Danaher Corporation
June 18, 2011 – 5:55 pm
Business Profile
Danaher Corporation provides design, manufacture, service and the marketing of medical, industrial, consumer and professional products. Danaher Corporation has four business segments such as Professional Instrumentation, Industrial Technologies, Medical Technologies and the Tools and Components.
Danaher Corporation’s (originally DMG, Inc) genesis was started in 1969 when Massachusetts (real estate investment trust) was formed. The company was reorganized in 1978 as Florida Corporation and became a subsidiary of DMI (Diversified Mortgage Investors, Inc). In 1980, it again reorganized and became subsidiary of DMG, Inc, which is a holding company. In 1984 Danaher got the name and in 1986, reincorporated as
Delaware Corporation.
In December 2006, Danaher Corporation acquired Vision Systems Limited, and Sybron Dental Specialties and other 9 companies that manufactures and assembles environmental instrumentation, industrial products and medical equipment, in various markets of diagnostics for critical-care, electronic test, water quality, controls and sensors and product identification. Danaher Corporation has acquired ChemTreat, Inc. in July 2007. It provides solutions for water treatment in various industries. The company sold out power quality segment in July 2007, to Thomas & Betts Corporation.
The Danaher Corporation has listed in NYSE under the ticker ‘DHR’. The segment sales were increased 12% in 2006 as compared to 2005. The Operating profits for company’s various segments were 21.5% in 2006 as compared to 20.7% in 2005.
Following are business segments of the company:
Professional Instrumentation
This segment provides various services and products to technical and professional customers. Professional Instrumentation segment has two business units that are environmental and the electronic test. In 2006, this segment reported sales of 47% in United States, 30% in Europe, 14% in Asia and 9% in various other regions.
The environmental unit has two principle markets that are water quality, and the retail or commercial petroleum.
Water quality services offer various analytical instruments and related various other consumables and several associated services, which measure and detect chemical, microbiological and physical parameters in wastewater, groundwater, drinking water and the pure water. The unit also provides UV disinfection systems. The products of water quality units have various brands name, including HACH, HACH ULTRA ANALYTICS, TROJAN TECHNOLOGIES and DR. LANGE.
Electronic test unit designs, manufactures, markets various professional compact test tools and calibration equipment or component for electrical, electronic, calibration and industrial applications. Test products and components measure voltage, resistance, current, power quality, pressure, temperature, air quality and frequency. Users of products include electricians, electrical engineers, electronic technicians, maintenance professionals in industries and medical technicians. Apart from these products Fluke Networks business (acquired by company) provides hardware and software products that used for testing, analysis and monitoring of wide and local area networks and copper and fiber infrastructure of networks. The products of electronic test unit have various brands name, such as FLUKE, VISUAL NETWORKS, FLUKE NETWORKS, FLUKE BIOMEDICAL and RAYTEK.
Medical Technologies
This segment provides various services and products to doctors, dentists, hospital and various scientific professionals that use these products to enhance their professional skills. In 2006 sales of this segment is 34% in United States, 42% in Europe, 16% in Asia and 8% in other regions. Medical technologies segment has three business units that are dental products, life sciences instrumentation and critical care diagnostics.
Dental products unit designs, manufactures, markets various dental products, such as electric and air hand pieces, digital imaging, treatment units and other magnification and visualization systems, bonding, restorative and impression materials; orthodontic systems and brackets, systems for endodontic and consumables, and products for infection-control. The products of dental products units are marketed under various brands such as KAVO, GENDEX, DEXIS, ORMCO, PELTON & CRANE, TOTAL CARE and KERR.
Critical care diagnostics unit produces various instruments that are Sold and marketed under RADIOMETER brand. These instruments are utilized in measuring gases in blood and related parameters in critical-care.
Life sciences produces laser and optical scanning microscopes, stereo and surgical microscopes, automated instruments for specimen preparation and various related reagents, diagnostic tests in pathology, such as cancer diagnostics. These products are marketed under VISION BIOSYSTEMS and LEICA brands.
Industrial Technologies
This segment produces sub-systems and products that are incorporated by systems integrators and customers into packaging and production lines and by OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) into several end systems and products. Unit also offers support services to products that include helping customers to service and install the products. In 2006, this segment encompassed 2 business units, product identification and motion, and 3 niche businesses that are aerospace & defense, power quality and sensors and controls. In 2006 Sales of this segment, were 52% in United States, 33% in Europe, 10% in Asia, and 5% in other regions.
Tools & Components
In 2006, Tools & Components business segment encompassed 1business that is mechanics’ hand tools and 4 niche businesses that are Delta Consolidated Industries, Jacobs Chuck Manufacturing Company, Hennessy Industries, and Jacobs Vehicle Systems. In 2006 Sales of this segment, were 86% in United States, 3% in Europe, 6% in Asia, and 5% in other regions.
Mechanics’ hand tools unit has several other companies that are operating business as DTG (Danaher Tool Group) and Matco (Matco Tools). DTG produces mechanics’ hand tools for general purpose. Matco distributes and manufactures professional tools, automotive equipment and toolboxes.