Company Announcements

For the fiscal half year ending October 1, Halma Environmental & Analysis revenue grew 13.2%, 4% organically, to £98.7 million ($110.9 million = €0.89 = $1) to account for 22% of sales (see IBO 11/30/16). Organic growth was primarily driven by higher sales in each of the Environmental, Water and Food Safety businesses. Geographically, currency-neutral sales improved in Asia Pacific and the US, but declined in both the UK and Europe. Segment adjusted operating profit margin slipped 71 basis points to 16.2%.

For the year ending September 30, revenues for molecular genetics firm Oxford Gene Technologies grew 15.2% to £19.7 million ($28.1 million). Product sales increased 28.6% to £18.4 million ($26.3 million).

In November, Agilent Technologies named Peter Robinson, MD, MSC, as a recipient its Agilent Thought Leader Award in recognition of his contributions to clinical genomics and computational biology. The funding will be used to extend his research to identify non-coding regions of the genome involved in gene regulation and disease.

In December, Agilent Technologies announced that Dr. Rohit Bhargava received an Agilent Thought Leader Award in recognition of his work in the development of IR spectroscopic imaging and its application to life sciences research. He is a founding professor of bioengineering at the University of Illinois Cancer Center, and is founder and director of the Cancer Community at Illinois program. The Award will fund research for facilitating IR analysis of histological samples, in particular utilizing Agilent’s Laser Direct Infrared Imaging technology.

IIlumina announced in November in an SEC filing that Tristan Orpin, executive vice president, Clinical Genomics, will leave the company in January 2017.

In December, Illumina announced that Sam A. Samad was named senior vice president and CFO, effective January 6, 2017. Most recently, he served as senior vice president and corporate treasurer for Cardinal Health.

Illumina named Jonathan Seaton as senior vice president for Corporate & Business Development, effective January 3, 2017. He previously served as vice president and head of Strategy and Business Development for Becton, Dickinson’s Life Sciences segment.

In December, Danaher promoted Rainer Blair, president of Pall and a Danaher vice president, executive vice president, effective January 1, 2017. He will have responsibility for the company’s Life Sciences platform.

AMETEK named Bruce P. Wilson as senior vice president, Ultra Precision Technologies, in December. He previously served as vice president and general mananger. Ultra Precision Technologies businesses include Taylor Hobson and Reichert.

Peter Chambré stepped down from the Spectris board, effective December 2, and Chairman Dr. John Hughes announced he intends to resign.

Bruker announced in December SEC filing that René Lenggenhager, Bruker BioSpin president, will be leaving the company effective February 24, 2017, to become CEO of COMET-Group.

In December, Waters named Sherry Buck as named senior vice president and CFO, effective January 9, 2017. She will replace Eugene G. Cassis, who will serve as a senior advisory. She previously served as vice president and CFO of Libbey.

Thermo Fisher Scientific announced in December its Center of Excellence in Immunotherapy Program designed to build strategic collaborations, and accelerate research and clinical trials in immune-oncology. The first partner is Washington University School of Medicine. The University’s Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, led by Dr. Robert Schreiber, will utilize a Thermo Fisher technology­–led workflow, including transcriptomic profiling of clinical trial samples, deep immune profiling with immuno-assays, antigen discovery using MS, and RNA-ISH technologies to explore novel targets through in situ analysis of tumor microenvironments.

In December, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced in a SEC filing that Peter W. Wilver, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, will retire, effective March 31, 2017.

The LimerickPost  reported in December that Becton, Dickinson (BD) will open an R&D center in Limerick, Ireland.  The €21 million ($23 million) Centre of Excellence will initially target the company’s Life Sciences business. The Centre will employ 200, including 100 new employees. At present, BD has nearly 600 employees in Ireland.

Titertek-Berthold/Berthold Detection Systems will merge with the life science business of Berthold Technologies, effective January 1, 2017. The new entity will be led by Titertek-Berthold President Dr. Anselm Berthold.