Bio-Rad China only got 65% of the plan at 2011 Q1. Why? They let the distributors bought too much at Dec. 2010. They cheated global, they gave the fake sales number at 2010. A lot of shippment went to the distributors inventory, not to the end user. As usual, they falsified the data of service installtion report with end user signature.

"At Bio-Rad LSG the idiots run the group. I dare you to name one smart move they've made in the past years."

Bought SELDI. This move helped to wrote off millions of assets from book. And keeping Americans employed by running the SELDI business unit with only ONE technician make products, TEN or more other folks "supporting" this guy in marketing, R&D, QC, management, software, etc.

"At Bio-Rad LSG the idiots run the group. I dare you to name one smart move they've made in the past years."

"In all of their quarterly statements they are always talking about how great their PCR business is. Didn't they buy a PCR company several years ago? Was that successful?"

Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Inquiring minds want to know if the dare has been met.

I heard that a lot of China talent people left Bio-Rad China, because the managers only liked flattering person, no matter they were qualified or not.

"Lack of PhDs in manufacturing is not a problem. If you are a PhD and you are in manufacturing, you're an idiot.
Not true. PhDs are required in manufacturing of complex assay products if the company wants to deliver consistent, high quality product. You don't need a PhD to fill tubes or put sheet metal together.
There are some manufacturing groups in Bio-Rad that desperately need some PhDs because R&D transfers product to them and then they can't manufacture it because the skills are not there."

Well said, that's why BioRad products are crappy. The real idiots are top management. They are sutpid and greedy.

In all of their quarterly statements they are always talking about how great their PCR business is. Didn't they buy a PCR company several years ago? Was that successful?

At Bio-Rad LSG the idiots run the group. I dare you to name one smart move they've made in the past years.

Lack of PhDs in manufacturing is not a problem. If you are a PhD and you are in manufacturing, you're an idiot.
Not true. PhDs are required in manufacturing of complex assay products if the company wants to deliver consistent, high quality product. You don't need a PhD to fill tubes or put sheet metal together.
There are some manufacturing groups in Bio-Rad that desperately need some PhDs because R&D transfers product to them and then they can't manufacture it because the skills are not there.

Lack of PhDs in manufacturing is not a problem. If you are a PhD and you are in manufacturing, you're an idiot.

what is the tech transfer group R&D ?

"Why does the hatred for Bio-Rad run so deep? Are they really this crappy? At any large company there will be ineffective managers, bad products/production problems, and deadwood sales people that blame others for their short comings. Still need to ask at BR, how widespread are these problems? Does anybody have anything good to say about this company?"

It seems most of compalins are coming from LSG. CDG is in better shape.

Why does the hatred for Bio-Rad run so deep? Are they really this crappy? At any large company there will be ineffective managers, bad products/production problems, and deadwood sales people that blame others for their short comings. Still need to ask at BR, how widespread are these problems? Does anybody have anything good to say about this company?

I think you are an idiot

Ohhh Snap!

"No offense, but from this comment I don't think you have the capacity to make that judgment."

Will the gel box China outsourcing thing be an example of manufacturing's lack of engineering / development capacity?

I think you are an idiot

"No offense, manufacture do have some PhD. Some either inexpeirenced or junk yard grade. They had some great engineers, but they managed to kick these folks out. They are now only capable to make product either WORSE or no worse than designed."

No offense, but from this comment I don't think you have the capacity to make that judgment.

No offense, manufacture do have some PhD. Some either inexpeirenced or junk yard grade.
They had some great engineers, but they managed to kick these folks out. They are now only capable to make product either WORSE or no worse than designed.

No PhD in manufacturing?

Thierry Viard

"No PhD in manufacturing?
Tony Tan is one. What a jerk he is."

That guy speaks poor English, his PhD might from Japan or so.

"They are irrelevant in the life science tools market. Long ago eclipsed by Lifetech, Sigma, Millipore, et al."

So what is relevance then? Is relevant a technology leader, growing sales, profitable? In what technology are Lifetech, Millipore or Sigma relevant? I don't know the industry that thoroughly but I do know that Illumina appear to be leading in sequencing, Millipore -- in what technology do they dominate. I buy chemicals from Sigma..what else do they have?

"The ugly is obvious if you ever visit the office."

So true. The field not much better.

The ugly is obvious if you ever visit the office.

"A tale of the good, the bad and the ugly"

Do tell

A tale of the good, the bad and the ugly

They are irrelevant in the life science tools market. Long ago eclipsed by Lifetech, Sigma, Millipore, et al.

No PhD in manufacturing?
Tony Tan is one. What a jerk he is.

"It seems half of folks working at manufacturing can't even speak English. There is not a single PhD working there. Basically, they are only capable of producing craps designed by inexperienced R&D team."

So...how is it working in manufacturing?

"Here is why BioRad LSG products are garbage:

Cutting corners in manufacturing as a company policy to pocket more money for owner.

So how long before the owner gives up on LSG and dump it? Clearly the diagnostic side is the future of the company."

It seems half of folks working at manufacturing can't even speak English. There is not a single PhD working there. Basically, they are only capable of producing craps designed by inexperienced R&D team.

I am happy to be out of toxic environment too.

Very happy to be out of that Bio-Rad LSG. Very toxic environment, managers all trying to protect their turf, weak leadership, and a very internal focus. Unless they have some changes at the top and come up with a new strategy, they will continue the slow fade into obscurity.

"Top line revenue barely achieving positive growth."

2009 was a negative growth. The revenue level of 2010 was about the same as 2008. Which means LSG lost market share by double digit in last 2 years.

Measures such as totally get rid off SELDI might happen soon?

LSG is collapsing from within. Layoffs, firings, incompetence all around. Top line revenue barely achieving positive growth.

Here is why BioRad LSG products are garbage:

Cutting corners in manufacturing as a company policy to pocket more money for owner.

So how long before the owner gives up on LSG and dump it? Clearly the diagnostic side is the future of the company.

Here is why BioRad LSG products are garbage:

Cutting corners in manufacturing as a company policy to pocket more money for owner.

" Life Science segment gross margins in 2010 improved from 2009 by approximately 2.4%.
The increase was primarily due to improved manufacturing overhead absorption, reduction in costs and a favorable product mix toward higher margin products. "
"Life Science segment gross margins improved in 2009 compared to 2008 by 0.1%. The improvement was the result of better manufacturing overhead absorption from a reduction in costs, the move of new products to more cost efficient off-shore manufacturing, and sales mix favoring higher margin reagents rather than instruments with typically lower margin"

Here is my BioRad LSG products are garbage:

Cutting corners in manufacturing as a company policy to pocket more money for owner.

" Life Science segment gross margins in 2010 improved from 2009 by approximately 2.4%.
The increase was primarily due to improved manufacturing overhead absorption, reduction in costs and a favorable product mix toward higher margin products. "
"Life Science segment gross margins improved in 2009 compared to 2008 by 0.1%. The improvement was the result of better manufacturing overhead absorption from a reduction in costs, the move of new products to more cost efficient off-shore manufacturing, and sales mix favoring higher margin reagents rather than instruments with typically lower margin"

"Big news,
China biggest distributor Yuanye was bribing all AP managers and China LSG managers from 2007 to 2010. China LSG division manager had been laid off at Oct.2010, who is the next one?
"

BR is a garbage life science company in USA. It will be a shame for Chinese researchers to use their over-priced, low quality products.

"The managers were either idiots, micromanagers who can't deal with independent thought, or those who insulate themselves with yes-men."

Well said!

Big news,
China biggest distributor Yuanye was bribing all AP managers and China LSG managers from 2007 to 2010. China LSG division manager had been laid off at Oct.2010, who is the next one?

"The Life Science segment net sales for the fourth quarter were $192.9 million, up 1.0% compared to the same period last year. On a currency-neutral basis, Life Science segment sales increased by 2.2%. Full-year reported revenues for the Life Science segment were $648.1 million, up 2.6% over the prior year, or an increase of 2.2% on a currency-neutral basis"

Currency-neutral is not the same as inflation adjusted.

If fact in inflation in Q1 2011 about 5%, actually 2 to 3% decrease for LSG in 2010.

Fact in the 5% inflation, LSG actually decreased 2 to 3% in 2010.

Those numbers ARE adjusted for inflation. That's reporting convention.

Fact in the 5% inflation, LSG actually decreased 2 to 3% in 2010.

The annual financial reports, due tomorrow, will provide a real insight into how LSG has per performed in 2010. Any growth at all?
According to their 8K filing LSG grew at a meager 2% year over year. Compared to LifeTech which grew revenue at 9%. The incompetent morons at LT can accomplish 9%, which makes LSG look like it is run by even more incompetent morons. Even in this economy an idiot can invest and make more than 2.2%.
LSG can make lots of excuses but BC must be running out of time before his head is on the chopping block.
This group is full of managers that are paranoid, delusional, and in over their heads. They blame their woes on external forces and ex-employees who they believe are out to get them, when in reality former employees are just glad to be out of LSG. LSG managers are a bunch of pu**ies.
They can't recruit talent from outside that is not incompetent or a total nightmare of a manager. HR is run by a fool that kowtows to managers who just drive people out with moving targets for improvement. If you're ever brought in to talk to HR with your manager, just leave because they're never honest, it's just a formality. Saw that happen to many people who were good at their jobs, but the manager was in cahoots with LC, HR manager. The managers were either idiots, micromanagers who can't deal with independent thought, or those who insulate themselves with yes-men. Good people move upwards into management and become complete jerks since that is their peer group.
LSG now looks like it's only about one-third of total Bio-Rad business. Why does the company even hold onto this business? It should be sold off to a willing buyer who could then fire the managers, kill half the products that aren't profitable, and customers and shareholders would not notice much.

The annual financial reports, due tomorrow, will provide a real insight into how LSG has per performed in 2010. Any growth at all?

A company sliding into obscurity along with its people.

Janitors are illegal immigrants.

Do you people even work for Bio-Rad ?
Do you? If so, tell us what is good, bad, downright ridiculous.

Do you people even work for Bio-Rad ?

RP is the worst type of R&D management: His PhD degree and his title made him to believe that he was the smartest person at LSG. All he cared was whether anybody dare to challenging his leadership/smartness. The net result was a lot of dumb decisions were made, while he get a lot of bonuses.

Only at BioRad, he can last this long.

What had happened or will happen to his hand picked YES men such as: LL or MU?

At LSD, SH or RP is worse?
RP is gone as are others. LSG is losing through choice and volunteers key people. It is an imploding mess of incoherent strategies, meaningless slogans, and lame products. Can't wait to see the earnings call. Hope my stock doesn't tank. Go CDG, it's the only thing holding up the company.

Beat the Crap out of Life was brilliant. Lol.