Fisher Scientific

Overview

Fisher Scientific is a distributor of laboratory supplies, equipment, and services, operating as a channel of Thermo Fisher Scientific. It serves research, production, healthcare, and education markets with over 2.5 million products including chemicals, consumables, instruments, and safety supplies. The brand is known for its extensive catalog and global reach to approximately 350,000 customers in 150 countries.

History

Founded in 1902 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by Chester Garfield Fisher as Scientific Materials Co., initially supplying lab equipment from a purchased stockroom. Expanded through acquisitions like Jarrell-Ash Company in 1968 and Apogent Technologies in 2004, and introduced instruments such as the Differential Thermalyzer in 1965. Merged with Thermo Electron in 2006 to form Thermo Fisher Scientific, valued at $12.8 billion.

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Fisher Scientific primarily acts as a distributor rather than a manufacturer, sourcing products from various global suppliers and Thermo Fisher brands. Some historical manufacturing included acquisitions like Pfeiffer Glass for pipettes, but current operations focus on aggregation and distribution from facilities worldwide.

Notable Products

• Volumetric Pipettes - High-accuracy glass pipettes from acquired Pfeiffer Glass line.
• Fisherbrand Instruments - House-brand tools like photometric titrators and analyzers.
• Lab Safety Cabinets - Fume hoods and storage for hazardous materials.
• Chemical Reagents - Wide range of analytical-grade solvents and standards.
• Microplates - Consumables for high-throughput screening and assays.

Reputation

Fisher Scientific is regarded by lab professionals as a reliable one-stop supplier with vast inventory and fast shipping. Strengths include product variety and integration with Thermo Fisher services, though some criticize higher pricing compared to specialized vendors. It holds a strong position in institutional procurement due to established catalogs and support.