In January, AMETEK formed the Ultra Precision Technologies Division to bring together its Taylor Hobson division with Solartron Metrology and Precitech in order to leverage combined manufacturing operations, technology capabilities and distribution.

Symyx Technologies’ 2006 revenues grew 16% to $124.9 million (see page 12), including a 23% increase in Symyx Tools revenues to $37.8 million and a 66% increase in Symyx Software revenues to $25.5 million. Symyx forecasts 2007 sales of $133–$140 million and first quarter sales of $24–$26 million.

3M acquired Acolyte Biomedica, a provider of automated microbial detection platforms, in February.

MDS named Douglas Price, formerly with PerkinElmer, as executive vice president Finance and CFO in February.

PerkinElmer named Richard F. Begley, PhD, as vice president and general manager of its Analytical Sciences business in February. He was previously president and CEO of Ensemble Discovery and 454 Life Sciences.

Revenues for Spectris’s Process Technology unit grew 11% to £343.6 million ($636.3 million) (see IBO 3/15/07) and operating profit grew 40% to £45.2 million. Sales to the pharmaceutical industry accounted for just over 10% of total company revenues and were strong.

Effective April 1, Hidehito Obayashi, senior vice president and executive officer for Hitachi High-Technologies, was promoted to president and CEO, following the retirement of Masaaki Hayashi.

Techcomp’s 2006 revenues grew 22.9% to $54.8 million (see IBO 3/31/07). Distribution sales increased 23.6% to $37.0 million, while manufacturing revenue rose 19.4% to $7.6 million. Sales in Mainland China increased 24.2% to account for 81% of revenues.

Danaher’s 2006 Environmental sales rose 10.5% to approximately $1.8 billion. Sales from existing businesses grew 8% and acquisitions contributed 2% growth. The water quality business grew in mid–single digits, with sales in Asia up over 20% and sales for Hach Ultra Analytics business up in mid–single digits.

First-quarter fiscal 2007 revenues for MDS Sciex increased 2% to $62 million (see page 12), or 4% on an organic basis. In markets served by joint ventures, end-user revenues increased 10%.