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automated titrators and thermal analysers, and also to various products for customers in the manufacturing industries. Simultaneously, sales and service network was further expanded on a global basis. During the 1980s, a third pillar besides laboratory and industrial was created, which was the retail business.Technological progress had made it possible to advance retail scales to instruments for the management of perishable goods.
In 1980, Dr. Mettler sold his business to
Ciba-Geigy AG. In 1989, Mettler acquired Toledo Scale Corporation, the largest US manufacturer of industrial and retail scales based in Columbus, Ohio. Its founder, Henry Theobald, had launched an innovative store scale with an automatic weight and price display in 1901, and through continued innovation,Toledo established its leadership thereafter.The combination of these two industry leaders resulted in the birth of Mettler Toledo.
In October 1996, Mettler Toledo was sold by Ciba-Geigy AG to AEA Investors and thereafter in 1997 it went public and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.The company has grown organically as well as through the acquisition of several companies to its current size of more than 10,000 employees and revenues of US$ 1.59 billion (for the year ending December 2006). Some of its Mettler Toledo specialises in the area of precision
instruments for professional use, with services across three key segments - laboratory, industry and retail Global Overview of Mettler Toledo
Mettler Toledo's history dates back to 1945, when a Swiss engineer named Dr. Erhard Mettler started a precision mechanics company named Mettler Instrumente AG in Küsnacht, Switzerland after he invented the substitution principle with a single-pan balance, capable of being produced in series.Thereafter analytical balances with a single weighing pan gradually replaced conventional two-pan balances in the laboratory. During the 1950s, measurement of up to one ten-millionth of a gram became possible and "The Mettler Balance" proved to be a catch phrase in the laboratory.
In 1973, the company introduced the first-ever fully electronic precision balance, the PT1200.This model was the first electronic balance in the world to be awarded official certification in the highest class of accuracy (Class 1) and marked the beginning of the electronic age. Consequently, with the advancement of microprocessor technology, various new applications broadened its field of activity. Successive innovations led to a wide range of products for the laboratory, like
METTLER TOLEDO INDIA PRIVATE
LIMITED
Company Mode of presence in India Year of entry Key business
Mettler Toledo 100 per cent subsidiary 1998 Precision
India Private Limited instruments
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53 Retail: In food retail, Mettler Toledo's offering
for the management of fresh food ranges from receiving and pre-packaging, to in-store solutions for self-service departments, deli counters, and checkout terminals. Its products can all be networked and collect data at the item level.
The company's software assists customers with pricing and inventory management, and also provides valuable information for merchandising decisions.
Mettler Toledo serves global customers on a world-wide basis with the largest sales and service network in the industry. Its manufacturing facilities are located in the USA, Germany,
the UK, Switzerland, and the People's Republic of China.This keeps the company close to its customers, not only from a logistical point of view, but also in terms of reacting quickly and adapting to local needs.The various operating units around the globe are certified according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Its laboratories comply with the regulations of ISO 17025.
It has increased its R&D spending by an average of more than 10 per cent for each of the past five years.
Mettler Toledo in India
In India, Mettler Toledo's wholly-owned subsidiary, Mettler Toledo India Private Limited, provides sales and service of computerised scales, analytical balances and other precision instruments like pH meters, thermal and moisture-measurement systems, drug discovery equipment, and metal- detection systems. Its products are used to maintain product quality, increase yields, and comply with industry regulations.The company also sells products for the retail industry including labelling systems, checkout scanner scales, receiving scales, and data management software. Mettler Toledo India also offers services such as calibration, certification, regulatory compliance, repairs, and significant acquisitions include those of
• Bohdan Automation, a key player in chemical compound discovery and development market;
• French precision instruments company Testut- Lutrana Group;
• Chemical compound purification specialist Berger Instruments;
• UK_based metal detection company Safeline;
• Lasentec, a leading manufacturer of equipment for in-process particle size and population analysis; and
• Rainin Instrument, producer of laboratory pipette systems for the pharmaceutical industry and medical research.
Today, Mettler Toledo specialises in the area of precision instruments for professional use.
In addition to a wide product array, the company offers the most comprehensive range of services in the industry across three segments:
Laboratory: Laboratories are a key market for the company, with its products used in research, scientific, drug discovery, and quality control labs, in the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and cosmetics industries. Its solutions apply to virtually every laboratory around the world. In fact, Mettler Toledo is a global market leader in the three instrument groups most frequently used in the laboratory (balances, pipettes, and pH meters).The company is also a pioneer in the field of Automated Chemistry.
Industry: Mettler Toledo's comprehensive industrial solutions cover a host of manufacturing processes for many of its customers who are also served for the laboratory. Solutions range from receiving raw materials through various manufacturing processes, in-line process control and end-of-line packaging control, to logistics and shipping. Increasingly, these solutions are fully integrated into the customer's IT environment, helping automate their workflows.
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leader. Among instrument companies, Mettler Toledo has one of the strongest brands.The brand has a significant meaning for its customers and is identified with accuracy, reliability and innovation.The company's reputation results in its customers turning to it for their most critical needs like product quality, productivity, cost savings and regulatory compliance.
Innovation
Mettler Toledo has a long track record of technological innovation and is the leader in providing innovative solutions to enhance customer processes.This capability arises from its understanding of customer processes, continued significant investment in R&D, manufacturing expertise in sensor technology and strength in software development.
Global sales network
The company is one of the largest global sales and service organisations in the precision instruments industry.This geographic coverage allows participation in all major markets, including the fast-growing emerging markets like India.
The local focus of its network enables it to provide timely, responsive support to customers and provides valuable feedback for manufacturing and product development.
Recurring service revenue
Mettler Toledo has the largest installed base of weighing instruments in the world, which provides recurring service revenue. Its
comprehensive service offering includes installation, calibration, preventative maintenance and repair and remote services. Its services help customers to maximise the reliability and uptime of their instruments.The company also provides services to help customers ensure compliance with various regulatory requirements.
spare parts supply. Mettler Toledo India's broad customer base is spread across the pharmaceutical, food retailing, precious metals, electronics,
laboratory, and transportation markets, among others.
Its products are broadly categorised as follows:
• Laboratory instruments
• Analytical equipment including wet analytical chemistry and material characterisation
• Automated chemistry
• Process analytics
• Industrial weighing
• Product inspection
• Transport and logistics
• Food retail
Mettler Toledo sees India as a growth market and intends to aggressively develop its Indian operations. Since 1998, it has had sales and service presence in Mumbai (Maharashtra) centred on its industrial instruments.To capitalise on the substantial growth opportunities in the Indian market, the company has doubled the size of its direct sales force and set up direct distribution capabilities for its lab products. Mettler Toledo India currently has offices at 12 strategic locations across the country, with over 300 employees.
Key Success Factors
Mettler Toledo's innovative solutions, combined with its vast global network and industry leadership, make the company a strong franchise that stands out from its competitors. Mettler Toledo is built on a foundation of strengths, which gives it important advantages over its competition.
Strong brand
The company has leading positions in each of its markets, and a significant majority of its instrument sales are in segments in which it is the global
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Future Plans
Mettler Toledo's vision is to enhance its outstanding reputation in India by creating value for
its customers through innovative high-quality products.The company wants to aggressively develop its Indian operations in order to leverage India's growth opportunities.The company is also committed to total quality and is strongly positioned for further growth in 2007 and beyond.
The company is confident of its market position and ability to execute strategic initiatives.
The growth of the Indian pharmaceutical companies and their increased focus on R&D provides Mettler Toledo an opportunity to offer its entire range of laboratory solutions, including high precision balances, analytical equipment and drug discovery equipment.The boom in the organised retail sector opens up opportunities for product inspection and retail equipment.The continued growth of the Indian industrial sector and improvement in infrastructure provides opportunities for Mettler Toledo's high-end industrial solutions as well as weigh bridges and other logistic equipment.The foundation for the future continues to be rooted in the hallmarks of its franchise - market leadership, global presence, diversified customer base and product portfolio, technology leadership, and culture of delivering
the highest quality products and services. Mettler Toledo's India operations
• Provides sales and service of computerised scales, analytical balances, and other precision instruments
• Product categories include laboratory instruments, analytical equipment, automated chemistry, process analytics, industrial weighing , product inspection, transport and logistics and food retail
• Key industries targeted by its products include pharmaceutical, food retailing, precious metals, electronics, laboratory, and transportation markets
• Currently has offices at 12 strategic locations across India with over 300 employees
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