In the second multibillion dollar deal in the analytical instrument industry in less than two years, Invitrogen and Applied Biosystems announced on June 12 a $6.7 billion merger agreement (see page 2). The merger will create the industry’s largest company and the dominant supplier for life science research. The deal brings together the industry’s largest […]

Company Announcements In January, Axela signed a North American distribution agreement with VWR for its dotLab system and reagents. BioForce Nanosciences President and COO Kerry Frey was named president and CEO in January, and former CEO Eric Henderson was named to the newly created position of chief science officer. OpGen appointed Noel Doheny CEO in […]

Company Announcements Environnement SA acquired Iséo, an environmental information systems company, in 2007, for €1 million ($1.4 million). Iséo had sales of €2.2 million ($2.8 million) in 2006. Ocimum Biosolutions raised $17 million from the Kubera Cross Border Fund in a Series B round of financing. Clemex Technologies announced in January that it is reviewing […]

Company Announcements FEI and the Foundation for Fundamental Research of Matter announced a five-year, €2.7 million ($3.9 million) joint nanotechnology research project to develop electron microscopes and focused ion beam (FIB) systems for single-atom imaging and processing of material structures. FEI opened its fourth NanoPort center of technical and applications excellence in Shanghai, China, in […]

Company Announcements Eurofins acquired Operon Biotechnologies in late 2007 and consolidated the company’s operations with Eurofins MWG and Eurofins Medigenomix for custom oligonucleotide synthesis services. In total, the three operations generate $50 million in revenues. Under a three-year research, supply and marketing agreement, Berry & Associates and Luminos will develop designer reagents to enable luminescent […]

Company Announcements Electronic Sensor Technology entered into a distribution agreement with Brechbuhler AG for Switzlerland, France, Italy and Austria in December 2007. In February, Electronic Sensor Technology announced a recapitalization agreement with Halfmoon Bay Enterprises, which will provide $5.5 million in exchange for 39%–44% ownership of its common stock, depending upon the stock’s closing price […]

Company Announcements In 2007, Biolin AB acquired UK-based Nima Technology, a provider of Langmuir Blodgett instruments for the analysis of monolayers and of tensiometers. Brightwell Scientific announced in November 2007 that Benelux Scientific will distribute its Micro Flow Imaging particle analysis products in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. On January 1, Setaram began exclusively distributing […]

New Orleans, Louisiana, played host to the 59th annual Pittsburgh conference and exhibition (Pittcon), which was held March 1–7 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Although Pittcon took place against a backdrop of escalating fears of a US recession, one would have never known it. Companies were upbeat about future business prospects and the […]

Picarro signed exclusive distribution deals with Enviro Technology Services for the UK; ETG Risorse e Tecnologia for Italy; and Envitec for Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, France and Tunisia. Newport acquired Picarro’s Laser Products business in November 2007. The business has annual sales of $5–$7 million. Picarro named Michael Woelk president and CEO in November 2007. […]