In calendar year 2008, Thermo Fisher Scientific retained its position as the number one provider of analytical and life science instruments and aftermarket products, according to IBO’s annual calculation of the top 30 companies. The top 30 companies generated an estimated $26.6 billion in sales of analytical and life science instruments and aftermarket products last […]
Fourth-quarter 2008 IBO Life Science Index sales rose 1.7% to $2,416 million, while operating profits improved 1.3% to $435 million, and operating margins declined 10 basis points to 18.0% of revenues. For the year, Life Science Index sales grew 9.2% to $9,422 million. Operating profit climbed 15.6% to $1,556 million, and operating margins improved 90 […]
Santa Clara, CA 2/17/09—Due to lower than expected fiscal first-quarter revenues, Agilent Technologies has announced a restructuring of its global infrastructure operations, the shut down of two small board-inspection businesses in the Electronic Measurement unit and the layoff of 600 employees. The restructuring is expected to reduce ongoing operating costs by $150 million. Agilent estimates […]
Despite the US government’s approval of a stimulus plan and the infusion of additional capital into the financial system, the markets failed to rally in February. The housing market further deteriorated and unemployment claims reached record highs. On February 27, fourth-quarter 2008 US GDP was revised downward to an annualized contraction of 6.2%, the worst […]
Columbus, OH 2/5/09—Mettler-Toledo International announced that it has initiated a Cost Reduction Program that will reduce its workforce by 5%, or 600 people. Other cost containment measures will also be undertaken. The Program is expected to reduce operational costs by more than $40 million on an annual basis. The company expects to record pre-tax restructuring […]
As IBO reported on November 30, 2008, government stimulus plans worldwide could help sales of lab instruments and products. Four countries that have approved stimulus packages this year are Norway, Canada, Australia and Germany. In January, Norway announced a NOK $2.87 billion ($415 million) stimulus plan. The plan included a 181% increase to NOK 900 […]
Traditionally, the fourth quarter is the strongest quarter for sales of instruments and associated laboratory products due to budget releases. However, 2008 was not like any other year. Following the beginning of the banking crisis in September and the subsequent rapid deterioration of the worldwide economy, demand from major end-markets for analytical instruments, such as […]
Only half of the 21 companies in the IBO Laboratory Sales Index reported fourth-quarter earnings before the publication of this issue of IBO. For the 11 companies, revenues improved 1.0%, operating profits grew 3.5%, and operating margins improved 60 basis points to 21.9% of sales. Companies, such as Ilumina, Luminex and QIAGEN, sustained strong sales […]
Palo Alto, CA 1/16/09—Varian has announced that its expects fiscal year 2009 first-quarter sales, for the quarter ended January 2, to be $205–$210 million, compared to revenues of $237.4 million for the same period a year ago. “Although we entered the first quarter with a strong backlog for these products and saw solid orders during […]
Venlo, The Netherlands 1/22/09—Corbett, QIAGEN, ITF Labortechnik and Applied Biosystems have settled their disputes concerning the infringement by Corbett’s Rotor-Gene Real-Time PCR-Cyclers of Applied Biosystems’ Real-Time Thermal Cycler Instrument patents. Corbett, which was acquired by QIAGEN last year (see IBO 7/15/08), has entered into an agreement to license certain technology from Applied Biosystems related to […]
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IBO (Instrument Business Outlook) is a twice-monthly newsletter aimed at providing decision-makers with the latest and most complete information available on the life science and analytical instrument industry, and lab product markets. IBO delivers the latest curated industry news, information and trends, as well as SDi data and analysis to deliver the maximum in industry insight with a minimum time investment for executives and investors.
