Labconco, a Kansas City Story

A look at the past provides an understanding of how Labconco Corporation became the innovative and successful company it is today.

• The company, originally named Laboratory Construction Company, was founded in 1925 by Ralph Callaway and Philip Goldfisch. The original location for the business was a small garage located at 1115 Holmes.

• The company's first product was a Kjeldahl Nitrogen Determination Apparatus, used by milling companies to test grain for protein content.

• Ralph Callaway's son, Redman, began a 60-year career with the company in 1939 and assumed leadership in the late 1940's.

• In 1957, Labconco Corporation moved its manufacturing and office facilities to 8811 Prospect Avenue, its current location. Late in the same decade, the company became known as Labconco, an acronym of its original name of Laboratory Construction Company.

8811 Prospect Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri

• In 1988, Labconco opened a second manufacturing facility in Ft. Scott, Kansas. This facility manufactures fume hoods, laboratory carts, and blood drawing chairs. In 1989, Labconco purchased the Buchler product line from Haake Buchler Instruments, a scientific apparatus manufacturer located in Ft. Lee, New Jersey, and moved the production of these products to Lenexa, Kansas. Electrophoresis instruments and digital chloridometers comprised the acquired line, which are still in production today under the Labconco name.

• In July, 1994, Labconco received ISO 9002 Certification for its three manufacturing facilities. ISO 9002, recognized in over 100 countries, is a quality system model established by the International Organization of Standardization in Geneva, Switzerland. ISO 9002 applies to companies performing manufacturing and assembly and establishes criteria and documentation for the implementation and auditing of management standards governing quality assurance. Labconco became one of the first U.S. manufacturers of laboratory safety ventilation products to receive ISO 9002 Certification.

• In 1996, Labconco was a recipient of the President's E Award for its export excellence and vigorous pursuit of foreign business opportunities. Only about three dozen companies each year are recognized with this honor.

• Labconco's web site, www.labconco.com, went live in January, 1996.

• Labconco Corporation markets its products through a worldwide network of scientific supply distributors and attributes much of its success to the relationships it has cultivated with its dealers since the mid-1960's. Approximately one quarter of Labconco's business is international.

• In August, 2003, Labconco became ISO 9001 certified, upgrading its ISO 9002 certification. The certification demonstrates Labconco's ongoing commitment to quality and consistency in design and manufacturing.

From its original two founders marketing a single product to local milling laboratories, Labconco has grown to employ over 220 men and women, manufacture 16 product lines and serve all types of laboratories throughout the globe including universities, research centers, hospitals and governmental agencies. Lead by John N. McConnell, Chairman, and Stephen Gound, President, the company aims to abide by its Unifying Statement:

Labconco's commitment is to supply superior products to the laboratory marketplace. With this commitment, we will endeavor to:

• Provide superior quality products, service and support for our distribution channels and customers.

• Explore and develop new and profitable market segments and customer channels while continuing to improve upon existing product offerings.

• Listen to and trust each associate and respect his/her creative potential.

Labconco now manufactures hundreds of products. Ventilation products including laboratory fume hoods, blowers, carbon filtered enclosures, laminar flow biological safety cabinets and clean benches, laboratory animal research enclosures, glove boxes, and balance enclosures comprise its largest line. Other current products include water purification systems, freeze dry systems, glassware washers, multiple sample evaporators, centrifugal concentrators, Kjeldahl apparatus, chloridometers, carts, and desiccators.

• Labconco History
• Company Profile
• President's "E" Award
• Airflow Test Laboratory
• Auditorium and Demonstration Laboratory
• Employment Opportunities

• WWW Links
• News and Events
• Trade Shows
• Safe Mail Handling Recommendations from Labconco
• Laboratory Design Projects
• Warranty