VWR International History

Avantor acquires VWR founded in 1852.

Four years later, he moved from the northern edge of what was later to become downtown Chicago, rebuilt, and published his first catalog in 1875 - the first recorded attempt at mail order solicitation in the laboratory supply business.

In 1889, Sargent incorporated his business in Illinois.

When it was founded in 1904, the J.T.Baker Chemical Company had 20 employees in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

In 1906 Welch moved to Chicago and incorporated the W.M. Welch Manufacturing Company.

In 1960, Welch changed its name to the Welch Scientific Company, moved its headquarters to Skokie, Illinois and offered its stock to the public the following year.

Partnering for Science Selection and Value In 1968, E. H. Sargent Company and the Welch Scientific Company merged under the name Sargent-Welch Scientific Company, thereby forming one of the nation's leading suppliers of science education products.

Avantor merges with NuSil founded in 1985.

In early 1989, the Welch Manufacturing Division was sold, and in August 1989, Sargent-Welch was purchased by VWR International, LLC, and became a 100 science education supply business.

In September, 1995, VWR completed their purchase of Baxter's Industrial division, creating a much larger company.

In 2004, VWR became a limited partnership controlled by investment firm Clayton, Dubilier Rice.

In 2007, CD R sold VWR to another private equity company, Madison Dearborn Partners.

On June 1, 2011 VWR International acquired BioExpress Corp formerly ISC BioExpress , raising concerns of monopolization of the laboratory supplies sector along with Thermo Fisher Scientific.

On October 2, 2014, VWR's IPO raised 536 million, valuing the value of the company at close to 5 billion.

On November 21, 2017, Avantor completed its acquisition of VWR.