Thermo Fisher Scientific launched the TurboTox GC/MS Productivity Solution for drugs of abuse testing. It consists of the DSQ II single quadrupole GC/MS, ToxLab 2.0 software, and methods and consumables. AC Analytical Controls introduced the AC All in One Biodiesel analyzer, featuring an Agilent 7890A GC. Phenomenex introduced Zebron ZB-5Msi GC columns for separation of […]

Palo Alto, CA 11/5/07—Varian has acquired Analogix, a developer of flash chromatography instruments and consumables, for $11 million in cash, plus assumed net debt. Future price payments could total $4 million over three years depending on milestones and financial performance. “The acquisition of Analogix is strategic to the advancement of Varian’s goal to grow applications-based […]

Spurred by the likelihood of rising fuel demand in developing economies and increasingly stringent regulations for carbon dioxide emissions in developed economies, several of the leading oil producers have been investing heavily in partnerships with universities for biofuel research. The most substantial of these investments is $500 million from BP for a 10-year consortium among […]

Arlington, Virginia 11/7/07—Security technologies company ICx Technologies completed its IPO to raise $80 million (see IBO 8/15/07). The company sold five million shares of common stock on the NASDAQ stock exchange at $16 per share. Earlier this month, the company had forecasted a price of $17–$19 per share. Shares fell 19% in their first week […]

Columbus, OH 11/1/07—Mettler-Toledo has announced that CEO Robert F. Spoerry will retire effective January 1, 2008, and has named Olivier Filliol as CEO and president. Mr. Filliol currently runs the company’s Global Sales, Service and Marketing operations, its Chinese operations and is division head of the Process Analytics business. Mr. Speorry will become executive chairman.

This year’s product safety controversies have affected manufacturers, regulators, consumers and laboratories alike. Manufacturers have increased product testing, while new regulatory efforts, by both governments and industry, have renewed calls for reform and scrutiny of the current system in multiple countries. Although it is too early to ascertain the exact effect of these efforts on […]

Lonza’s Bioscience division, consisting of its Cell Therapy, Rapid Testing Systems, Media, and Cell Discovery and Molecular Biology businesses, reported CHF 82 million ($66.9 million) in sales and EBIT of CHF 12 million ($9.8 million) for the first half of 2007. Media, and Cell Discovery and Molecular Biology sales were lower than expected. CellSystems Biotechnologies […]

The Society for Biomolecular Sciences’ (SBS) Symposium, “Back to Pharmacology: Stem Cells and Primary Cells in Drug Discovery,” was held on November 8 and 9 at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel in Anaheim, California. It was one of SBS’ small symposia focused on specific topics that the organization has been holding for a number of years […]

In the third quarter of 2007, revenues for IBO’s Laboratory Instrument Sales Index grew an impressive 13.7% to $4,218 million, identical to the second quarter’s revenue growth. Operating profit grew 21.8% to $693 million, and operating margin climbed 110 basis points to 16.4% of sales. Strong organic growth, acquisitions and favorable currency effects continued to […]

Siemens Automation and Drives introduced the Sitrans CV process GC for determining the chemical composition, superior and inferior calorific values, Wobbe index and density of natural gas. Lonza AG introduced the PyroSense online monitoring system for detection of endotoxin in water systems. ABB released the SpectraFlow CM100 raw material analyzer for cement manufacturing. Analytical Technology […]