Company Announcements

In December 2018, Techcomp announced the change of its name to Yunnan Energy International.

The Mercury News reported in December 2018 that Bio-Rad Laboratories is expanding in Pleasanton, California, with the purchase of 101,000 ft² (9,383 m²) of space for its digital biology business.

Bio-Rad Laboratories announced in January that Executive Vice President and CFO Christine A. Tsingos will retire, effective April 30. She has served as CFO for 16 years.

Biotage in January nominated CEO Torben Jørgensen to the Board and proposed that he be elected chairman once he leaves his position as CEO.

In January, Phenomenex, a Danaher company, opened an office in Taiwan to provide direct sales and support.

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (SSI) announced in January a partnership with Hocking College to launch the Hocking College Cannabis Analytic Lab and the first-of-its-kind Cannabis Lab Technician Associates of Science Degree. SSI also awarded a Shimadzu Partnership for Academics, Research, and Quality of Life (SPARQ) grant to the College enabling the purchase a wide range of testing equipment.

Spectris announced in January that Group Finance Director Clive Waters will retire from the company, effective April 1, and be replaced by Derek Harding, who will replace him on the Board.

In January, Agilent Technologies elected software executive Mala Anand, president of Intelligent Enterprise Solutions and Industries, to its Board, effective March 20.

In January, Biospectrum reported that Agilent Technologies has inaugurated a Center of Excellence in Mumbai, India, joining similar facilities in Manesar and Bangalore.

In January, Diploma named Johnny Thomson as CEO, effective February 25. He most recently served as Group Finance Director of Compass Group.

Gerhardt named in January Supertec as its exclusive partner in Argentina.

In January, Merck KGaA announced that 10 startups have joined its Accelerator program for three months at the Merck Innovation Center in Darmstadt, Germany. Some of the startups will also have the opportunity to extend their stay by joining the company’s China Innovation Hub in Shanghai. Among the startups are Ourotech, which uses proprietary hydrogel that can culture tumors outside of the human body and replicate drug resistance inside the human body; Nanosor, which is developing a customizable sensor platform that is capable of multi-parameter diagnosis on objects ranging from ions to proteins and DNA; Hafnium Labs, which develops simulation software to enable accurate prediction in chemistry research; and 3D bioprinting company Next Bio Innovation Labs.

Area Development reported in January that Promega is building a new $190 million R&D facility in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, which will create one hundred jobs.

In January, BIOKÉ, a business unit of Cell Signaling Technology Europe, announced an agreement with OLS OMNI Life Science to distribute OLS’ CERO benchtop 3D incubator and bioreactor, and OLS’ CASY Cell Counter and Analyzer in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

In January, Crystal Finance announced the closing of a $27.5 million Senior Credit Facility for KPM Analytics, consisting of a $21.0 million term loan, a $3.0 million revolving credit facility and a $3.5 million delayed-draw term loan. Proceeds from the transaction will be used to refinance existing debt facilities in multiple jurisdictions, finance working capital needs and provide additional debt capacity for future add-on acquisitions.

For the fiscal year ending November 30, 2018, sales for Porvair’s Laboratory division, comprised of Seal Analytical, Porvair Sciences and JG Finneran, grew 12.0% to £41.2 million ($54.9 million), with external revenue rising 9.6% to £38.7 million ($51.6 million) to make up 30% of revenues (see Bottom Line). Adjusted operating profit grew 3.2% to £6.5 million ($8.7 million). Within JG Finneran, sales of bioscience filtration media increased 26%.

Sartorius’ 2018 sales grew 11.5% to €1,566 billion ($1,842 billion), or 13.2% in constant currencies (see Bottom Line). EBITDA grew 14.7% to €1,662 billion ($1,955 billion). Bioprocess Solutions Division (BPS) sales rose 13.1% to €1,143.1 billion ($1344.8 billion), or 14.8% in constant currencies. Umetrics added 0.5 percentage points to growth. BPS EBITDA was up 15.7% to €326.9 million ($384.6 million). Lab Products & Services Division’s (LPS) revenue grew 7.3%, 9.1% on a constant currency, to €423.0 million ($497.6 million), to which Essen Bioscience contributed 2.5 percentage points of growth. LPS EBITDA rose 10.4% to €78.1 million ($91.9 million). For 2019, the company is forecasting sales to increase 7%–11%, with BPS sales expected to grow 8%–12% and LPS revenue increasing 5%–9%.

In January, Merck KGaA announced it was granted US Patent No. US 10,193,695, which relates to the formation of “cryptoobjects,” a novel security procedure linking AI and blockchain technology. The technology paves the way for established identification processes (for example, barcode scanners or mass spectrometry) to be combined with blockchain and machine learning technologies to provide a novel, integrated security approach, and thus certainty and defense to businesses.

GE Healthcare reported that fourth quarter 2018 Life Sciences revenue grew 10%, with orders up 13% organically including a 20% increase in Bioprocess orders.