Bio-Rad Laboratories facts for kids
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Bio-Rad Laboratories is based in Hercules, California, located along the Bay.
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| Public | |
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| Founded | 1952 |
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| Headquarters |
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U.S.
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Area served
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Global |
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Key people
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| Revenue |  US$2.57 billion (2024) |
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Operating income
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US$269 million (2024) |
| US$-1.8 billion (2024) |
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| Total assets | US$9.36 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | US$6.57 billion (2024) |
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Number of employees
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7,700 (2024) |
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. is an American company that makes special technology products. These products are used for life science research and for checking people's health (called clinical diagnostics).
The company started in 1952 in Berkeley, California. It was founded by a husband and wife, David and Alice Schwartz. Both of them studied at the University of California, Berkeley. Today, Bio-Rad is based in Hercules, California, and works all over the world.
Contents
What Bio-Rad Does: Products and Services
Bio-Rad creates many different tools and materials for science. These help scientists study living things.
Life Science Products: Exploring Living Things
Bio-Rad's life science products include machines, computer programs, and chemicals. They are used in many areas of science, like:
- Studying cells (the tiny building blocks of life).
- Understanding genes and how they work.
- Cleaning and studying proteins.
- Finding new medicines.
- Making sure our food is safe.
- Helping with science education.
These products use special methods to separate, clean, identify, and study biological materials. This includes things like antibodies, proteins, nucleic acids (like DNA), cells, and bacteria.
Diagnostic Products: Helping Doctors and Patients
Bio-Rad also makes products for medical testing. These products help doctors get important information about a person's health. They are used for:
- Testing blood for transfusions.
- Checking for diabetes.
- Testing for autoimmune diseases.
- Finding infectious diseases.
These tools help doctors diagnose, monitor, and treat different illnesses and health conditions.
Bio-Rad's Journey: A Look at Its History
Bio-Rad Laboratories began in 1952 with David and Alice Schwartz. They were both recent graduates from the University of California, Berkeley.
Key Moments and Growth
- In 1976, Bio-Rad bought a company called Environmental Chemical Specialties (ECS). ECS made human control serum, which is used in medical tests.
- In 2008, Bio-Rad's leaders rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. This was on a day known as 'Bloody Friday' because stock markets around the world saw big drops.
- In 2011, Bio-Rad gained a new technology called droplet digital PCR. This technology helps scientists find rare genetic sequences and measure tiny differences.
- In January 2013, Bio-Rad bought AbD Serotec. This added over 15,000 different antibodies and kits to Bio-Rad's products.
- By 2016, Bio-Rad had sales offices in more than 35 countries outside the United States. They also worked with other distributors to sell their products.
- In 2017, Bio-Rad acquired RainDance Technologies. This company made droplet-based PCR systems, similar to the technology Bio-Rad acquired in 2011.
- In March 2021, Bio-Rad announced they would work together with Roche, another big company in healthcare.
Vickers Instruments: A Historic Purchase
In 1989, Bio-Rad bought a British company called Vickers. Vickers had a long history of making scientific instruments. Before 1963, Vickers was known as Cooke, Troughton & Simms. This company was formed in 1922 by joining two older instrument makers:
- T. Cooke & Sons, started in 1837 by Thomas Cooke.
- Troughton & Simms, started in 1828 by Edward Troughton.
Bioradiations: A Magazine for Scientists
Bioradiations is an online magazine created by Bio-Rad. It shares interesting stories, tips, and techniques for researchers. It also talks about Bio-Rad's products. Bioradiations started as a printed magazine in 1965 and became an online publication in 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Bio-Rad para niños
- Laboratory equipment
- List of S&P 500 companies
