For the first time in its history, Leica Microsystems’ annual sales volume for 2008 exceeded the billion US$ mark, reports the international high-tech microscope and scientific instrument manufacturer and distributor, headquartered in Wetzlar. “Over the last two years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the demand for our products throughout the world. In most of the markets in which we operate – including biomedical research, clinical applications, industry, microsurgery, and histopathology – we have achieved double-digit organic growth rates. Moreover, we have substantially expanded our product breadth through a number of strategic company acquisitions,” comments Dr. David Martyr, President of Leica Microsystems. Leica Microsystems was purchased by Washington D.C.-based Danaher Corporation in the summer of 2005. Since that time Leica Microsystems has acquired and integrated eight companies in Australia, Europe, the US, and Asia.