PerkinElmer, Inc., a major player focused on the health and safety of people and the environment, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire CambridgeSoft Corporation, and has completed the purchase of ArtusLabs, Inc.

CambridgeSoft Corporation is a supplier of discovery, collaboration, and knowledge enterprise solutions, desktop software, scientific databases and professional services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and chemical industries.

The company provides enterprise solutions, desktop software, scientific databases, and professional services for biotechnology, drug discovery and chemical research, including software, databases, and web sites which enable customers to create, analyze and communicate chemical, biological, and scientific information more effectively.

ArtusLabs, Inc. focuses on providing Web 2.0 enabled software solutions to the pharmaceutical and related industries. Its flagship product, Ensemble, blends social networking, collaboration, and refined scientific data mining to drive the research process, leading to faster time to market.

Industry experts opined that the expansion of PerkinElmer's informatics and software offerings will enable customers to rapidly access and share enterprise-wide data for faster, more informed scientific decisions.

“The ability to integrate scientific tools and informatics is becoming increasingly critical for our customers as they look to drive productivity and speed to market,” said Robert Friel, chief executive officer and chairman of PerkinElmer, Inc., in a statement.

“These acquisitions combined with our existing offerings, particularly our OneSource (News - Alert) laboratory asset management services, make us uniquely qualified to enable highly efficient laboratory environments and increased scientific productivity,” said Friel.

Officials with PerkinElmer claimed that OneSource, PerkinElmer’s consolidated instrument service, is unparalleled in the industry.

Company officials said that multivendor engineers can be onsite in less than an hour to calibrate, qualify, or maintain instruments from any leading manufacturer. Experts in lab technologies such as HPLC, LC/MS, GC, and GC/MS, these engineers offer advice as well as service. Cost savings of 10-20 percent in the first year are typical, claimed company officials.

According to company officials, PerkinElmer’s laboratory informatics portfolio also includes Laboratory Information Management Systems.

Recently PerkinElmer announced a new Multispecies Imaging Module (MSIM) for PerkinElmer's Fluorescence Molecular Tomography In Vivo Imaging Systems (News - Alert) (FMT 1500 or FMT 2500LX).

The new module enables researchers to generate 3D datasets of animal models relevant to disease research, including imaging capability for larger animals, according to the company.