Medical equipment is one of four businesses remaining at a trimmed-down Varian Associates. The Palo Alto, CA, high-technology firm sold the last of five non-core businesses last month, as it completed the initial phase of a restructuring program. A U.K. broadcast transmitter company was the last of the five to go.
Varian has raised over $60 million through the sale of nonstrategic businesses. These funds will be used in the second phase of the firm's attempted financial turnaround: improving performance of its core businesses of electron devices, analytical instruments, semiconductor equipment and medical equipment.
Varian produces linear accelerators for cancer therapy as well as a variety of components for medical imaging equipment. The company also holds basic patents in medical areas such as magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SCAN 2/27/91), although Varian does not market MR scanners.
Varian/Eimac of Salt Lake City is a major supplier of replacement x-ray tubes and other imaging components for OEMs and independent service organizations. Varian Canada Microwave Products is a supplier of power sources to OEMs for use in x-ray generators. The Canadian unit initiated a high-frequency retrofit program for CGR Senographe mammography systems last year (SCAN 2/27/91).
