About Us

• History
  • Milestones in Biohit's history
• Environment
  • Environmental milestones
• Quality
  • Production
  • Quality Control
  • Quality Management Certificates
  • Liquid Handling Certificates
  • Tip Quality Certificates
  • Regulatory Affairs
• R & D
• Career
• Glossary

History

Pioneer in liquid handling

Biohit’s roots extend back to the 1970s, when Professor Osmo Suovaniemi established two companies, Labsystems and Eflab. They developed the first single and multichannel high-accuracy pipettes with adjustable volumes as well as instruments based on vertical photometry.

Development was driven by an aggressive innovation and patenting strategy. In line with this strategy, the companies expanded their operations, developed new products and kicked off exports. From day one, the companies relied on high technology, the best expertise in the industry and an international approach.

1980s – Biohit's first steps

In 1988, Suovaniemi established Biohit Oy, which began to develop the world's first safe and ergonomically designed single and multichannel electronic pipettes. Biohit started up the injection moulding and assembly of pipettes in Kajaani in 1990. Over the following years, Biohit's pipettes established a solid global position as ergonomic, safe and reliable solutions for all kinds of liquid handling tasks.

1990s – Expanding in European markets and listing on the stock exchange

Biohit launched its first electronic pipette – the Biohit Proline – in 1990. A couple of years later, the company introduced its first mechanical model in the Proline series. During the 1990s, Biohit headed for European markets with its new products. The first subsidiary was established in France in 1991 and the second in the UK the following year. Biohit's German subsidiary started up in 1995. Biohit also entered into OEM cooperation with the German company Eppendorf, the French company bioMérieux, the American company 3M and three companies belonging to the Johnson&Johnson Group. The scope and international reach of Biohit's operations enabled the company to list itself on the Helsinki Stock Exchange in 1999.

Global expansion in the 2000s

Biohit launched more new liquid handling products at the turn of the millennium. Due to their precision and ergonomic design, these high-tech pipettes (eLINE and mLINE) are still market leaders today. Biohit continued its global expansion by opening subsidiaries in the United States, Russia and China. In 2006, the company transferred some of its pipette assembly operations to China, in order to be closer to growing Asian markets.

New business areas and growing Asian markets take Biohit into the 2010s

The global economy's new growth areas in Asia and South America also indicate growth for Biohit. The company strengthened its presence in Asia by opening a subsidiary in India and a representative office in Singapore in early 2010.