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BioTek Instruments, Inc. is a privately held Vermont–based manufacturer notable for microplate instrumentation and bio-analytics software for life science.〔 It designs, builds, and sells detection, washing, liquid dispensing and automation products that are compatible with various microplate formats. Microplates, sometimes referred to as Microtiter (microtitre) plates, are typically found in flat or round bottom configurations with multiple wells arranged in a rectangular matrix often made of polystyrene or polypropylene.〔 Peter Banks, (The Microplate Market Past, Present and Future - microplates today – the global market ), ''Drug Discovery World'', Spring 2009 edition, Retrieved 2010-02-17〕 They are used by medical and scientific researchers for screening and measurement and numerous other purposes by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, university science departments, clinics, food manufacturers and nonprofits such as the American Red Cross. According to CEO Briar Alpert,〔 BioTek's instruments help researchers in the life sciences, drug research, and disease analysis to better understand biological processes at the cellular and molecular level.〔 ==History and Milestones== The firm was begun in 1968 by University of Vermont physiologist Dr.Norman Alpert who developed biomedical testing equipment. The initial focus of the biomedical business was hospital safety and quality assurance with products that included medical safety analyzers, cardiac simulators, and defibrilator testers. In 1981, the firm built its first microplate reader,〔BioTek Instruments, (BioTek Instruments Web Site ), ''BioTek Instruments'', 2010-01-29, Retrieved 2010-01-29〕 leading to the creation of BioTek's Laboratory Instrumentation Division. By 1984, it wrote software to log data, which worked on various personal computers including the Apple II Plus and the IBM PC. In 1986, the firm moved R&D and marketing and sales departments to Colchester, Vermont but then moved in 1990 to the Highland Park section of Winooski.〔 In 1987, it offered a stacking automated reader that could read up to 25 plates at a time.〔 The firm adopted voice mail technology in 1991 and buried a time capsule that is scheduled to be opened October 2041.〔 In 2001, Briar Alpert, son of founder Norman Alpert, became president and CEO,〔 and faced a tough decision. At that point, it had a thriving business in biomedical as well as microplate technology. Briar Alpert, in consultation with his brother Adam and his father Norman, wondered whether the firm lacked resources to compete effectively in biomedical technology since industry survival required substantial investments. The houses of BioTek's top executives were all mortgaged and the company had substantial debt, and selling the biomedical division (2002 ) allowed the company to pay off its debts.〔 Staff writer, (Profile: BioTek Instruments ), ''Vermont Economic Development Authority'', Jan 1 2008, quote=But by 2000, Norman Alpert's successors saw greater opportunities for growth in the life-science tools that the company had started making in the late 1970s. These instruments are used for '10,000 purposes,' Briar Alpert says, citing the examples of testing the safety of the blood supply and enabling forensic labs to process DNA as evidence ..., Retrieved 2010-01-29 〕 Selling the division felt like "selling one's baby", according to Alpert. The company has since expanded with overseas affiliates and offices, and entered into cooperative arrangements with the University of Vermont as well as companies such as Immucor, Inc., Diachemix LLC, Gyrasol Technologies, Invitrogen Corporation, Enzo Biochem, Inc., and Global Cell Solutions, Inc.〔 The firm's marketing effort is led by Peter Weith, and Briar Alpert's brother Adam is the vice president of business development. BioTek's first website appeared in 1996, and has since been updated and expanded to offer multi-lingual access.〔 In 2007 it launched an online customer resource center and opened offices in China, India, and Singapore.〔 In 2008 it held a global sales meeting in Burlington, Vermont which was attended by worldwide staff and distributors from 42 countries.〔 It has distributors in nations such as New Zealand.〔(BioTek Instruments appoints Millennium Science as New Zealand distributor ),''Vermont Business'', Jul 9 2009, quote=BioTek Instruments of Winooski, Vermont, has appointed Millennium Science Pty. Ltd., as their official distributor in New Zealand...., Retrieved 2010-01-29 〕 Additional expansions were seen in 2009 and 2010 with a corporate headquarters expansion and the opening of a Swiss office, respectively. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「BioTek」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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