This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Entrevista a Valeriano Gómez, Director de Hach Lange

"The r & d is a constant in Hach Lange"

Interview with Valeriano Gómez, Director of Hach Lange

Javier García08/10/2008

October 8, 2008

hach lange (HL) is part of the multinational Danaher, composed of different strategic platforms that include the environment. The company, which supplies instrumentation and reagents for analysis of water waste, potable and surface, has international presence, with sales offices and assistance in virtually all countries. Also has centres of r & d in Loveland and Ames (United States), Berlin, Düsseldorf, France and Lyon (Europe) and Shanghai. In Spain, it currently has 40 people distributed between headquarters in Bilbao and Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville and Vigo delegations. This year, Hach Lange celebrates its 75th anniversary.

Valeriano Gómez, Director of Hach Lange.

This year, the company celebrates its 75th anniversary. Has the company fulfilled the expectations formulated in its creation?

The objectives set in sales, generating employment and presence in the market, both nationally and internationally have been widely fulfilled.

Could tell us evolution of the company from its beginnings until today?

The beginnings of HL as a small part of the Danaher group were truly modest. The acquisition of the former German company DR Lange GmbH and the Hach American in the year 1999 marked the milestone of the rapid and significant evolution and development of the current HL. Both companies, acting as tractors of the group, have enabled the now achieved goals.

And what is its market share in Spain today?

Put it in a general way for the total of the company is difficult, to be present in different markets and to have two completely different divisions. In any case, we believe a share market around the 35 or 40 percent, which gives a clear idea of the current potential of HL.

How has it adapted Hach Lange to the constant changes and demands of the market and, above all, in terms of legislation?

HL is in permanent connection with the existing legislation and, consequently, researches and develops different solutions depending on the evolution of the different laws, in their own r & d centres.

"We offer complete solutions for laboratory and process, provided in the form of comprehensive service: product, advice on the application, service technician and the experience of the professionals of HL"

Hach Lange 75th anniversary commemorative poster.

What I would say difference to their products from those of their competitors?

There are many things that distinguish us to our competitors. Most notable is that we offer complete solutions for laboratory and process, provided in the form of comprehensive service: product, advice on the application, service technician and the experience of the professionals of HL.

In the field of laboratory it is important to emphasize that we offer our clients a collection of items used by an authorised Manager, which are sent to our Environmental Center in Germany.

And in the field of process?

In the process I would highlight the SC platform with digital technology, which can be extended at any time, as well as practical and simple sets of mounting, suited to the needs of the customer in each case.

His work is directly related to the water, an essential element in our society. How addresses issues such as energy saving, sustainable development and the environmental impact your company?

As in all large organizations, this is an issue of vital importance. HL it has its own environmental centre of management and recovery of waste, where they recycle and exploit both the instruments and reagents used, thus minimizing its impact on the environment.

What importance does you your company to the r & d?

It is a constant in HL. Regularly new products are developed in the two divisions of the company: laboratory and process. For example, we can say that in recent years we have launched new products such as the probe of ammonium NH4D sc, the new Pocket II for LCK, spectrophotometer DR3800 sc, able to compare the data in process with the lab,…

But no doubt among them the most relevant has been the Analyzer of dissolved oxygen by luminescence (LDO), which has enabled us to reach a share of market of 75 per cent for this parameter.

Your company takes part in Expoquimia 2008. What its main novelty at the fair?

First, Hach Lange wants to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the company with all its customers at the fair. As new developments we will present in this edition the new transmitter of 2 threads SI792 for pH, conductivity, OD and redox, with Hart, Profibus PA or Foundation Fieldbus communications, and the new probe of solids and portable turbidity TSS Portable.