BIOHIT STRENGTHENS ITS OEM COOPERATION WITH BIOMéRIEUX
BIOHIT OYJ STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 9 FEB 2006
BIOHIT STRENGTHENS ITS OEM COOPERATION WITH BIOMéRIEUX Biohit Oyj has signed a global agreement with bioMérieux SA, a leading company within the field of diagnostic test systems, concerning deliveries of liquid handling products and related services. The concluded agreement strengthens the cooperation with bioMérieux, who has been customer of Biohit Group companies for many years, and helps boost the Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) business of Biohit. Under the terms of the agreement with bioMérieux, Biohit will supply tailor-made pipettors and compatible pipettor tips, and provide service on the equipment on a global basis. Previously, different Biohit Group companies and bioMérieux have been co- operating at a local level. In addition to allowing global sales of Biohits products to bioMérieux, the new agreement also extends the co-operation to cover pipettor service. bioMérieux has for almost ten years used Biohit pipettors in its analysing systems and diagnostic test applications. In 2005, Biohit began supplying multichannel electronic pipettors based on the eLINE model, as well as pipettor tips which bioMérieux integrates in its globally marketed DNA analyzer: the recently launched NucliSens® easyMAG(TM) system. For more information, visit www.biomerieux.com. The role of the OEM business of Biohit About ten per cent of liquid handling sales are derived from the OEM business. The company believes that the recently concluded agreements will further strengthen the OEM business part of the liquid handling sales, and pave the way for new projects and consistent growth of the business. Biohit is the global market leader in the manufacture of electronic, tailor-made OEM pipettors. In addition to bioMérieux, the OEM clientele of Biohit includes companies such as 3M, Pentapharm and Johnson & Johnson Group companies. The long standing relationships with these companies have enabled Biohit to develop new technologies to meet the customer demand. The most significant trend is the greater integration between pipettors and analysis systems. Biohit Oyj Osmo Suovaniemi President & CEO Further information: Osmo Suovaniemi, M.D., Ph.D., Professor President & CEO Tel: +358-9-773 861 Mobile: +358-40-745 5605 Email: osmo.suovaniemi@biohit.com Distribution: Helsinki Exchanges Financial Supervisory Authority Press http://www.biohit.com