Bio-Rad Laboratories facts for kids
 |
|
Bio-Rad Laboratories is based in Hercules, California, located along the Bay.
|
|
| Public | |
| Traded as |
|
| Industry |
|
| Founded | 1952 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters |
,
U.S.
|
|
Area served
|
Global |
|
Key people
|
|
| Revenue |  US$2.67 billion (2023) |
|
Operating income
|
US$338 million (2023) |
| ▲ US$-637 million (2023) | |
| Total assets | US$12.3 billion (2023) |
| Total equity | US$8.74 billion (2023) |
|
Number of employees
|
≈ 8,030 (December 2023) |
| Footnotes / references Financials as of December 31, 2023[update] |
|
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 in medical tests. The company started in 1952 in Berkeley, California. It was founded by a husband and wife, David and Alice Schwartz. Both of them went to the University of California, Berkeley. Today, Bio-Rad is based in Hercules, California, and works all over the world.
Contents
What Bio-Rad Does
Bio-Rad has two main parts to its business:
Life Science Products
This part of Bio-Rad makes tools, computer programs, and materials for science research. These products help scientists study things like cell biology (how cells work) and gene expression (how genes are used). They also help with finding new medicines and making sure food is safe.
The products use special technologies to separate, clean, find, and study tiny living things. These include things like antibodies, proteins, nucleic acids (like DNA), cells, and bacteria.
Diagnostic Products
This part of Bio-Rad makes products and systems for medical tests. These tests help doctors get important information about a person's health. For example, they are used for checking blood types, monitoring diabetes, and testing for infections.
These products help doctors figure out what diseases people have. They also help them keep track of how diseases are doing and how to treat them.
Company History
Bio-Rad Laboratories was started in 1952 by David and Alice Schwartz. They had just finished studying at the University of California, Berkeley.
In 1976, Bio-Rad bought another company called Environmental Chemical Specialties (ECS). This company made a special liquid used to check human blood.
In 2008, Bio-Rad's leaders got to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. This happened on October 24, a day when many stock markets around the world saw big drops.
In 2011, Bio-Rad got a new technology called droplet digital PCR. This technology helps scientists find rare genetic parts in tumors. It can also measure how many copies of a gene are present very precisely.
In 2013, Bio-Rad bought AbD Serotec. This added more than 15,000 different antibodies and test kits to Bio-Rad's products. These are used for both research and medical tests.
By 2016, Bio-Rad sold its products directly in over 35 countries outside the United States. They had local offices to help with sales and customer service. In other places, they worked with local sellers.
In 2017, Bio-Rad bought RainDance Technologies. This company also made systems that use droplets for PCR tests.
In March 2021, Bio-Rad announced they would work together with another big company called Roche.
Vickers Instruments
In 1989, Bio-Rad bought a British company called Vickers. Vickers was known for making scientific instruments. This company had a very long history, going back to 1828.
Bioradiations Magazine
Bioradiations is an online magazine made by Bio-Rad. It shares stories, tips, and information for scientists. It also talks about Bio-Rad's products and services. Bioradiations started as a printed magazine in 1965. It stopped printing in 2011 and became an online publication instead.
See also
In Spanish: Bio-Rad para niños
- Laboratory equipment
- List of S&P 500 companies
