and

WHEREAS, Associated Research helped lead the industry transition from analog to digital technology in the late 1980s and early 1990s; and

WHEREAS, Associated Research also pioneered single-box solution testers that consolidated multiple testing functions into one instrument, advancing production-line efficiency and setting a new industry standard; and

WHEREAS, Associated Research, through a pivotal relationship with Extech Electronics, which is now Ikonix's Taiwan office, expanded the company from a small United States manufacturer into a middle-market corporation with an international footprint; and

WHEREAS, Today, Associated Research operates as a brand under the Ikonix corporate umbrella and serves a broad customer base, including medical device manufacturers, electric vehicle producers, industrial automation companies, semiconductor companies, and other sectors where electrical safety is paramount; and

WHEREAS, Associated Research is known for the Ikonix Way, an approach that emphasizes attentive pre-sale consultation, matching customers with the right solutions, dependable post-sale support, prompt communication, and long-term customer relationships; and

WHEREAS, Associated Research and Ikonix reflect values rooted in Midwestern character, including accountability, curiosity, flexibility, passion, comradeship, hard work, and down-to-earth service; and

WHEREAS, Associated Research has benefited from four generations of family leadership and from the continuity of senior leaders who have worked, trained, and grown together across the organization; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of current President and CEO Adam Braverman, Ikonix navigated the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded its international presence, and continued investing in product innovation; and

WHEREAS, Associated Research's mission continues to grow in importance as the green energy transition expands, increasing automation and advancing artificial intelligence drive demand for electrically powered products and for reliable safety compliance testing; and

WHEREAS, Associated Research's 90-year history represents a legacy of Illinois engineering ingenuity, manufacturing support, customer partnership, technological adaptation, and family-led business continuity; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Associated Research on its 90th anniversary, commend the company's contributions to electrical safety testing, product innovation, manufacturing, and customer support, and extend our best wishes for its continued success; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Associated Research and Ikonix USA as an expression of our esteem and respect.