MEDICAL

Beckman Instruments will hold discussions next week between its top corporate officials and 25 Japanese dealers of scientific instruments.

Karel Krohne, business development manager of Beckman’s Bioanalytical Systems Group, said Beckman’s sales of both medical diagnostic and analytical instruments in Japan have been increasing at a clip of 25% a year.

“There is a tremendous interest in biotechnology in Japan that has been growing, especially over the last five years,” Krohne said. Japan’s goal, he said, is to catch up with the United States in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. “And that is right up Beckman’s ally because we manufacture a tremendous array of equipment to help in biotechnology research,” he added.

Krohne said the dealers from Japan, who arrive today, will be briefed about Beckman’s business strategy in Japan. In turn, Beckman officials will hear what kind of instruments the dealers want. In Japan, unlike other countries, Krohne said, buyers of instruments prefer to maintain a long-term relationship with local dealers rather than make purchases directly from manufacturers.