PerkinElmer buys Packard BioSciences.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Byline: Kevin DeGeeter

The transition of PerkinElmer Inc. from selling scientific instruments to industrial customers to marketing faster-growing research tools to life sciences customers has cleared another hurdle with the decision to divest its Security and Detection Systems unit and the purchase of Packard BioSciences Co. for $636 million.

The acquisition of Packard gives PerkinElmer of Wellesley, Mass., one of the leading developers of instruments for preparation of fluids and reagents used in laboratory tests.

The business complements the company's strength in reagent sales and should give PerkinElmer the critical mass to compete in the …