BioTek
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Scientific instruments, software |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Founder | Dr. Norman Alpert, George H. Luhr |
| Defunct | 2019 |
| Fate | Acquired by Agilent Technologies |
| Headquarters | Winooski , United States |
Key people | Briar Alpert (CEO, from 2001) |
| Products | Microplate readers, washers, dispensers, laboratory automation systems, microscopy technologies |
Number of employees | 350 |
| Parent | Agilent Technologies |
BioTek Instruments operated as a privately owned manufacturer specializing in scientific instruments and software tailored for life sciences research and quality control within related sectors. Established in 1968 by Dr. Norman Alpert, a physiologist at the University of Vermont Medical College, alongside engineer George H. Luhr, the company was based in Winooski, Vermont. Leadership transitioned to Briar Alpert as CEO in 2001. The facility located in Winooski underwent expansions in both 2009 and 2017.
In 2019, BioTek was acquired by Agilent Technologies for $1.165 billion, with its product lines incorporated to support affordable and efficient analysis across a wide array of life science fields.
Originally, the company manufactured equipment designed for the testing and calibration of medical devices; however, during the 1980s, it redirected its efforts toward microplate readers, eventually divesting its medical testing device segment in 2002. By 2013, BioTek’s offerings had expanded to include microplate readers, washers, dispensers, laboratory automation systems, and developing microscopy technologies. The workforce comprised roughly 350 employees worldwide, with approximately 250 stationed in Vermont and the rest engaged in sales across key global markets.