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M a i n e — A P h oto P o rt r A i t o f t h e P i n e t r ee S tAt e P r o f i l e s i n e x c e l l e n c e 138 I DEXX Laboratories was founded by David Shaw in 1983 with five employees in the Old Port neighborhood of Portland, Maine to respond to a new niche market, the detection of diseases in livestock and poultry animals such as cows, pigs and chickens. Within a few years, the company distin- guished itself as a leader in immunoassay kits, includ- ing the now industry-renowned SNAP ® family of tests that detect diseases in cats, dogs and other animals. By 1991, IDEXX had become a publicly traded compa- ny and over the next 25 years grew to become a world leader in veterinary diagnostic instrument develop- ment and manufacture; reference laboratory services; and dairy and water testing. Put simply, the company keeps animals healthy, milk and water safe. For instance, when thousands of pets were left homeless in Japan after a devastating tsunami in 2011, IDEXX Laboratories provided testing that ensured the health and safety of cats and dogs throughout the re- gion. After most of the Boston metro area water sup- ply was compromised by a main break in 2010, IDEXX tests were used to determine if public water was safe to drink. And before chicken, pork, beef or even milk are placed on your dinner table, IDEXX tests and health monitoring systems for livestock and poultry may have ensured productivity and safety, and contrib- uted to your peace of mind. In addition to providing diagnostic testing prod- ucts, IDEXX is committed to helping veterinary prac- tices thrive by supporting change and continuous improvement through advanced information-sharing technology, education and knowledge. This is accom- plished through proprietary practice management systems and education channels such as the IDEXX Learning Center. In 2011, IDEXX also introduced pethealthnetwork.com, a trusted resource where veterinarians can connect with pet owners seeking to learn more about keeping pets healthy and happy. Today, the company headquarters are located in Westbrook, where it continues to thrive. Since 2002, the employee population in Maine has doubled under the leadership of CEO Jonathan Ayers, with two major expansions involving an investment of $80 million in local facilities undertaken since 2006. IDEXX's work- force is now more than 5,000 strong worldwide with one-third of its employees based in southern Maine. And in 2008, the company surpassed the $1 billion revenue mark just 25 years after start-up. In 2011, IDEXX invested $76 million in research and development, most of which occurs at the Westbrook headquarters, resulting in products that are exported Keeping animals healthy, milk and water safe through the development and manufacture of innovative diagnostics and information-sharing products and services. The IDEXX Laboratories world campus in Westbrook. IDEXX Laboratories P h o t o s c o u r t e s y o f i D e X X l a B o r a t o r i e s

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