PerkinElmer ($PKI) is reaching into South Africa for its latest expansion effort. The Massachusetts company disclosed it launched a new beachhead in the country to support long-term growth plans there, as well as in surrounding emerging markets.
They're starting small. The initial operation is based near both Johannesburg and Pretoria and will support 25 sales, support and service related employees. While there will be some focus on diagnostics work, PerkinElmer is also aiming for markets including mining and mineral testing, chemical and petrochemical analysis and testing for food and beverage safety.
South Africa is an important piece of PerkinElmer's longer-term growth strategy, Chief Marketing Officer Lapo Paladini said in a statement. But the company also has its eye on major growth in China. Earlier this month, PerkinElmer wrapped up its $38 million acquisition of molecular diagnostics company Shanghai Haoyuan Biotech.
The purchase gave PerkinElmer a much larger roster of molecular infectious disease diagnostics, and boost's PerkinElmer's presence in China as it expands healthcare coverage into smaller and rural regions across the country.
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