VWR International
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Research laboratory supplies distribution |
| Founded | 1852 |
| Headquarters | Radnor, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | North America, Europe, 25 countries worldwide |
Key people | Michael Stubblefield (CEO) |
| Products | Chemicals, safety apparel, scientific instruments, laboratory furnishings, laboratory support services, clinical and biorepository services, procurement solutions |
| Revenue | $5.9 billion (2018) |
Number of employees | 12,000+ (2018) |
| Parent | Avantor |
VWR International operates as a distributor based in the United States, specializing in research laboratory supplies. It provides an extensive selection exceeding 1.2 million products to a client base of over 250,000 customers throughout North America and Europe. The company's main U.S. office is located in Radnor, Pennsylvania. In Forbes rankings, VWR was positioned at #91 in 2006 and improved to #77 in 2005 among the largest private American enterprises. Prominent vendors associated with VWR include Applied Scientific, 3B Scientific, Duracell, Kimberly-Clark, Bel-Art Products, and Welch Allyn.
The company caters to diverse industries such as government agencies, biotechnology firms, life sciences, educational institutions, electronics manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies. By 2010, VWR had established operations across 25 countries supported by a logistics framework comprising 25 distribution centers, which collectively handled approximately 50,000 order lines daily. Reporting revenue of $5.9 billion in 2018, VWR employs more than 12,000 individuals worldwide. It functions as a subsidiary under Avantor, with Michael Stubblefield serving as the chief executive officer.
VWR’s comprehensive product range includes chemicals, safety apparel, scientific instruments, and specialized laboratory furnishings. Its service offerings encompass laboratory support functions, clinical and biorepository services, along with procurement solutions—integral elements of its strategy to serve scientific markets on a global scale.
History
The origins of VWR trace back to 1852 when John Taylor established the John Taylor Company, initially focusing on mining and laboratory merchandise. Over time, the firm concentrated its efforts on laboratory-related markets and expanded into cleanroom technology, safety equipment, and clinical sectors.
In 1902, F.W. Braun acquired the enterprise and incorporated it into the F.W. Braun Corporation. Braun departed in 1908 to initiate Braun-Knecht-Heimann. Subsequently, George Van Waters and Nat Rogers purchased Braun-Knecht-Heimann in 1950 and then acquired the F.W. Braun Corporation in 1953. They merged these assets with their existing chemical distribution business Van Waters and Rogers, which they had founded in 1924. The entity evolved into VWR United Corporation before becoming Univar Corporation in 1974; later in 1986, it split into two separate companies: Univar and VWR Corporation.
VWR grew through strategic acquisitions such as Science Kit, Boreal Laboratories, and Edmund Scientific’s catalog division in 2001. Earlier acquisitions included Ward's Science and Sargent-Welch Scientific Company in 1989. The purchase of Baxter’s Industrial division in 1995—largely financed by German chemical producer Merck KGaA (known as EMD Chemicals within the U.S.)—significantly broadened VWR’s international presence. Merck eventually acquired VWR outright and combined it with Merck Eurolab to establish a global laboratory distribution network.
In 2004, private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) acquired control of VWR through a limited partnership arrangement. CD&R later sold the company to Madison Dearborn Partners in 2007. In 2010, VWR shifted its headquarters to Radnor, Pennsylvania.
The company faced criticism following its decision in 2010 to close its unionized distribution center located in Brisbane, California, relocating operations to a non-union facility in Visalia that offered lower wages and presented unionization difficulties.
VWR sustained its expansion by acquiring AMRESCO Inc., a supplier of biochemical products in 2011; BioExpress Corp later that year; Therapak Corporation in 2016; followed by MESM Ltd., EPL Archives, and Seastar Chemicals during 2017.
In October 2014, VWR’s initial public offering generated $536 million and valued the company at nearly $5 billion. In May 2017, Avantor—a Center Valley, Pennsylvania-based provider of ultra-high-purity materials for life sciences—announced plans to acquire VWR for roughly $6.4 billion. This transaction was finalized in November of that year.
By June 2020, Avantor had achieved a ranking of 484 on the Fortune 500 list based on revenue figures that reflected its expanded global footprint after integrating VWR’s operations.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Businesses located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
- Radnor Township, Pennsylvania
- Initial public offerings in 2014
- Mergers and acquisitions in 2017
- Former Nasdaq-listed companies
- American enterprises founded in 1852
- 1852 establishments in Pennsylvania
- U.S. distribution companies
- American companies established in 1852
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
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