Agilent Technologies
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Laboratory instruments, software solutions, services, consumable products |
| Predecessor | Hewlett-Packard (spin-off) |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Hewlett-Packard (spin-off) |
| Headquarters | Santa Clara , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Padraig McDonnell (CEO) |
| Products | Laboratory instruments, software solutions, services, consumable products |
Number of employees | 16,200 (2023) |
| Website | www |
Agilent Technologies, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, specializing in providing laboratory instruments, software solutions, services, and consumable products. Established in 1999 as a spin-off from Hewlett-Packard, Agilent's initial public offering marked the largest IPO ever recorded in Silicon Valley at that time. Between 1999 and 2014, the company manufactured optics components (such as LEDs and lasers), semiconductor products, EDA software, along with test and measurement devices; this segment was later separated to form Keysight. Since then, Agilent has broadened its focus to serve pharmaceutical, diagnostics & clinical, as well as academic and government research sectors.
History
The origins trace back to 1965 when Hewlett-Packard expanded into scientific instrumentation by acquiring F&M Scientific, a producer of gas chromatographs. Agilent Technologies was created in 1999 by spinning off HP’s divisions involved in test & measurement, optics, instrumentation, chemical analysis, electronic components, and medical equipment. This strategic move was designed to overcome obstacles in scaling HP’s revenue growth and to better compete against more nimble smaller enterprises.
At its inception, Agilent adopted the motto "Innovating the HP Way," building on Hewlett-Packard’s established corporate culture. The company's starburst emblem represented a "burst of insight," while the name "Agilent" was chosen to convey agility. The spin-off included an IPO that generated $2.1 billion, setting a record for its time.
2000–2009
During the early 2000s, economic instability led to decreased demand for Agilent’s offerings, including sluggish sales of healthcare products to U.S. hospitals—which accounted for approximately 60% of revenue. The downturn affected sectors such as communications and semiconductors as well, with cancellations totaling $500 million in orders. These challenges resulted in substantial workforce reductions; from a headcount of 48,000 in 2001, Agilent eliminated 18,500 positions by early 2003. Amid this restructuring in 2001, the company divested its healthcare and medical products division to Philips Medical Systems; at that time, Agilent was valued near $11 billion. Notably, HP Medical Products had been one of Hewlett-Packard’s oldest business units.
In August 2005, Agilent sold its semiconductor integrated circuit operations to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Silver Lake Partners for $2.66 billion as part of a strategic decision to concentrate on its core test-and-measurement business. This transaction entailed reducing the workforce by approximately 1,300 employees from a total of 28,000. The semiconductor business re-emerged privately as Avago Technologies until going public again in August 2009; following its acquisition of Broadcom Corporation in 2016, Avago rebranded itself as Broadcom Limited.
Also in August 2005, Agilent divested its 47% ownership in Lumileds—an LED manufacturer originating from Hewlett-Packard’s optoelectronics division—to Philips for $1 billion. Concurrently, Agilent announced intentions to sell its semiconductor test operations—covering system-on-chip and memory testing markets—which subsequently became Verigy, a publicly listed company on Nasdaq by mid-2006.
2010 onwards
In 2009, Agilent discontinued a segment within its Test & Measurement division involving automated optical inspection, solder paste inspection, and automated X-ray product lines. In 2011, it collaborated with the University of California, Davis to launch the "Davis Millimeter Wave Research Center." That same year saw Agilent bolster its life sciences portfolio through acquiring Halo Genomics—a Swedish company focused on next-generation sequencing technologies.
On May 17, 2012, Agilent enhanced its life sciences capabilities by acquiring Danish cancer diagnostics firm Dako for $2.2 billion. On September 19, 2013, the company declared plans to split into two publicly traded entities: one retaining the Agilent name with emphasis on life sciences, diagnostics, and applied markets; the other becoming Keysight Technologies dedicated to electronic measurement solutions. This separation was finalized on November 1, 2014. Additionally in 2014, Agilent exited the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) sector.
In September 2015, Agilent acquired Seahorse Bioscience for $235 million to strengthen cell analysis solutions. On July 7, 2016, it purchased Cobalt Light Systems—a UK-based Raman spectroscopy instrument developer—for £40 million. Later that year included the acquisition of Multiplicom N.V., a European diagnostics company.
Beginning January 2018, Agilent further expanded its cell analysis offerings by acquiring Luxcel Biosciences. By May 2018, it completed multiple acquisitions including Lasergen Inc., digital lab management specialist Genohm, chemical standards supplier Ultra Scientific, and capillary electrophoresis expert Advanced Analytical Technologies (AATI) for a combined $250 million. In August 2018 came acquisitions of ProZyme—a glycan reagent manufacturer—and Young In Scientific Co. Ltd., an instrument distributor based in South Korea. In September 2018, Agilent purchased ACEA Biosciences for $250 million to enhance cell analysis technology capabilities.
In August 2019, Agilent acquired BioTek Instruments—a US-based designer and manufacturer of life science instruments—for $1.165 billion.
On May 1, 2024, Padraig McDonnell took over as CEO of Agilent Technologies from Mike McMullen.
Products and services
Agilent caters to analytical laboratories and clinical diagnostics sectors by providing an extensive array of technological platforms. These include automation systems, bioreagents, FISH probes, gas and liquid chromatography instruments, immunohistochemistry solutions, informatics, mass spectrometry devices, microarrays, spectroscopy equipment, target enrichment technologies, and vacuum systems.
Additionally, the company delivers laboratory management offerings such as enterprise asset management, laboratory business intelligence solutions, equipment servicing, software support, regulatory compliance assistance, sample preparation products, genomics and cloning tools, GC and HPLC columns, spectrometry consumables, and related supplies. Agilent dedicates significant resources to research and development both internally and through collaborations with top academic institutions to propel advancements in life sciences, diagnostics, and chemical analysis.
In recent years, Agilent has prioritized digital laboratory instrumentation aimed at improving workflow productivity. For instance, in 2020 it introduced CrossLab Virtual Assist—a mobile application that enables remote technical support. Its suite of digital tools like CrossLab Connect works to enhance laboratory efficiency and sustainability by maximizing instrument usage while minimizing energy consumption.
Agilent is recognized as a leader in target enrichment technologies tailored for next-generation sequencing (NGS) processes. Its offerings encompass sample preparation kits, quality assurance and control instruments, 2100 bioanalyzers, and automation platforms.
In early 2023, the company revealed plans for a $725 million expansion of its nucleic acid-based therapeutics manufacturing plant located in Frederick, Colorado, underscoring its dedication to scaling biopharmaceutical production capabilities.