VWR International Ltd
VWR International is built on the strong foundations of two market leaders – Merck Eurolab and VWR Scientific Products. These are the companies that have long defined the science of supply around the world. Now VWR’s singular vision is all about being the most successful distributor for people engaged in science, and we will do that by delivering excellence in the distribution of scientific supplies.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations , manufacturers
- Business Type:
- Distributor
- Industry Type:
- Monitoring and Testing
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
About Us
At VWR, we enable science by supplying critical products to the world's top pharmaceutical, biotech, industrial, educational, and governmental organizations. We provide our customers with an expansive choice of premiere products, such as chemicals, furniture, equipment, instruments, apparel and consumables, from a vast group of leading scientific manufacturers.
Headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania with sales in excess of $4.1 billion in 2011, VWR does more than simply supply products - it keeps the world's most critical research moving forward. VWR's expertise in supply chain and logistical services enables customers to fully focus on their areas of expertise. From managing procurement processes to integrating supply chains, VWR helps specialized research facilities and labs operate at maximum efficiency.
With over 8,000 associates in more than 25 countries, our global footprint continues to expand and we hold to the principle that clients benefit from the accessibility and familiarity of local sales teams. VWR will continue its mission of enabling science by providing researchers with the peace of mind they need to advance the world's most critical research.
Careers at VWR
At VWR, we believe that our associates are our greatest assets; we value them, their opinions, and the work that they do to make us successful. In fact, our associates are an integral part of our corporate mission, vision and values. Please take a minute to learn how VWR can enhance your career experience.
Commitment to Wellness
We value the total wellness of our associates; physical, mental and emotional wellness. We offer the highest quality benefits coupled with attractive incentives making VWR an employer of choice for our associates.
Cultivating Talent
VWR works hard to bring our associates learning advancement opportunities at every turn. This includes ensuring our associates get the training, coaching and cross functional opportunities to continue to develop in their career and impact the organization. We want our associates to fulfill their highest level of potential and to be rewarded and compensated for delivering excellent results. Our operations team is passionate and strategic about providing stretch opportunities that will enable associates to grow, continue to learn, be challenged and impact the business.
Partnering to Make a Difference
We believe that it is important to find ways to make a difference in the environments in which we work and live. We donate more than just money; our associates donate their time and energy to organizations they are passionate about and VWR is proud to support their efforts. The Matching Program at VWR matches associates’ charitable donations dollar-for-dollar to organizations like the American Heart Association, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, St. Jude’s Hospital for Children and others.
Mission, Vision and Values
Our Mission, Vision and Values provides our associates with a clear understanding of how we plan to meet and exceed our customer needs.
Mission
Our mission is to enable the advancement of science throughout the world. We do this by encouraging innovation, delivering what we promise and striving for nothing less than process excellence. At VWR, we supply what is needed to bring science to life.
Vision
- We believe that our associates are our greatest assets. We value them, their opinions and the work that they do to make us successful.
- We believe in making a difference in the environments where we work and live.
- We believe our customers deserve more than just quality products; they deserve the peace of mind that comes with full service storeroom management, product procurement, and uniquely tailored service solutions.
- We believe having the greatest breadth and depth of inventory is only efficient when our customers have a partner to help them manage it.
- We believe that having a choice matters to our customers because every scientific initiative is unique and their product mix should be too.
- We believe our customers’ confidence in us is critical, so we implement an efficient supply chain that allows them to focus on advancing research while we deliver what we promised, on time.
- We believe that together, we can bring science to life.
Values
- We Drive Results--We have a passion for driving profitable growth and realising our full potential through learning, innovation and continuous improvement.
- We Deliver Service Excellence-- We are uncompromising in our commitment to customer service excellence and deliver an unmatched value proposition for our customers
- We Are One Team-- We value team success and create a rewarding and collaborative work environment where each associate can maximise his/her talents and his/her contributions.
- We Act With Integrity-- We are guided by the highest ethical standards in everything we do. We treat associates, customers and suppliers with integrity and we balance professional, financial, personal, community and environmental responsibilities.
Our History
VWR International, LLC* has weathered all types of storms – literally – from floods, fires and earthquakes to mergers, acquisitions and name changes. And in many ways, the early days of VWR and its predecessors closely resemble the present-day VWR – all our incarnations have incorporated a series of entrepreneurial talents and organizations over the years. Here is a brief look back at the people and events that shaped our rich history.
In 1852, John Taylor arrived in Sacramento, Calif., to seek his fortune as a gold miner. Though his dreams of finding a fortune in the California mines didn’t pan out, he discovered a more profitable venture — selling glassware to serve the mining and laboratory markets. Since then, through many changes, the company now known as VWR has provided customers with quality products for scientific research.
During the company’s first years, Taylor gradually added to his product offerings and by 1856 had renamed the business the John Taylor Company. Taylor’s business continued to expand and more products were added as various industries thrived in California. By 1883, the first John Taylor Company catalog was produced, including 106 pages of apparatus and 11 pages of chemicals.
After a series of sales of the company, Seattle-based Van Waters & Rogers, Inc., bought what remained of Taylor’s business in the early 1950s. By 1965, Van Waters & Rogers, Inc., was operating 31 plants at 22 locations west of the Mississippi River, and was organized into five distinct businesses: Industrial Chemicals, Scientific Supplies and Apparatus, Laundry Supplies, Agricultural Supplies, and Upholstery Supply and Natural Fibers.
In a 1966 merger, distributor Van Waters & Rogers, Inc., and manufacturer United Pacific Corporation combined to become VWR United Corporation. Four years later, VWR United Corporation expanded into the eastern United States.
In February 1986, the company, then known as Univar Corporation, restructured into two companies: the existing Univar Corporation and the newly formed VWR Corporation. Univar Corporation continued to own and operate the industrial and pest control chemicals and textile maintenance products distribution businesses while VWR Corporation was spun off. It acquired all of the non-chemical distribution businesses, including the scientific and graphic arts equipment and supplies, textiles and furniture manufacturing supplies, electronic components and electromechanical devices. In 1989, VWR Corporation decided to concentrate solely on the scientific division’s laboratory supply and equipment sales, and sold off all its other divisions.
During the 1990s and 2000s, VWR Corporation went through several name changes and acquired different companies, though it never changed its commitment to providing critical products to the world's top pharmaceutical, biotech, industrial, educational and governmental organizations. In September 1995, the company changed its name to VWR Scientific Products Corporation, and then in December 2000, it became VWR International, Inc. The company arrived at its present name, VWR International, LLC in June 2007.
Today, VWR has more than 7,000 associates in more than 25 countries and our global footprint continues to expand. Our mission is to enable the advancement of science throughout the world. We do this by encouraging innovation, delivering what we promise, and striving for nothing less than process excellence. At VWR, we supply what is needed to bring science to life.
*VWR International, LLC is the holding company for all VWR operating entities throughout the world.
Sustainability
VWR recognizes that building sustainable business practices to enhance the value of the company is in the best interest of our company, our associates, our suppliers, our customers and our community. We also understand that our customers have sustainability initiatives and VWR is committed to helping them achieve their sustainability goals.
At VWR, we are approaching sustainability to meet the three primary goals as defined by the UN World Commission on Environment and Development:
- Social Impact (People)
- Environmental Protection (Planet)
- Economic Growth (Performance)