Growth in Asia and Latin America
In 2008, total revenues of Laboratory Business decreased slightly by 1.6%. On a currency-adjusted basis, total revenues increased by 2.5%. We are represented by our own local companies in 42 countries worldwide with a broad range of laboratory chemicals. We were satisfied with growth in Asia, which reached 6.5% despite strong negative currency effects, and in Latin America, where sales rose by 7.4%. Sales in the European market remained stable, while a decline was recorded in the comparatively smaller market of North America.
Innovative rapid food tests
Our microbiology business achieved sustainable growth in 2008. Rapid microbiology tests have become a special highlight of our portfolio. They are used to detect harmful and pathogenic microorganisms in foods, such as salmonella and coli bacteria. The business for food and environmental tests with the newly launched Spectroquant® Pharo spectrophotometers got off to a good start. They are used to perform tests of the Spectroquant® range rapidly, precisely and efficiently. With our U.S.-based cooperation partner Rules-Based Medicine Inc., we further expanded the bioscience business with
bead-based assays for biomarker detection in pharmaceutical research.
New products for chromatography
By acquiring the Swedish company SeQuant we rounded off the chromatography portfolio. SeQuant specializes in the development of products for chromatography, namely the separation of polar chemical compounds. The focus is on innovative ZIC-HILIC® technology. This product line ideally complements our existing portfolio in HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography). In 2008, ZIC-HILIC® products were also used to test for melamine contamination in formula, as recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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