Perkin-Elmer

Perkin-Elmer. The company was founded in 1937 by optical engineers Richard Perkin and Charles Elmer to manufacture precision optical systems. It grew into a global leader in analytical instruments and advanced optics, playing pivotal roles in fields from analytical chemistry to space exploration. Its instruments, including the atomic absorption spectrometer and contributions to projects like the Hubble Space Telescope, have had a profound and lasting impact on science and industry.

History

The partnership began in a New York City loft, focusing initially on custom astronomical optics and contract manufacturing for the United States military during World War II. Post-war expansion was driven by acquisitions, including Coleman Instruments in 1955, which propelled the company into analytical chemistry. A defining period began in the 1960s with the development of the Model 303 atomic absorption spectrometer, revolutionizing elemental analysis. The company's Optical Technology Division secured major contracts from NASA, most notably for the optical systems of the Hubble Space Telescope and the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory. Throughout the late 20th century, it diversified further through strategic purchases like Bodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer in West Germany and Applied Biosystems.

Products and technologies

Perkin-Elmer's portfolio was anchored by groundbreaking analytical instruments. The atomic absorption spectrometer became an industry standard in pharmaceuticals, environmental monitoring, and metallurgy. The company also pioneered early commercial gas chromatographs and infrared spectroscopy systems like the Model 21. In molecular diagnostics, its polymerase chain reaction systems and DNA sequencers, developed after acquiring Applied Biosystems, were critical to the Human Genome Project. Its aerospace division produced sophisticated guidance systems for the Apollo program, Landsat program sensors, and the flawed primary mirror for the Hubble Space Telescope, later corrected by the STS-61 Space Shuttle servicing mission.

Corporate affairs

Corporate strategy involved significant restructuring and divestiture. In 1992, the analytical instruments and biotechnology divisions were spun off to form PerkinElmer, while the defense and aerospace optics businesses were sold to Hughes Aircraft Company, later becoming part of Raytheon. The semiconductor equipment operations were acquired by SVG Lithography. The life sciences and diagnostics focused PerkinElmer continued to operate independently, acquiring firms like Wallac and Packard Bioscience. The original Perkin-Elmer Corporation was formally dissolved in 1999, with its remaining assets and the valuable name absorbed into the new PerkinElmer entity.

Legacy and impact

The company's legacy is deeply embedded in modern scientific infrastructure. Its analytical instruments became ubiquitous in industrial laboratories, university research departments, and regulatory agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency. The technological foundation laid by its PCR and DNA sequencing work directly accelerated advances in genomics and personalized medicine. Despite the initial flaw, its work on the Hubble Space Telescope contributed to one of NASA's greatest observatories, with its optics division's expertise continuing in programs like the James Webb Space Telescope. The enduring PerkinElmer brand remains a major force in life sciences, a direct descendant of the original partnership's innovative spirit.

Category:American companies established in 1937 Category:Manufacturing companies based in Connecticut Category:Defunct companies based in Connecticut