Beckman Coulter: The Perfect Fit
How Laboratories Stand to Benefit From the Recent Olympus Diagnostics Acquisition

When the Olympus Diagnostics acquisition was finalized in August, it significantly expanded Beckman Coulter's portfolio and solidified the company's position as the world's leading provider of chemistry analyzers and automation solutions.

What does this new size and scope mean for Beckman Coulter customers? And what's happening now that the acquisition is complete? Here's a look behind the scenes.

Growth at Both Ends of the Scale
More than anything, Beckman Coulter has expanded its portfolio at both ends of the testing continuum: low-volume and ultra-high-volume. This is good news for laboratories of all sizes. With the increased breadth in products, the company is now able to offer greater choices in configuring the "right" solution, thereby optimizing workflow, standardizing processes and eliminating waste.

At the lower-volume end, Beckman Coulter customers can turn to the AU480 (400 photometric tests per hour, or up to 800 with electrolytes). Mid- to high-volume laboratories have a new option in the AU680 (up to 1,200 tests per hour)—and Beckman Coulter's existing solutions, including UniCel DxC chemistry systems and i class family of integrated systems with ClozCap technology—will continue to be fully supported.

At the upper end of testing, the AU2700 completes 2,000 tests per hour, and the AU5400 delivers up to 3,200 or 4,800 tests per hour, depending on how it is configured. This high level of throughput introduces Beckman Coulter to a brand new market: reference laboratories.

"It's an exciting time for our company and our customers," says Jeff McHugh, corporate vice president of Beckman Coulter's Chemistry Systems Business Center. "We've always been passionate about working with laboratories, and we welcome the opportunity to partner with new labs. At the same time, we can offer even more to our existing customers."

Better Automation and Integration
Beckman Coulter's broader range of choices gives customers even greater scalability and flexibility, and this is especially true in automation. The AU2700 or AU5400 can be connected to Beckman Coulter's automation line, increasing the capacity of busy labs. On the other end of the spectrum, labs that want targeted automation, such as high-speed aliquotting or sample sorting, will find new choices in Beckman Coulter's expanding line of AutoMate 1200 and 2500 Sample Processing Systems.

Numerous automation combinations can work together—at various price points—to help laboratories address staff shortages and increased workloads. "With our new mix of solutions, there has never been a better time to investigate automation," says McHugh. "You can find the perfect fit for your needs, then easily expand that solution if your volume increases."

Combining Strengths
As some customers know, Beckman Coulter has worked with AU systems in the past, configuring automation lines to integrate the AU2700 and AU5400 on a case-by-case basis. This experience and knowledge help to streamline the transition. "The good news for customers is that we are already familiar with AU products," says McHugh. "They are a natural fit, and that makes it easier to integrate them into our existing portfolio."

From product development through customer service, the best practices of both companies will be combined to deliver even greater value to laboratories. Whether labs want to adopt automation, standardize testing, optimize workflow or implement LEAN processes, they will find the solutions they need.

"One of our top priorities is to further improve the customer experience," McHugh says. "We share the lab's commitment to improving patient health, and by providing exceptionally reliable products and services, we help achieve that goal."

Next Steps
As the transition continues over the next few months, customers can rest assured that nothing is being lost. The products and services available today will continue to be supported, and a broader portfolio will give labs even more choice.

"We talk about being 'better together,' and this acquisition certainly underscores that concept," says McHugh. "We are excited to provide a range of products that wasn't possible before, and to partner with laboratories at every level. More than ever, we can deliver the perfect fit, and help our customers achieve their goals."

Beckman Coulter, the stylized logo, AU, AU480, AU680, AU2700, AU5400, AutoMate and UniCel are registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. ClozCap is a trademark of Beckman Coulter, Inc.