Blumenthal Visits Kochek, Learns About Firefighting Products

by Kochek | Jul 29, 2013 | News

Putnam, Connecticut – U. S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal recently spent a day touring northeastern Connecticut businesses, including the Putnam defense contractor Kochek Co., an advanced manufacturing company that uses specialized machines, robots, and lasers to produce water moving technology used for firefighting and irrigation for a wide variety of fire departments and companies.

Left to right: Gregory Kozey, U.S. Senator Blumenthal, Charles Kozey.

Currently, Kochek has a five-year, $4.5 million contract with the U.S. government, including the military, the U.S. Foriegn Service and U.S. Forest Service. Kochek produces a variety of products, including specialty nozzles, hoses and sprinklers and cleansing agents. Kochek’s technology has been associated with the wildfires in the midwest, and previously had been used to help with oil spill cleanups in Alaska. Their water delivery system has also been used in sports stadiums such as Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.

Recenty, Blumenthal, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy and Congressman John B. Larson announced a $141,420 Assistance to Firefighters Grant fot the Connecticut Public Broad Casting Network to produce a series of fire safety education programs to air on their network during the Fourth of July. The grant program is adminstered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Adminstration.

“In this fiscal year alone, Connecticut residents and first responders have received 22 federal fire safety grants, offering vital funding to hire and train new firefighters and provide our brave first responders with the best technology and safety equipment available,” said Blumenthal.

Kochek President Greg Kozey took a moment to thank Blumenthal during his visit for the supporting grants related to fire safety and emergency responders.

“The grants are really for the firefighters,” Kozey said. “I wanted the senator to know in addition to the grants being a great tool for the firemen, the effect is more widespread, as the funding then trickles down into his district at this level. It really creates honest jobs, and gives people work. It’s something they may not think about all the time-they want the firemen to have the best hoses, but it’s the workers on the floor who are making the hose.”

Kochek has been in business for 5 years. Kozey began his career in Eastford as a firefighter , before serving as chief for 11 years.

“I was also a tool maker in my other job, and I invented a few products and started growing from there. We started making things, and then it kept getting bigger and bigger. We used to have hundreds of customers, now we have no customers-we just sell to our distribution centers, and the government. It sort of sneaks up on you,” said Kozey.

Kochek has dealer networks across the country, and globally who use their products. The company, located in Putnam’s industrial park, has 90 employees, and according to Director of Marketing Dave Matthews, last year 20 additional employees were added to that figure.

“It directly effects the community, our suppliers, and beyond. The effect we have on job growth is far spread,” said Matthews.

Blumenthal’s tour began on the upper level of the factory, as Kozey showed Blumenthal several of the items that are part of the company’s contract with the state. Blumenthal questioned how the products would be used in certain situations.

“We have aluminum adaptors that hook the hoses together, and nozzles that go on the end of the hose, they are carried in the firefighters’ packs. It’s many items like that , we have hose clamps, strainers and other items that are all part of our government contract,” said Kozey.

Blumenthal is part of the Fire Caucus, and said his visit to Kochek was prompted by the fires in the Midwest, and because of the company’s reputation.

“I’ve heard alot about the company over the years, obviously they do business with the federal government,” Blumenthal said.

“I want to help promote the work they do, and this kind of activity. It’s very high quality products coming out of this company. The fires out in the Midwest, and the prevalence of fires throughout the country is very concerning. I wanted to come and see first hand where the products were made.”