About Beckman Coulter Life Sciences
Since 1935, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences has helped scientists find answers to some of the world’s toughest questions. Dr. Arnold Beckman’s first pH meter launched a legacy that grew into a global leader in laboratory automation, serving academia, pharma, and clinical research markets today. Our tools help people speed up biopharmaceutical development, strengthen forensic science, and monitor patients with chronic conditions.
Every instrument we build carries forward Dr. Beckman’s original goal: give researchers the data they need, so they can act on it with confidence. As a Danaher operating company, we combine decades of scientific heritage with an ongoing commitment to quality and innovation. From a small workshop in Pasadena to laboratories on every continent, our story keeps expanding, and so does our impact on human health.
90+ Years
of Global Presence
400,000+
Systems Worldwide
Who Are We and What We Do
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences designs, develops, and manufactures instruments that support scientific research across the globe, and we serve academia, pharmaceutical companies, and clinical research organizations as our primary markets. Our portfolio spans centrifuges, cell counters, flow cytometry systems, particle characterization technologies, genomics solutions, and laboratory automation platforms.
Beyond core research tools, we extend into applied markets such as agriculture, food and beverage testing, oil and gas, and aerospace, so our technology reaches far past the traditional lab bench. Operating from numerous international hubs with roughly 2,800 associates, we’ve placed more than 400,000 built-to-last systems in labs globally, all backed by dedicated service and application experts.
Our History
- 1935: Dr. Arnold Beckman founded Beckman Instruments, Inc. and sold the first commercial pH meter.
- 1948: Wallace Coulter developed the Coulter Principle, the foundation of automated hematology.
- 1952: Beckman Instruments became a publicly traded corporation.
- 1958: Wallace and Joseph Coulter founded Coulter Corporation and launched the Coulter Counter.
- 1968: Beckman Instruments expanded into clinical diagnostics.
- 1982: SmithKline Corporation acquired Beckman Instruments, forming SmithKline Beckman Corporation.
- 1989: Beckman became a publicly owned company again.
- 1997: Beckman Instruments acquired Coulter Corporation.
- 1998: The company adopted the name Beckman Coulter, Inc.
- 2011: Danaher acquired Beckman Coulter and split it into two operating companies: Diagnostics (Chaska, MN) and Life Sciences (Indianapolis, IN).
- 2015: Beckman Coulter Life Sciences launched its Global Health Access Initiative.
- Today: More than 400,000 Beckman Coulter systems remain in active use across laboratories worldwide.
FAQ about Beckman Coulter Life Sciences
When was Beckman Coulter founded?
Beckman Coulter traces its roots to 1935, when Dr. Arnold Beckman founded Beckman Instruments, Inc. and introduced the world’s first commercial pH meter. The company grew through the following decades, going public in 1952 and expanding into clinical diagnostics by 1968. A separate but equally important lineage began in 1958, when Wallace and Joseph Coulter founded Coulter Corporation, building on the Coulter Principle Wallace developed in 1948 to count and measure particles electronically.
Beckman Instruments acquired Coulter Corporation in October 1997, and the combined company adopted the name Beckman Coulter, Inc. in April 1998. So, while the current brand name dates to 1998, the scientific heritage behind it stretches back over 90 years to 1935. This founding period laid down the technical groundwork that still defines the company’s instrumentation and diagnostic capabilities today.
What is the relationship between Beckman Coulter and Danaher?
Danaher acquired Beckman Coulter in 2011 and subsequently divided it into two operating companies: Beckman Coulter Diagnostics and Beckman Coulter Life Sciences. Beckman Coulter Life Sciences operates as part of Danaher’s broader life sciences portfolio.
As a Danaher company, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences benefits from shared expertise, operational resources, and investment in research and development. At the same time, it retains its distinct brand identity and product lines, and focuses on delivering high-quality solutions to customers.
