In 1984, Applied Biosystems introduced the first DNA sequencer, revolutionizing genomic analysis. Amersham Biosciences (now GE Healthcare), Beckman Coulter and other companies followed, creating a market estimated at more than $800 million. The most widely used technology for DNA sequencing is a capillary electrophoresis–based (CE) system employing the Sanger method. Although chemistries and automation advances […]

This issue, IBO has made two changes to its Lab Equipment/Consumables Sales Index. Merck KGaA was removed from the Index, while Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Laboratory Products and Services segment was added. Fourth quarter sales for the new Lab Equipment/Consumables Index gained 11.9% to $769 million, while operating profits improved 15.5% to $200 million. Operating margin […]

According to David Bannon, COO and cofounder of Headwall Photonics, the headwall is usually the most difficult part of a mountain climb. It is from this willingness to take on difficult technological challenges, as well as the need for cooperation that climbing entails, that Headwall Photonics takes its name. The company’s prospects have been rising […]

Agilent’s ambitions continue to grow. After a successful 2006 (see IBO 1/15/07), which saw it enter the high-end mass spectrometry (MS) market, the company has set its sights on other market segments. In late March, Agilent announced the formation of a Materials Sciences Solutions Unit (MSSU) within its Life Science and Chemical Analysis (LSCA) business […]

Atomic Spectroscopy Bruker AXS also unveiled some important x-ray components, such as the XFlash SDD detector that is now standard on the S2 Ranger and the new version of the MicroStar x-ray source. The MicroStar Ultra can provide a flux of 80 billion x-rays per square millimeter per second, similar to the performance of some […]

If you open the paper, it is hard not to read about a major company establishing manufacturing facilities in a foreign country. Intel’s announcements about facilities in China and Vietnam are recent examples of this phenomenon. Clearly, Asia has been the most attractive region for locating manufacturing facilities for industry in general. However, the instrument […]

Numerous new products are introduced each year at Pittcon. However, Pittcon is not what it used to be for product introductions (see page 4). Thus, while IBO always has plenty of new products to choose from for its annual pick of the top product introductions at the show, Pittcon is not the first exhibition for […]

Fourth quarter 2006 IBO Life Science Index sales rose 8.7% to $2,124 million. Operating profit for the same period gained 2.8% to $343 million, a steep decline from the previous quarter’s operating profit growth of 19%. Operating margin slipped 110 basis points from 17.2% to 16.1% of revenues. Year-over-year Life Science Index sales increased 7.7% […]