Company Announcements

Anton Paar opened its 13th subsidiary in Zofingen, Switzerland, in January.

In 2009, sales for Corning’s Life Sciences segment grew 12.3% to $366 million (see IBO 3/31/10) to make up 7% of company sales. The increase was due to the acquisition of Axygen (see IBO 9/30/09), but existing life science product volumes declined. Two customers represented 45% of revenue. The segment recorded an $8 million restructuring charge.

Agilent is collaborating with the National Center for Food Safety and Technology to develop new scientific methods for food testing.

Millipore’s 2009 revenues increased 3.3% to $1,654.4 million (see IBO 2/28/10), including a 3% decline from currency effects and 1% growth from acquisitions. Adjusted operating profit rose 7.6% to $341.2 million. Bioprocess revenue grew 5.1%, including a 3% adverse effect from currency, due to higher sales of downstream bioprocessing products. Bioscience sales grew 1.0%, including a negative 2% effect from currency and 1% growth from the Guava acquisition (see IBO 2/15/09), due to sales of protein research and immunoassay products, and lab water products and services. Total company sales in the Americas and Asia/Pacific increased 6.6% and 9.7% to 40% and 20% of revenues, respectively. European sales declined 2.6%.

Sartorius’s 2009 revenues declined 1.6% to €602.1 million ($836.3 million). EBITA increased 7.2% to €60.9 million ($84.6 million) (see IBO 3/31/10). North American currency-adjusted sales rose 2.7% to represent 20% of sales. Sales to Europe and Asia-Pacific each declined 4.6% to represent 58% and 17% of sales, respectively. Biotechnology sales rose 9.4% to €400.4 million ($556.1 million), or 8.3% excluding currency, driven by sales of single-use products. Mechatronics sales fell 17.9% to €201.7 million ($280.1 million), and were down 19.3% excluding currency, due to lower sales to the chemical industry. The Mechatronics Division was strategically realigned and will now emphasize applications. For 2010, currency-adjusted sales for Biotechnology are expected to grow in the upper single digits, and Mechatronics sales are expected to grow in the low single digits.

Bruker AXS Microanalysis GmbH changed its name to Bruker Nano GmbH in February.

Techcomp’s 2009 revenues increased 29.3% to $104.8 million. Manufacturing sales rose 46.1% to $19.9 million. Distribution sales increased 25.9% to $84.9 million (see IBO 3/15/10). Sales to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), India, Indonesia and other countries grew 20.7%, 32.5%, 50.1% and 58.9%, respectively. Sales to Hong Kong declined 0.4%. PRC sales accounted for 77% of revenues.

In March, Agilent Technologies named Vice President and Chief Information Officer Rick Burdsall to the newly created position of chief infrastructure officer.

Bio-Rad Laboratories appointed Ted W. Love, executive vice president for R&D at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, to its Board in March.