Clinics to expand

NAPERVILLE — Edward-Elmhurst Health is investing $7 million in Mequon, Wisconsin-based Smart Choice MRI, the first MRI provider in the country to offer every MRI for an all-inclusive fee of $600 or less. The Edward-Elmhurst Health investment will fuel the groundbreaking of five new Smart Choice MRI clinics in the Chicago area, beginning in the fall with Bolingbrook, Oswego and Lombard, as well as an expansion into Minneapolis. Edward-Elmhurst Health doctors will continue to make MRI referrals based on the most appropriate location for patient care. Smart Choice MRI currently has three Chicago area clinics in Schaumburg, Glenview and Skokie, and another due in downtown Chicago in July. Smart Choice MRI also supports six Wisconsin clinics. Bill Kottmann, recently announced as President & CEO of Edward Hospital, will join Smart Choice MRI’s board of directors to represent Edward-Elmhurst’s system interest in the partnership.

IDEX buys European firm

LAKE FOREST — IDEX Corp. said its subsidiary LUKAS Hydraulik GmbH will acquire AWG Fittings GmbH, a European manufacturer of safety equipment, in a 46 million Euro cash deal. AWG produces engineered products for the safety and emergency response markets, including valves, monitors and nozzles, operating under the AWG, Alco, ZR, and Lancier brand names. Located in Ballendorf, Germany, AWG will operate within the IDEX Fire and Safety/Diversified Products segment. The transaction is expected to close in approximately 45 days. “AWG brings excellent brands and products to our expanding Fire Suppression platform,” said IDEX Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andy Silvernail. “This addition, coupled with our recent acquisition of Akron Brass, further supports our global customers with best in class life safety and fire suppression solutions.”

3-D Exhibits clients honored

SCHAUMBURG — 3-D Exhibits’ collaboration helped two clients receive awards for exhibit design and trade show marketing. Hill’s Pet Nutrition earned the Business Marketing Association’s top B2 Award in the Integrated Trade Show Marketing Program category. The program evolved from concepts developed during a brainstorming session conducted by 3-D Exhibits, focusing on increasing attendee dwell times and facilitating deeper interactions with visitors. Garden of Life earned both an Exhibitor magazine Gold Exhibit Design Award in the Experiential Exhibit category and a Gold ADDY Award from the American Advertising. Designed as an immersive experience, the 20x40-foot Garden of Life booth was a larger-than-life scenic depiction of a garden, bringing key elements of organic gardening to life.

Nanosphere sees record 1Q

NORTHBROOK — Medical research company Nanosphere Inc. reported record revenues for the first quarter of 2016, driven by U.S. demand for the company’s targeted molecular diagnostics. Revenues for the first quarter of 2016 were $6.6 million, compared to $4.6 million for the first quarter of 2015. The 43 percent year-over-year revenue growth was driven predominantly by U.S. based microbiology laboratories continued adoption of Nanosphere’s expanding infectious disease menu evidenced by a 55 percent growth rate in test consumables in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to the prior year period, the company reported.