Northern Ireland-based laboratory supplier Analab Ltd has been acquired by Scientific Laboratory Supplies (SLS), the UK’s largest independent provider of laboratory equipment, chemicals and consumables.

This is as part of an ambitious expansion plan to service the growing life sciences, state-funded research, food and beverage, and medical technology sectors across Ireland.

From July 2016, Analab becomes part of the SLS UK Group, taking UK Group turnover to £42 million, and will be referred to as Analab, an SLS Company.

The agreement has already created new job opportunities, with further posts likely to be announced. Analab founding director Damien McCorry remains as Managing Director alongside Aileen McGrath, Director of Clinical Diagnostics.

They have been joined by newly-appointed Tom O’Meara as Marketing and Portfolio Director and Andy Pepper as Sales Director. Tom and Andy have previously held senior positions to owner/director level in the indigenous Irish laboratory supplier AGB Scientific. After the AGB acquisition, Andy was General Manager of a start-up laboratory supplies business in Ireland and subsequently Sales Director for the pharma/biotech market segment of a large scientific supplier.  Tom has also managed a laboratory supplies company in Ireland and moved on to manage the portfolio and supplier relationships for Northern Europe and Commercial Product Management in Europe for a key competitor.

The existing Analab team will increase immediately with the addition of two new sales posts, and the company will be looking to hire further experienced sales and marketing staff from within the Irish laboratory industry.

Speaking as the acquisition was announced, SLS Chairman Peter Chapman said: “Ireland is recognised as a global centre for life sciences and medical devices and the pace of scientific research and commercial activity is truly impressive. SLS is already well-established there through distributors such as Analab in the North and our partners in the Republic. However, from today Damien and his senior managers will focus on the growing pharmaceutical and medical technology markets whilst continuing to build our already-strong clinical and diagnostics offering.”

Damien McCorry, managing director of the new company added: “I cannot think of a better team for us to go forward with than the SLS folk. I have known the key staff for almost 25 years and have watched how they have competed successfully against the major competition to become a very significant player in the UK market.

“Tom O’Meara and Andy Pepper bring invaluable knowledge as well as contacts to our new team and we expect to double Analab sales to £4 million in the next 12 months.”

The Irish life sciences sector directly employs over 50,000 people, exports more than €45 billion and is home to nine of the top ten global medical technology companies. Through Analab, the SLS Group will work alongside its new partners and customers to enable the research, innovation and manufacturing of world-class scientific products.

This news comes just days after the merger between SLS and Dominique Dutscher (France) was announced, a move that has created the single largest independent laboratory supplies group in Europe.

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