Company Announcements

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced in December 2017 that Agilent Technologies plans to expand its Memphis-based distribution center, adding 100 new positions. The center serves North American and Central America.

In December 2017, bioMérieux appointed Alexandre Mérieux as chairman and CEO. He previously served as deputy CEO. Former CEO Jean-Luc Bélingard remains on the Board.

Hach, a Danaher company, acquired Kipp & Zonen in December 2017. Kipp & Zonen manufactures and distributes instruments for measuring solar radiation and atmospheric properties. The business will join the OTT Hydromat business.

In December 2017, Bruker announced the merger of its Japanese subsidiaries, effective January 1.

Metrohm USA opened a new 90,000 ft² (8,361 m²) headquarters in Riverview, Florida, in January. The location includes a 25,000 ft² (2,323 m²) warehouse.

Agela Technologies opened a new 11,840 ft² (1,100 m²) administrative office in China in November 2017. The office has the capacity for 100 staff.

Phenomenex announced in January that it has acquired Agela Technologies (Bonna-Agela), which will provide Phenomenex products in China

In January, Agilent Technologies named Dow R. Wilson, CEO of Varian Medical Systems, to its Board, effective March 20.

In January, Agilent Technologies awarded biotech startup Angiex an Agilent Golden Ticket at LabCentral, a shared lab workplace, providing funding of one lab bench space for a year.

In January, Agilent Technologies announced a strategic scientific collaboration with the University of Southern California Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences to create the Agilent Center of Excellence in Biomolecule Characterization. The agreement includes a collaboration with principal investigator Dr. Valery Fokin, whose lab focuses on chemical reactivity and biological interactions at a molecular level.

Agilent Technologies announced in January a partnership with the Science Exchange, an enterprise platform for outsourced R&D services. The partnership includes the Agilent–Science Exchange portal that allows Agilent customers to search and request a quote for Agilent-enabled research services directly from Agilent.com.

In February, Agilent Technologies announced a collaboration with the Doping Control Center in Seoul, South Korea to test urine samples during the Olympic Games. The Center is expected to run four thousand tests.

Porvair announced in January that it will form three new reporting segments in 2018, including a new Laboratory Group, which will consist of Seal Analytical, Porvair Sciences, JGF and Rohasys. The division will account for about 30% of revenues.

GE announced on its fourth quarter 2017 conference call that Life Sciences revenue increased 5% during the quarter. Life Sciences orders grew 4% on an organic basis during the quarter, with bioprocess orders up 2%. Life Sciences orders grew 9% organically in 2017, driven by a 12% increase in bioprocess orders.

In January, Renishaw named William Lee as chief executive, effective February 1. Mr. Lee was previously Group Sales and Marketing director. Former CEO Sir David McMurtry remains executive chairman.

Danaher announced that Matthew R. McGrew will succeed Daniel L. Comas as CFO, effective January 1, 2019. Mr. McGrew is currently CFO of the company’s Diagnostics and Dental platforms.

In January, Diploma announced that Richard Ingram will join its Board as CEO designate, effective April 23. Mr. Ingram was previously president of Smiths Detection.

Thermo Fisher Scientific announced in January that as result of the US federal tax reform it will pay a one-time $500 bonus to all employees, totaling $34 million. In addition, as a result, the company plans to invest $16 million investment in R&D, sustainability initiatives and philanthropic activities in support of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education.

QIAGEN named Jonathan Sheldon, PhD, as senior vice president, head of Bioinformatics Business Area and member of the Executive Committee, effective February 1. He previously led Oracle’s Health Sciences Global Business Unit.

Endress+Hauser opened a third plant, measuring16,500 ft² (1,533 m²), in China in January in Suzhou. The company has more than 420 employees in the country, including 100 Analytik Jena employees.

Sartorius was promoted by Thermo Fisher Scientific to Platinum supplier status in Europe in February.

Roper Technologies named Neil Hunn as COO in February. He remains executive vice president.

Mettler-Toledo’s fourth quarter 2017 Lab revenue rose 11% in local currency, including 1% growth from the acquisition of Biotix (see IBO 11/15/17), or 9% organic growth. Growth for the quarter was broad based. In China, it was the seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, according to the company’s quarterly conference call. For the full-year 2017, Lab sales increased 10.9% in local currency, including 2% growth from acquisitions, to make up 50% of company sales (see Bottom Line), or $1,362.5 billion.

Mettler-Toledo disclosed in its 2017 SEC 10-K filing that Peter Aggersbjerg was named head of the Laboratory business in January. He was previously head of our Laboratory Weighing strategic business unit.