Illumina Inc

XMUN:ILU

Business Description

Sector

Health Care

Industry

Life Sciences Tools & Services

Headquarters

United States of America US

Employees

8 600

IPO date

Jun 28, 2000

Illumina makes DNA sequencing systems and the consumables that run on them. Its machines read genetic code, and its test kits and reagents are used to prepare samples and generate sequencing data. The company mainly sells to hospitals, research labs, biotech companies, and clinical testing groups that need to analyze DNA for science or diagnosis.

Illumina makes money in two main ways: it sells sequencing instruments and, more importantly, it sells the recurring chemicals and kits used every time those systems are run. That gives the business a mix of upfront equipment sales and repeat consumable revenue. Once a lab installs Illumina equipment, it often keeps buying compatible reagents and service support to keep its workflows running.

What makes Illumina different is that it sits at the center of the genomics workflow. It does not usually run the tests itself; instead, it supplies the tools that let others do the testing and analysis. That makes it a key picks-and-shovels company in genetic research and molecular diagnostics, with customers relying on its technology as the starting point for many DNA-based applications.