Varian, 1997

After six years of steadily improving performance, Varian’s management team looks optimistically to the future. The company is positioned to grow both in the U.S. and abroad across its diverse product lines, including radiation equipment for cancer therapy, analytical instruments for science and industry, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. (Exhibits 1 and 2 provide an overview of the company.) With roots as a technology research powerhouse, the international electronics company has remained an innovator and leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of high technology systems and components for nearly fifty years. Despite its technological capabilities, however, Varian has not always been able to consistently transform cutting-edge technology into sustained profitability.