Scientific & Technical Instruments Manufacturing

Scientific & Technical Instruments Manufacturing

Brief Excerpt from Industry Overview Chapter:

Companies in this industry manufacture instruments that are used primarily for laboratory analysis of chemical or physical properties. Major companies include Mettler-Toledo International, PerkinElmer, and Thermo Fisher Scientific (all based in the US), along with Eppendorf (Germany), JEOL and Shimadzu (Japan), and Oxford Instruments (the UK).

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by spending on laboratory analysis services, scientific research, and other end-user markets. The profitability of individual companies depends on controlling manufacturing costs and maintaining continuous, rapid product innovation cycles. Large companies enjoy economies of scale in sourcing material components and product distribution. Small companies can compete by specializing in instruments for niche markets or by developing a reputation for high-quality products. The US industry is highly concentrated: the largest 50 companies account for about 80% of revenue.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major products of scientific and technical instruments manufacturers include analytical and scientific instruments, which account for about 90% of the industry's revenue. Other products include chromatographic instruments, chemistry laboratory instrumentation, parts and components, and thermal analysis instruments. Companies in this industry may also produce software used for data collection and analysis, as well as pipettes, reagents, and other laboratory consumables. These products are used to analyze the chemical or physical properties of various materials or compounds.